Resolving Ocelot WebSocket Proxy Issues: Secure wss Connections Explained

Описание: Learn how to fix secure WebSocket (`wss`) issues when using Ocelot as a WebSocket proxy by understanding certificate validation and setup.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/71581441/ asked by the user 'Abhi' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/413979/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/71584294/ provided by the user 'Abhi' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/413979/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Introduction

When working with WebSocket protocols in a .NET environment, you may encounter challenges when trying to implement secure WebSockets (wss). Recently, a user reported an issue using Ocelot as a WebSocket proxy, where the connection worked fine with unsecured WebSockets (ws) but failed with wss. If you have faced similar issues, read on as we delve into the solution.

The Problem

The key issue here revolves around establishing a secure connection using wss. The user trying to proxy wss encountered a specific error message: "The decryption operation failed while reading the bytes at the server side socket." This was not a problem for unsecured WebSocket connections, suggesting that the encryption or SSL/TLS setup may have not been handled properly.

The user's Ocelot configuration was as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this setup, a client attempted to connect using secure WebSockets to the Ocelot proxy endpoint (upstream endpoint on port 5000) but encountered an error.

The Solution

Upon investigation, the problem was traced back to a certificate validity issue. Here's how to resolve the issue effectively:

1. Understanding SSL/TLS Certificates

Secure WebSocket connections require valid SSL/TLS certificates. If the certificate is not properly set up or is self-signed without proper trust, you will face issues such as failed decryption.

Steps to Follow:

Ensure SSL/TLS is Setup Properly: Confirm that your WebSocket server is configured with SSL/TLS protocols. In the provided server code, the SslStream is used, and it's important to ensure that the certificate is valid.

Use Trusted Certificates: To avoid decryption errors, utilize a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) issued certificate instead of a self-signed certificate. The application code to authenticate the server should be adjusted to use the path to this certificate.

2. Update the Server Code

The following part of your server code is critical:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Ensure that the pfxData points to a valid certificate file. This certificate should be correctly installed on your server, and if you're using self-signed certificates for testing, you may need to install the certificate in a trust store.

3. Testing the Connection

After updating the certificate and confirming it's valid, retest the client WebSocket connection:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

It's crucial that the ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback is correctly handled to allow for certificate validation during secure connections, especially in testing environments.

Conclusion

By addressing the certificate validity issue and ensuring your SSL/TLS setup is correctly configured, you should be able to resolve issues related to establishing secure WebSocket connections through Ocelot. This not only allows for a successful connection with wss, but also enhances the overall security of your WebSocket communication.

If you have any other questions or require further assistance, feel free to reach out!