What is the purpose of TCP wrappers in system security?

The purpose of TCP wrappers in system security is primarily to filter unwanted traffic to the server. TCP wrappers are a host-based networking ACL (Access Control List) system that serves as an additional layer of protection for networked services. When a service is wrapped in TCP wrappers, incoming requests can be checked against the access control rules defined in the /etc/hosts.allow and /etc/hosts.deny files. This allows administrators to control which hosts or networks can access specific services on the server, enhancing security by limiting exposure to potentially harmful traffic.

This access control mechanism is especially useful in environments where multiple services are exposed to the internet or untrusted networks, as it allows filtering based on both IP address and service type. By implementing TCP wrappers, a system can mitigate risks from unwanted connections, contributing significantly to securing networked resources.