Symmetric Encryption – Bidirectional Python Socket

Using the “cryptography” library we can encrypt and decrypt the bidirectional socket messages sent back and forth to the client and the server.

We use “symmetric” encryption in the example below which means the “key” to decrypt the message is shared with the client and the server.

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To verify that our data is being transmitted as ciphertext (base64 encoded ciphertext), let’s load up Wireshark and packet capture the message data exchange between the server and client.

Notice below the encrypted and encoded ciphertext found during packet capture. We can use the shared (between client and server) symmetric secret key to decrypt this message manually.

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Jesse Shelley

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I have many years of experience as a criminal investigator, evidence custodian, IT administrator, and as an information security specialist.

I've performed dozens of digital forensic examinations on cases involving criminal matters such as murder, domestic terrorism, sexual assault, child exploitation, CSAM, CSEC, illegal wiretapping, bomb threats, kidnapping, military, corporate, and casework from alphabet agencies such as the FBI and DEA.

Symmetric Encryption – Bidirectional Python Socket