Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

We are not just explaining how the TLS v1.2 handshake protocol works, but we will also decoding the TLS v1.2 protocol handshake using Wireshark. There are two main goals of this article are: (1) Explaining the TLS v1.2 handshake protocol step by step. (2)Capture and examine a TLS stream in Wireshark.

Just for demonstration purpose, we are going to access Pluralsight’s (public learning platform) website on chrome browser over a secured HTTPS connection. Because TLS handshake works only in HTTPS communication. The difference between HTTP and HTTPS is, in HTTP only a TCP handshake will happen, but in the case of HTTPS TCP and TLS, both handshakes will happen.

TCP Three-Way Handshake Protocol:

In HTTP, the TLS handshake will happen after the completion of a successful TCP handshake. TCP handshake process is a separate topic, so we are not covering that in this article. To tell in short, TCP handshake is a three-step process. First, the client sends the SYN packet to the server. Second, the server sends SYN + ACK in response to the client. At last, the client sends the acknowledgement to the server.

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

192.168.0.114 is the client machine. 199.38.167.35 is the destination pluralsight.

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake:

Once the TCP three way handshake is done. The TLS handshake will kick in with client hello.

Step #1: Client Hello

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

The client sends a client hello message to the server. In the client hello message client sends its supported TLS version, UTC time, 28 byte random number, session ID, URL of the server and supported cipher suites to the server.

Wireshark Demo:

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

If you look at Wireshark you will see a client hello packet right after the three-way handshake.  You can also see the TLS version,  28 byte random number, all supported cipher suites and session ID in the packet.

Step #2: Server Hello

After the server receives the client hello it will examine the supported TLS versions and cipher suites sent by the client. And, the server will select the highest supported TLS version by both client and the server. The server also includes the session ID, UTC time, 28 byte random number, and selected cipher suite in the server hello message and send it to the client.

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

Wireshark Demo:

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

The next packet you will see after client hello is server hello.

Step #3: Certificate, Server Encryption Key, And Server Hello Done

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

After sending the server hello message. The server will send the certificate which has p and g values used in the key exchange process, server encrypted key, and server hello done message to the client.

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

Step #4: Client Encrypted Key, Change Cipher Spec, and Finished

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

After the client receives the server encrypted key. It will respond with the client encrypted key. It also sends change cipher spec. What it means that it has enough information to start encrypted communication and it is going to send the data with encryption from now onwards. Till now the communication was plane text. After this communication will happen with encryption.  After the server receives the change cipher spec message it expects encrypted data from the client.

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

Step #5: Change Cipher Spec And Finished

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

This is going to be the last message that server is going to send which includes change cipher spec and finish message. This indicates that all feature messages are going to be encrypted.

Decoding TLS v1.2 Protocol Handshake With Wireshark

This completes the process of TLS v1.2 protocol handshake process.

Thanks for reading this article. Please read more such interesting articles like this.

原创文章,作者:ItWorker,如若转载,请注明出处:https://blog.ytso.com/tech/aiops/269925.html

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