mitmproxy is an interactive HTTP proxy tool that operates as a man-in-the-middle (MITM) between a client and a server, allowing you to intercept, inspect, modify, and replay HTTP and HTTPS traffic in real-time. It provides a user-friendly interface for monitoring and manipulating network communications, making it a valuable tool for various purposes such as debugging, testing, and security analysis.
Here’s a more detailed overview of its features:
- Interception: mitmproxy intercepts HTTP and HTTPS traffic between a client (such as a web browser or a mobile app) and a server. It sits in the middle, transparently capturing all requests and responses passing through it.
- Real-Time Inspection: The tool provides an interactive console interface that allows you to view detailed information about each HTTP request and response in real-time. This includes headers, payloads, cookies, and other metadata.
- Modification: mitmproxy enables you to modify the intercepted traffic on-the-fly. You can edit request headers, modify response content, or even replace entire requests or responses with custom data. This capability is particularly useful for testing how applications handle different scenarios or for debugging issues with network communication.
- Scripting: It supports scripting using Python, allowing you to automate tasks and implement complex behavior. You can write custom scripts to perform specific actions based on intercepted traffic, such as triggering alerts for certain patterns, logging data to external sources, or simulating various network conditions.
- Replay: mitmproxy allows you to record HTTP traffic and replay it later. This feature is helpful for testing and reproducing scenarios, especially when dealing with non-deterministic behavior or when testing against a specific sequence of requests.
- HTTPS Decryption: Unlike traditional proxies, mitmproxy can decrypt HTTPS traffic using self-signed certificates. This enables you to inspect and manipulate encrypted traffic, although it requires installing mitmproxy’s CA certificate on the client devices.
- User-Friendly Interface: The tool provides a clean and intuitive interface for interacting with intercepted traffic. It supports keyboard shortcuts, filtering options, and various display modes to streamline the analysis process.
mitmproxy Command Examples
1. Start mitmproxy with default settings:
# mitmproxy
2. Start mitmproxy bound to custom address and port:
# mitmproxy -b [ip_address] -p [port]
Summary
Overall, mitmproxy is a powerful and versatile tool for analyzing, debugging, and testing HTTP and HTTPS traffic. Whether you’re a developer, a quality assurance engineer, or a security professional, mitmproxy can help you gain insights into network communication and troubleshoot issues effectively.