Intercepting TLS Network Traffic

The Challenge of Modern Network Analysis

Nearly all network traffic is TLS encrypted. While this is excellent for privacy and security, it presents significant challenges for security professionals or network admins or developers who need to analyse network communications during penetration testing, security assessments, development, and troubleshooting.

Beyond HTTP: The Forgotten Protocols

Most MITM proxy tools focus exclusively on HTTP/HTTPS traffic, but real-world applications use a diverse range of protocols:

• Database connections (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB)

• Email protocols (SMTP, IMAP, POP3)

• Custom application protocols

• Desktop application communication

• IoT device communications

  The StartTLS Problem

  Many protocols begin as plaintext and upgrade to TLS mid-connection using commands like StartTLS. This creates a unique challenge:

  1. Connection starts in plaintext

  2. Client/server negotiate TLS upgrade

  3. All subsequent traffic is encrypted

  4. All Known tools fail at step 3

  Traditional network analysis tools either:

  • Show only the initial plaintext handshake

  • Completely breaks when encryption begins

  • Require complex manual certificate configuration

    The Solution: InterceptSuite

    • Non-HTTP Protocol Focus - Unlike traditional tools that only handle web traffic, InterceptSuite is specifically designed for database connections, email protocols, custom applications, and desktop software communications that use non-HTTP protocols.

    • Universal TLS Upgrade Detection - Automatically detects and handles TLS upgrades for ANY protocol, whether it's PostgreSQL StartTLS, SMTP STARTTLS, or proprietary custom protocols that switch from plaintext to encrypted mid-connection.

    • PCAP File Support - Export network captures for analysis as PCAP files for further investigation with other tools like WireShark, maintaining full compatibility with your existing workflow.

    • Real-Time Interception - View, modify, and analyse traffic as it flows through your network, with full support for protocol state transitions that break other tools.

    • Cross-Platform GUI - Professional interface that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making non-HTTP protocol analysis accessible without complex command-line setup.

    • Project Management - Organise security assessments with proper project structure, session management, and data export capabilities for comprehensive reporting.