HTTP Audit Pipeline

HTTP security assessment flow and analysis phases

Introduction

This document visualizes the complete HTTP audit pipeline, showing how a simple test command transforms into comprehensive security reports with actionable recommendations.

Pipeline Stages

  1. Test suite execution and initialization
  2. HTTP request/response capture
  3. 7-phase comprehensive analysis
  4. Finding collection and scoring
  5. mAi Advisor™ recommendation generation
  6. Report assembly (diagnostic + summary)
  7. Output delivery to filesystem

Complete Pipeline Overview

flowchart TD
    Start([Test Execution<br/>mvn test]) --> InitSuite[JUnit @BeforeAll<br/>Initialize Test Suite]
    InitSuite --> LoadConfig[FW_ConfigMgr<br/>Load testConfig.properties]
    LoadConfig --> InitTest[JUnit @Test<br/>Test Case Start]
    InitTest --> CallAudit[Call FW_AuditManager<br/>performHttpAudit]
    CallAudit --> AuditMgr{FW_AuditManager<br/>INSTANCE}
    AuditMgr --> GetReview[getAuditHttpReview]
    GetReview --> HttpReview[FW_Audit_HttpReview<br/>runAuditHttpReview]
    HttpReview --> InitHttp[Initialize FW_Http object]
    InitHttp --> CallExecutor[Call FW_HttpExecutor]
    CallExecutor --> HttpExec[FW_HttpExecutor.execute]
    HttpExec --> OpenConn[Open HTTP Connection]
    OpenConn --> SendReq[Send HTTP Request]
    SendReq --> CaptureTiming[Capture DNS/Connection/TLS time]
    CaptureTiming --> ReceiveResp[Receive Response]
    ReceiveResp --> ExtractHeaders[Extract Headers & Cookies]
    ExtractHeaders --> ExtractCert[Extract Certificate]
    ExtractCert --> StoreHttp[Store in FW_Http]
    StoreHttp --> ReturnHttp[Return FW_Http]
    ReturnHttp --> StartAnalysis[Begin 7-Phase Analysis]
    StartAnalysis --> Phase1[Phase 1: Network & Geolocation]
    Phase1 --> Phase2[Phase 2: TLS & Certificate]
    Phase2 --> Phase3[Phase 3: Security Headers]
    Phase3 --> Phase4[Phase 4: Cookie Security]
    Phase4 --> Phase5[Phase 5: Redirect Chain]
    Phase5 --> Phase6[Phase 6: Performance]
    Phase6 --> Phase7[Phase 7: Compliance]
    Phase7 --> CollectFindings[Collect All Findings]
    CollectFindings --> CalcScores[Calculate Scores]
    CalcScores --> PopulateHttp[Populate FW_Http with Results]
    PopulateHttp --> TriggerAdvisor{Findings exist?}
    TriggerAdvisor -->|Yes| CallAdvisor[Call mAi Advisor™]
    TriggerAdvisor -->|No| SkipAdvisor[Skip Advisor]
    CallAdvisor --> GenRecs[Generate Recommendations]
    GenRecs --> AddRecsToHttp[Add to FW_Http]
    AddRecsToHttp --> MergeAdvisor[Merge Data]
    SkipAdvisor --> MergeAdvisor
    MergeAdvisor --> ReturnComplete[Return Complete FW_Http]
    ReturnComplete --> GenReports{Generate Reports?}
    GenReports -->|Yes| CreateDiag[FW_HttpDiagnosticReporter]
    CreateDiag --> BuildHTML[Build HTML Report]
    BuildHTML --> Section1[Section 1: DNS & Network]
    BuildHTML --> Section2[Section 2: TLS & Certificates]
    BuildHTML --> Section3[Section 3: Security Headers]
    BuildHTML --> Section4[Section 4: Performance]
    BuildHTML --> Section5[Section 5: Network Diagnostics]
    BuildHTML --> Section6[Section 6: Error Diagnostics]
    BuildHTML --> Section7[Section 7: Remediation]
    Section7 --> WriteHTML[Write HTML File]
    WriteHTML --> WriteMD[Write MD File]
    WriteMD --> CreateSum[Create Summary]
    CreateSum --> WriteSummary[Write Summary File]
    WriteSummary --> SaveReports[Save to target/http-reports/]
    GenReports -->|No| SkipReports[Skip Report Gen]
    SaveReports --> TestComplete[Test Complete]
    SkipReports --> TestComplete
    TestComplete --> End([Test Execution Complete])
    style Start fill:#e1f5ff
    style End fill:#e1ffe1
    style CallAdvisor fill:#fff3e1
    style Section7 fill:#e1ffe1

Data Transformation Pipeline

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Stage 1: Input"
        I1[Test Input:<br/>URL String]
    end
    subgraph "Stage 2: HTTP Transaction"
        T1[Raw HTTP Data:<br/>Request/Response<br/>Headers/Timing]
    end
    subgraph "Stage 3: Analysis"
        A1[Processed Data:<br/>Security Scores<br/>Findings List]
    end
    subgraph "Stage 4: Enrichment"
        E1[Enriched Data:<br/>GeoIP/Cert Details<br/>Framework Detection]
    end
    subgraph "Stage 5: Advisor"
        AD1[Advisor Data:<br/>Recommendations<br/>per Audience]
    end
    subgraph "Stage 6: FW_Http Object"
        H1[Complete FW_Http:<br/>100+ Fields]
    end
    subgraph "Stage 7: Reports"
        R1[HTML Report]
        R2[Markdown Report]
        R3[Summary Report]
    end
    I1 -->|FW_HttpExecutor| T1
    T1 -->|7-Phase Analysis| A1
    A1 -->|Enrichment| E1
    E1 -->|mAi Advisor™| AD1
    AD1 -->|Merge| H1
    H1 -->|Reporter| R1
    H1 -->|Reporter| R2
    H1 -->|Reporter| R3
    style I1 fill:#e1f5ff
    style T1 fill:#fff3e1
    style A1 fill:#ffe1e1
    style E1 fill:#ffe1ff
    style AD1 fill:#fff3e1
    style H1 fill:#e1ffe1
    style R1 fill:#e1ffe1
    style R2 fill:#e1ffe1
    style R3 fill:#e1ffe1

Security Header Analysis Flow

flowchart TD
    Headers[Response Headers Map] --> ExtractHeaders[Extract All Headers]
    ExtractHeaders --> H1[Check: Strict-Transport-Security]
    ExtractHeaders --> H2[Check: Content-Security-Policy]
    ExtractHeaders --> H3[Check: X-Frame-Options]
    ExtractHeaders --> H4[Check: X-Content-Type-Options]
    ExtractHeaders --> H5[Check: X-XSS-Protection]
    ExtractHeaders --> H6[Check: Referrer-Policy]
    ExtractHeaders --> H7[Check: Permissions-Policy]
    ExtractHeaders --> H8[Check: 8 more headers...]
    H1 --> HSTS{Present?}
    HSTS -->|Yes| HSTSValue{max-age >= 1 year?}
    HSTS -->|No| FindingHSTS[FINDING: HSTS Missing<br/>HIGH Severity]
    HSTSValue -->|Yes| PassHSTS[✓ HSTS OK]
    HSTSValue -->|No| FindingHSTSShort[FINDING: HSTS too short<br/>MEDIUM]
    H2 --> CSP{Present?}
    CSP -->|Yes| CSPValue{Valid policy?}
    CSP -->|No| FindingCSP[FINDING: CSP Missing<br/>HIGH Severity]
    CSPValue -->|Yes| PassCSP[✓ CSP OK]
    CSPValue -->|No| FindingCSPWeak[FINDING: CSP Weak<br/>MEDIUM]
    H3 --> XFrame{Present?}
    XFrame -->|Yes| PassXFrame[✓ X-Frame OK]
    XFrame -->|No| FindingXFrame[FINDING: Clickjacking<br/>MEDIUM]
    H4 --> XContent{Present?}
    XContent -->|Yes| PassXContent[✓ X-Content OK]
    XContent -->|No| FindingXContent[FINDING: MIME Sniff<br/>LOW]
    FindingHSTS --> CollectAll[Collect All Findings]
    FindingHSTSShort --> CollectAll
    FindingCSP --> CollectAll
    FindingCSPWeak --> CollectAll
    FindingXFrame --> CollectAll
    FindingXContent --> CollectAll
    PassHSTS --> CalcScore[Calculate Security Score]
    PassCSP --> CalcScore
    PassXFrame --> CalcScore
    PassXContent --> CalcScore
    CollectAll --> CountSeverity[Count by Severity]
    CountSeverity --> UpdateCounts[Update FW_Http]
    CalcScore --> FinalScore[Security Score: 0-100]
    UpdateCounts --> CombineResults[Combine Results]
    FinalScore --> CombineResults

Integration Points

flowchart TB
    subgraph "Extension Point 1: Pre-Audit"
        EP1[Before HTTP Request<br/>Custom Headers<br/>Authentication]
    end
    subgraph "Extension Point 2: Post-Capture"
        EP2[After HTTP Response<br/>Custom Parsing<br/>Additional Metrics]
    end
    subgraph "Extension Point 3: Analysis Phase"
        EP3[During Analysis<br/>Custom Checks<br/>Domain Logic]
    end
    subgraph "Extension Point 4: Finding Processing"
        EP4[After Findings<br/>Custom Scoring<br/>Priority Rules]
    end
    subgraph "Extension Point 5: Advisor Integration"
        EP5[Recommendation Gen<br/>Custom Templates<br/>Framework Detection]
    end
    subgraph "Extension Point 6: Report Generation"
        EP6[Report Assembly<br/>Custom Sections<br/>Additional Formats]
    end
    Pipeline[HTTP Audit Pipeline] --> EP1
    EP1 --> HttpExec[FW_HttpExecutor]
    HttpExec --> EP2
    EP2 --> Analysis[7-Phase Analysis]
    Analysis --> EP3
    EP3 --> Findings[Finding Collection]
    Findings --> EP4
    EP4 --> Advisor[mAi Advisor™]
    Advisor --> EP5
    EP5 --> Reports[Report Generation]
    Reports --> EP6
    EP6 --> Output[Final Output]
    style EP1 fill:#ffe1ff
    style EP2 fill:#ffe1ff
    style EP3 fill:#ffe1ff
    style EP4 fill:#ffe1ff
    style EP5 fill:#fff3e1
    style EP6 fill:#ffe1ff
    style Output fill:#e1ffe1

Error Handling Flow

flowchart TD
    Start([Pipeline Start]) --> Step1[HTTP Request]
    Step1 --> E1{Connection Error?}
    E1 -->|Yes| Log1[Log Error]
    E1 -->|No| Step2[Capture Response]
    Log1 --> Retry1{Retry?}
    Retry1 -->|Yes| RetryLogic1[Retry with Backoff]
    Retry1 -->|No| MarkFail1[Mark as Failed]
    RetryLogic1 --> Step1
    Step2 --> E2{Parse Error?}
    E2 -->|Yes| Log2[Log Error]
    E2 -->|No| Step3[Analysis Phase]
    Log2 --> HandleGraceful1[Handle Gracefully]
    HandleGraceful1 --> Step3
    Step3 --> E3{Analysis Error?}
    E3 -->|Yes| Log3[Log Error]
    E3 -->|No| Step4[Finding Collection]
    Log3 --> HandleGraceful2[Skip Failed Analysis]
    HandleGraceful2 --> Step4
    Step4 --> E4{Advisor Error?}
    E4 -->|Yes| Log4[Log Error]
    E4 -->|No| Step5[Report Generation]
    Log4 --> HandleGraceful3[Skip Advisor]
    HandleGraceful3 --> Step5
    Step5 --> E5{Report Error?}
    E5 -->|Yes| Log5[Log Error]
    E5 -->|No| Complete[Pipeline Complete]
    Log5 --> HandleGraceful4[Generate Basic Output]
    HandleGraceful4 --> PartialComplete[Partial Complete]
    MarkFail1 --> ErrorReport[Generate Error Report]
    ErrorReport --> ReturnError[Return Error]
    Complete --> Success[Return Success]
    PartialComplete --> PartialSuccess[Return Partial Success]
    style Start fill:#e1f5ff
    style Complete fill:#e1ffe1
    style Success fill:#e1ffe1
    style ErrorReport fill:#ffe1e1
    style ReturnError fill:#ffe1e1

Performance Optimization Points

flowchart LR
    subgraph "Optimization 1"
        O1[Connection Pooling<br/>Saves 200-500ms]
    end
    subgraph "Optimization 2"
        O2[Template Caching<br/>Saves 10-50ms]
    end
    subgraph "Optimization 3"
        O3[Parallel Analysis<br/>Saves 100-300ms]
    end
    subgraph "Optimization 4"
        O4[Lazy GeoIP<br/>Saves 50-150ms]
    end
    subgraph "Optimization 5"
        O5[Report Streaming<br/>Saves 20-100ms]
    end
    Pipeline[HTTP Audit Pipeline<br/>Average: 2-5 seconds] --> O1
    Pipeline --> O2
    Pipeline --> O3
    Pipeline --> O4
    Pipeline --> O5
    O1 --> Optimized[Optimized Pipeline<br/>Average: 1-3 seconds<br/>40-50% faster]
    O2 --> Optimized
    O3 --> Optimized
    O4 --> Optimized
    O5 --> Optimized
    style Pipeline fill:#ffe1e1
    style Optimized fill:#e1ffe1
    style O1 fill:#fff3e1
    style O2 fill:#fff3e1
    style O3 fill:#fff3e1
    style O4 fill:#fff3e1
    style O5 fill:#fff3e1

Summary

The HTTP Audit Pipeline transforms a simple URL string into comprehensive security reports through a sophisticated 7-stage process:

  1. Capture: HTTP request/response with complete timing data
  2. Analyze: 7-phase security, performance, and compliance analysis
  3. Enrich: GeoIP, certificate details, network path
  4. Detect: Framework and technology stack identification
  5. Advise: mAi Advisor™ generates role-specific recommendations
  6. Assemble: Reports compiled with diagnostic details and guidance
  7. Deliver: HTML, Markdown, and summary files saved to filesystem

The pipeline is designed for speed (2-5 seconds), extensibility (6 integration points), reliability (graceful error handling), and completeness (100+ metrics).

Related Documentation

DocumentDescription
HTTP Security AssessmentComprehensive audit guide
mAi Advisor™ FlowRecommendation generation
Architecture OverviewFramework layers
Diagrams HubAll framework diagrams