Secure Web Gateway HTTP to HTTPS Redirect Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secure web gateways struggle to efficiently secure HTTP traffic between web clients and web servers, particularly when web servers communicate only via HTTP, leaving connections vulnerable to eavesdropping and other malicious actions.
Innovation Solution
A secure web gateway is deployed on the cloud between a web client and a web server, which sends a redirect response status code to the web client with a replacement server location that switches from HTTP to HTTPS and changes the TCP port, establishing an HTTPS connection with the secure web gateway, allowing it to forward requests and responses securely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a secure web gateway inspects HTTP traffic between web clients and web servers, then security protection is provided, but the connection remains vulnerable to eavesdropping and malicious actions
Solution Approach 1:
The secure web gateway acts as an intermediary between web clients and web servers, establishing HTTPS connections with clients while maintaining HTTP connections with servers. This mediator approach allows the gateway to encrypt traffic between clients and itself, preventing eavesdropping while still enabling inspection of the original HTTP traffic through the replacement server location mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the protocol parameter from HTTP to HTTPS in the replacement server location, transforming the connection security level. By modifying the scheme parameter in the URL from http to https, the system elevates the security protection for the client-gateway connection while maintaining compatibility with HTTP-only servers
2Adaptability or versatility
If web servers communicate only via HTTP, then simplicity and compatibility are maintained, but traffic security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds a security dimension by introducing HTTPS connections at the client-gateway layer without requiring changes to the server layer. The replacement server location mechanism creates a virtual layer where HTTPS is enforced for client connections while HTTP servers continue to operate unchanged, effectively adding security without compromising compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The secure web gateway serves as an intermediary that translates between HTTPS (from clients) and HTTP (to servers). By maintaining the original HTTP protocol for server communications while enforcing HTTPS for client connections, the gateway enables secure traffic without requiring servers to support HTTPS, thus preserving compatibility while enhancing security
3Object-affected harmful factors
If HTTPS connections are established between web clients and secure web gateway, then eavesdropping is prevented, but connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages the HTTPS connection establishment and certificate validation processes through the replacement server location mechanism. The secure web gateway self-services the complexity of HTTPS handshakes, TLS negotiations, and certificate management, while clients simply follow redirect responses to establish secure connections without needing to understand or configure the underlying complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A secure web gateway is deployed on the cloud between a web client and a web server. The secure web gateway sends the web client a redirect response status code with a replacement server location in response to a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request sent by the web client to access a target resource on the web server. The secure web gateway thereafter receives from the web client a Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) request to access the target resource, the HTTPS request includes the replacement server location. The secure web gateway sends the HTTPS request as an HTTP request to the web server. The secure web gateway receives an HTTP response from the web server, and forwards the HTTP response as an HTTPS response to the web client.