---
title: About the etc_hosts_deny Resource
---

# etc\_hosts\_deny

Use the `etc_hosts_deny` InSpec audit resource to test rules set to reject daemon and client traffic set in /etc/hosts.deny.

<br>

## Syntax

An etc/hosts.deny rule specifies one or more daemons mapped to one or more clients,
with zero or more options to use to reject traffic when found.

Use the where clause to match a property to one or more rules in the hosts.deny file.

    describe etc_hosts_deny.where { daemon == 'value' } do
      its ('client_list') { should include ['values'] }
      its ('options') { should include ['values'] }
    end

Use the optional constructor parameter to give an alternative path to hosts.deny

    describe etc_hosts_deny(hosts_path).where { daemon == 'value' } do
      its ('client_list') { should include ['values'] }
      its ('options') { should include ['values'] }
    end

where

* `daemon` is a daemon that will be rejected to pass traffic in.
* `client_list` is a list of clients will be rejected to pass traffic in.
* `options` is a list of tasks that to be done with the rule when traffic is found.

<br>

## Supported Properties

    'daemon', 'client_list', 'options'

<br>

## Property Examples and Return Types

### daemon

`daemon` returns a string containing the daemon that is allowed in the rule.

    describe etc_hosts_deny.where { client_list == ['127.0.1.154',  '[:fff:fAb0::]'] } do
      its('daemon') { should eq ['vsftpd', 'sshd'] }
    end

### client_list

`client_list` returns a 2d string array where each entry contains the clients specified for the rule.

    describe etc_hosts_deny.where { daemon == 'sshd' } do
      its('client_list') { should include ['192.168.0.0/16', '[abcd::0000:1234]'] }
    end

### options

`options` returns a 2d string array where each entry contains any options specified for the rule.

    describe etc_hosts_deny.where { daemon == 'sshd' } do
      its('options') { should include ['deny', 'echo "REJECTED"'] }
    end