TLS Parameter Analysis for Client Action Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network systems struggle to effectively recommend client-executable actions for clients due to the encrypted nature of network traffic, which makes risk assessments opaque and prevents necessary actions from being generated.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize TLS parameters from a TLS connection request to identify clients and generate recommended client-executable actions, which can include adjustments to client system characteristics to enhance security and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If network systems provide risk assessments for encrypted traffic, then security insight is improved, but the ability to generate client-executable actions deteriorates due to opaque encrypted data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity assessment reliabilityVSAvoidclient action generation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces TLS parameters as an intermediary that bridges the gap between encrypted traffic analysis and client action generation. Instead of attempting to analyze the encrypted data directly, the system extracts TLS parameters (such as cipher suites, protocol versions, and handshake characteristics) that serve as measurable indicators of security risk. These parameters act as a mediator that translates opaque encrypted traffic into actionable intelligence without requiring decryption, thereby maintaining both security assessment reliability and the ability to generate client-executable actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If TLS parameters are used to identify clients and generate actions, then client identification precision is improved, but the complexity of analyzing encrypted traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclient identification precisionVSAvoidencrypted traffic analysis complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by isolating and focusing only on the TLS parameters that are necessary for client identification and security assessment. Rather than attempting to analyze all aspects of encrypted traffic, the system extracts specific TLS parameters (such as Client Hello characteristics, cipher suite selections, and extension data) that contain sufficient information for precise client identification. This selective extraction reduces the complexity of encrypted traffic analysis while maintaining high measurement precision for client identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4531345A1Methods for generating client-executable actions through TLS parameters and devices thereof
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 F5 NETWORKS INC
  • EP4531345A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4531345A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4531345A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, network traffic manager apparatuses, and systems that assist with generating client-executable actions with TLS parameters includes receiving a request from a client for establishing a TLS connection to a server, wherein the request comprises TLS parameters for the TLS connection. An identity of the client is determined based on the TLS parameters in the request unique to the client. A recommended client-executable action is generated based on the TLS parameters. The recommended client-executable action is an adjustment of a characteristic of a system of the client. The recommended client-executable action is transmitted to the client.