Question

Linux HTTP Trace / Protocol Analysis

Asked by: meapledoo

In Windows there are a number of tools that allow you to trace HTTP and HTTPS requests and responses  - viewing headers, POST data, etc.  One of my favorite tools for this is called HTTPAnalyzer.  

When using Linux it seems that my options are limited to either using Wireshark to capture port 80 traffic (which is limited because it is unable to decode HTTPS content) or using Firebug or LiveHTTPHeaders  inside of Firefox

Are there any applications for Linux that allow you to trace HTTP / HTTPS traffic?

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Asked On
2009-01-28 at 07:41:11ID24091017
Topics

Linux Networking

,

HTTP

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
10

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Answers

 

by: nognewPosted on 2009-01-28 at 08:08:34ID: 23487876

Hello!
 perhaps tcpdump is quite useful utility.
Regards,
t.

 

by: meapledooPosted on 2009-01-28 at 09:12:31ID: 23488665

Hi nognew.

tcpdump has the same limitation as Wireshark.  I can trace packets and filter by port 80/443 but the HTTPS traffic cannot be decrypted for analysis.

 

by: nognewPosted on 2009-01-28 at 10:08:00ID: 23489298

i'm not really familiar with windows tools. How they allow you to decrypt https traffic? Are you providing them with certificate somehow?
t.

 

by: nognewPosted on 2009-01-28 at 10:12:57ID: 23489345

I read about HTTPAnalyzer now and basically answered question I have asked above. You can set up wireshark to do the same. Although the procedure a might look a bit tricky.
Here are the step by step guide how to do that:
http://www.routerzone.eu/wiki/index.php/Using_Wireshark_to_Decrypt_SSL/TLS_Packet_Data

Regards,
t.

 

by: meapledooPosted on 2009-01-28 at 10:27:15ID: 23489493

Hi nognew,

That isn't an acceptable solution since you need to have the private key from the web server in order to decrypt the content.  HTTPAnalyzer and similar tools inspect the traffic within the winsock layer - after the decryption occurs.  I need a tool that does the same thing, which is why a network packet sniffer is not suitable for my needs.

Thanks.

 

by: nognewPosted on 2009-01-28 at 10:33:10ID: 23489561

correct, it seems you need a plugin for Firefox that can show you header etc.
How about Firebug?
I use it a lot to debug AJAX code. You can see packets in console mode.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1843
Regards,
t.

 

by: meapledooPosted on 2009-01-28 at 10:43:34ID: 23489684

Thanks nognew.

I'm aware of Firebug and mentioned it in my question.  I need a standalone application that can capture and log HTTP/HTTPS traffic from any application, not just Firefox.  

 

by: nognewPosted on 2009-01-28 at 10:47:08ID: 23489719

sorry mate, don't know any standalone one...

 

by: NopiusPosted on 2009-02-24 at 17:33:37ID: 23729294

Hi, meapledoo.
Going from what you said:
> That isn't an acceptable solution since you need to have the private key from the web server in order to decrypt the content.  
and
> I need a standalone application that can capture and log HTTP/HTTPS traffic from any application, not just Firefox.  
and
>  I can trace packets and filter by port 80/443 but the HTTPS traffic cannot be decrypted for analysis.

I can conclude, that the correct answer: there is no such tool and moreover, it is impossible.

BTW. Why  do you need to decode SSL packets, when not having server's private key and not located on the client's machine?
Your goals seems to me illegal.

 

 

by: meapledooPosted on 2009-03-01 at 12:33:15ID: 23769526

Hi Nopius,

I'll agree with you that there is no available tool and will split the points between you and nognew.  Thanks for both of your time.

Oh - and the goal is most certainly not an illegal one and I'm offended by the accusation.  If you look at tools such as Firebug, HTTP Analyzer, etc - they trace HTTP and HTTPs interactions between the client and web server and allow a developer/analyst to inspect the traffic.  There is absolutely nothing illegal about that.   My goal was simply to find out whether such an application exists for a linux os.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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