TLS & WebSocket Traffic Reconstruction
Analyzed an encrypted packet capture, followed decrypted application traffic, and decoded WebSocket message framing.
Publication context. This article summarizes an independently completed technical interview exercise using original commentary. The challenge was provided by a third party; the exercise is not represented as my own product, a public vulnerability, or a commissioned professional engagement. Original company branding, challenge assets, flags, and step-by-step solution details have been omitted.
The problem
The assessment began with a packet capture whose relevant application messages were protected by TLS. The objective was to understand the underlying conversation and recover information carried in WebSocket frames.
Research methodology
- Inspected the capture in Wireshark to identify encrypted sessions and the application protocols in use.
- Applied challenge-provided session-key material to review the decrypted traffic where supported by the capture.
- Developed a Python decoder to interpret WebSocket frame metadata and reconstruct payload content for analysis.
Tools & techniques
WiresharkPython
Result
The original exercise identified the intended target content after decrypting the traffic and decoding WebSocket frames. No session keys, captured conversations, or recovered flags are reproduced here.
What I practiced
TLS analysis, WebSocket framing, masked payload handling, Python scripting, and evidence-driven traffic reconstruction.
A summary of a completed controlled assessment, not a disclosure of a third-party vulnerability. Results refer only to the exercise materials described.