shadowy-pycoder · shadowy-pycoder · Jun 12, 2025 · Jun 10, 2025 · Jun 11, 2025 · Jun 11, 2025
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ Specify http server in proxy configuration of Postman
 - **Proxy Chain functionality**  
   Supports `strict`, `dynamic`, `random`, `round_robin` chains of SOCKS5 proxy
 
+- **Transparent proxy**  
+  Supports `redirect` (SO_ORIGINAL_DST) and `tproxy` (IP_TRANSPARENT) modes
+
 - **DNS Leak Protection**  
   DNS resolution occurs on SOCKS5 server side.
 
@@ -65,7 +68,7 @@ You can download the binary for your platform from [Releases](https://github.com
 Example:
 
 ```shell
-HPTS_RELEASE=v1.5.0; wget -v https://github.com/shadowy-pycoder/go-http-proxy-to-socks/releases/download/$HPTS_RELEASE/gohpts-$HPTS_RELEASE-linux-amd64.tar.gz -O gohpts && tar xvzf gohpts && mv -f gohpts-$HPTS_RELEASE-linux-amd64 gohpts && ./gohpts -h
+HPTS_RELEASE=v1.6.0; wget -v https://github.com/shadowy-pycoder/go-http-proxy-to-socks/releases/download/$HPTS_RELEASE/gohpts-$HPTS_RELEASE-linux-amd64.tar.gz -O gohpts && tar xvzf gohpts && mv -f gohpts-$HPTS_RELEASE-linux-amd64 gohpts && ./gohpts -h
 ```
 
 Alternatively, you can install it using `go install` command (requires Go [1.24](https://go.dev/doc/install) or later):
@@ -102,27 +105,31 @@ GitHub: https://github.com/shadowy-pycoder/go-http-proxy-to-socks
 Usage: gohpts [OPTIONS]
 Options:
   -h    Show this help message and exit.
+  -M value
+    	Transparent proxy mode: [redirect tproxy]
+  -T string
+    	Address of transparent proxy server (no HTTP)
   -U string
-        User for HTTP proxy (basic auth). This flag invokes prompt for password (not echoed to terminal)
+    	User for HTTP proxy (basic auth). This flag invokes prompt for password (not echoed to terminal)
   -c string
-        Path to certificate PEM encoded file
-  -d    Show logs in DEBUG mode
+    	Path to certificate PEM encoded file
+  -d	Show logs in DEBUG mode
   -f string
-        Path to server configuration file in YAML format
-  -j    Show logs in JSON format
+    	Path to server configuration file in YAML format
+  -j	Show logs in JSON format
   -k string
-        Path to private key PEM encoded file
+    	Path to private key PEM encoded file
   -l string
-        Address of HTTP proxy server (default "127.0.0.1:8080")
+    	Address of HTTP proxy server (default "127.0.0.1:8080")
   -s string
-        Address of SOCKS5 proxy server (default "127.0.0.1:1080")
+    	Address of SOCKS5 proxy server (default "127.0.0.1:1080")
+  -t string
+    	Address of transparent proxy server (it starts along with HTTP proxy server)
   -u string
-        User for SOCKS5 proxy authentication. This flag invokes prompt for password (not echoed to terminal)
-  -v    print version
+    	User for SOCKS5 proxy authentication. This flag invokes prompt for password (not echoed to terminal)
+  -v	print version
 ```
 
-## Example
-
 ### Configuration via CLI flags
 
 ```shell
@@ -217,6 +224,152 @@ server:
 
 To learn more about proxy chains visit [Proxychains Github](https://github.com/rofl0r/proxychains-ng)
 
+## Transparent proxy
+
+> Also known as an `intercepting proxy`, `inline proxy`, or `forced proxy`, a transparent proxy intercepts normal application layer communication without requiring any special client configuration. Clients need not be aware of the existence of the proxy. A transparent proxy is normally located between the client and the Internet, with the proxy performing some of the functions of a gateway or router
+>
+> -- _From [Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server)_
+
+This functionality available only on Linux systems and requires additional setup (`iptables`, ip route, etc)
+
+`-T address` flag specifies the address of transparent proxy server (`GoHPTS` will be running without HTTP server).
+
+`-t address` flag specifies the address of transparent proxy server (`HTTP` proxy and other functionality stays the same).
+
+In other words, `-T` spins up a single server, but `-t` two servers, `http` and `tcp`.
+
+There are two modes `redirect` and `tproxy` that can be specified with `-M` flag
+
+## `redirect` (via _NAT_ and _SO_ORIGINAL_DST_)
+
+In this mode proxying happens with `iptables` `nat` table and `REDIRECT` target. Host of incoming packet changes to the address of running `redirect` transparent proxy, but it also contains original destination that can be retrieved with `getsockopt(SO_ORIGINAL_DST)`
+
+To run `GoHPTS` in this mode you use `-t` or `-T` flags with `-M redirect`
+
+### Example
+
+```shell
+# run the proxy
+gohpts -s 1080 -t 1090 -M redirect -d
+```
+
+```shell
+# run socks5 server on 127.0.0.1:1080
+ssh remote -D 1080 -Nf
+```
+
+Setup your operating system:
+
+```shell
+# commands below require elevated privileges (you can run it with `sudo -i`)
+
+#enable ip forwarding
+sysctl -w net.ipv4.ip_forward=1
+
+# create `GOHPTS` nat chain
+iptables -t nat -N GOHPTS
+
+# set no redirection rules for local, http proxy, ssh and redirect procy itself
+iptables -t nat -A GOHPTS -d 127.0.0.0/8 -j RETURN
+iptables -t nat -A GOHPTS -p tcp --dport 8080 -j RETURN
+iptables -t nat -A GOHPTS -p tcp --dport 1090 -j RETURN
+iptables -t nat -A GOHPTS -p tcp --dport 22 -j RETURN
+
+# redirect traffic to transparent proxy
+iptables -t nat -A GOHPTS -p tcp -j REDIRECT --to-ports 1090
+
+# setup prerouting by adding our proxy
+iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -p tcp -j GOHPTS
+
+# intercept local traffic for testing
+iptables -t nat -A OUTPUT -p tcp -j GOHPTS
+```
+
+Test connection:
+
+```shell
+#traffic should be redirected via 127.0.0.1:1090
+curl http://example.com
+```
+
+```shell
+#traffic should be redirected via 127.0.0.1:8080
+curl --proxy http://127.0.0.1:8080 http://example.com
+```
+
+Undo everything:
+
+```shell
+sysctl -w net.ipv4.ip_forward=0
+iptables -t nat -D PREROUTING -p tcp -j GOHPTS
+iptables -t nat -D OUTPUT -p tcp -j GOHPTS
+iptables -t nat -F GOHPTS
+iptables -t nat -X GOHPTS
+```
+
+## `tproxy` (via _MANGLE_ and _IP_TRANSPARENT_)
+
+In this mode proxying happens with `iptables` `mangle` table and `TPROXY` target. Transparent proxy sees destination address as is, it is not being rewrited by the kernel. For this to work the proxy binds with socket option `IP_TRANSPARENT`, `iptables` intercepts traffic using TPROXY target, routing rules tell marked packets to go to the local proxy without changing their original destination.
+
+This mode requires elevated privileges to run `GoHPTS`. You can do that by running the follwing command:
+
+```shell
+sudo setcap 'cap_net_admin+ep' ~/go/bin/gohpts
+```
+
+To run `GoHPTS` in this mode you use `-t` or `-T` flags with `-M tproxy`
+
+### Example
+
+```shell
+# run the proxy
+gohpts -s 1080 -T 0.0.0.0:1090 -M tproxy -d
+```
+
+```shell
+# run socks5 server on 127.0.0.1:1080
+ssh remote -D 1080 -Nf
+```
+
+Setup your operating system:
+
+```shell
+ip netns exec ns-client ip route add default via 10.0.0.1
+sysctl -w net.ipv4.ip_forward=1
+
+iptables -t mangle -A PREROUTING -i veth1 -p tcp -j TPROXY --on-port 1090 --tproxy-mark 0x1/0x1
+
+ip rule add fwmark 1 lookup 100
+ip route add local 0.0.0.0/0 dev lo table 100
+```
+
+Test connection:
+
+```shell
+ip netns exec ns-client curl http://1.1.1.1
+```
+
+Undo everything:
+
+```shell
+sysctl -w net.ipv4.ip_forward=0
+iptables -t mangle -F
+ip rule del fwmark 1 lookup 100
+ip route flush table 100
+ip netns del ns-client
+ip link del veth1
+```
+
+## Links
+
+Learn more about transparent proxies by visiting the following links:
+
+- [Transparent proxy support in Linux Kernel](https://docs.kernel.org/networking/tproxy.html)
+- [Transparent proxy tutorial by Gost](https://latest.gost.run/en/tutorials/redirect/)
+- [Simple tproxy example](https://github.com/FarFetchd/simple_tproxy_example)
+- [Golang TProxy](https://github.com/KatelynHaworth/go-tproxy)
+- [Transparent Proxy Implementation using eBPF and Go](https://medium.com/all-things-ebpf/building-a-transparent-proxy-with-ebpf-50a012237e76)
+
 ## License
 
 MIT
diff --git a/cmd/gohpts/cli.go b/cmd/gohpts/cli.go
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"runtime"
+	"slices"
 
 	gohpts "github.com/shadowy-pycoder/go-http-proxy-to-socks"
 	"golang.org/x/term"
@@ -13,6 +15,7 @@ const (
 	app       string = "gohpts"
 	addrSOCKS        = "127.0.0.1:1080"
 	addrHTTP         = "127.0.0.1:8080"
+	tproxyOS         = "linux"
 )
 const usagePrefix string = `                                                                  
     _____       _    _ _____ _______ _____ 
@@ -40,6 +43,18 @@ func root(args []string) error {
 	flags.StringVar(&conf.CertFile, "c", "", "Path to certificate PEM encoded file")
 	flags.StringVar(&conf.KeyFile, "k", "", "Path to private key PEM encoded file")
 	flags.StringVar(&conf.ServerConfPath, "f", "", "Path to server configuration file in YAML format")
+	if runtime.GOOS == tproxyOS {
+		flags.StringVar(&conf.TProxy, "t", "", "Address of transparent proxy server (it starts along with HTTP proxy server)")
+		flags.StringVar(&conf.TProxyOnly, "T", "", "Address of transparent proxy server (no HTTP)")
+		flags.Func("M", fmt.Sprintf("Transparent proxy mode: %s", gohpts.SupportedTProxyModes), func(flagValue string) error {
+			if !slices.Contains(gohpts.SupportedTProxyModes, flagValue) {
+				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s: %s is not supported (type '%s -h' for help)\n", app, flagValue, app)
+				os.Exit(2)
+			}
+			conf.TProxyMode = flagValue
+			return nil
+		})
+	}
 	flags.BoolFunc("d", "Show logs in DEBUG mode", func(flagValue string) error {
 		conf.Debug = true
 		return nil
@@ -64,9 +79,35 @@ func root(args []string) error {
 	}
 	seen := make(map[string]bool)
 	flags.Visit(func(f *flag.Flag) { seen[f.Name] = true })
+	if seen["t"] && seen["T"] {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cannot specify both -t and -T flags")
+	}
+	if seen["t"] {
+		if !seen["M"] {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Transparent proxy mode is not provided: -M flag")
+		}
+	}
+	if seen["T"] {
+		for _, da := range []string{"U", "c", "k", "l"} {
+			if seen[da] {
+				return fmt.Errorf("-T flag only works with -s, -u, -f, -M, -d and -j flags")
+			}
+		}
+		if !seen["M"] {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Transparent proxy mode is not provided: -M flag")
+		}
+	}
+	if seen["M"] {
+		if !seen["t"] && !seen["T"] {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Transparent proxy mode requires -t or -T flag")
+		}
+	}
 	if seen["f"] {
 		for _, da := range []string{"s", "u", "U", "c", "k", "l"} {
 			if seen[da] {
+				if runtime.GOOS == tproxyOS {
+					return fmt.Errorf("-f flag only works with -t, -T, -M, -d and -j flags")
+				}
 				return fmt.Errorf("-f flag only works with -d and -j flags")
 			}
 		}
@@ -89,6 +130,7 @@ func root(args []string) error {
 		conf.ServerPass = string(bytepw)
 		fmt.Print("\033[2K\r")
 	}
+
 	p := gohpts.New(&conf)
 	p.Run()
 	return nil

diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ require (
 	github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.18.0
 	github.com/rs/zerolog v1.34.0
 	golang.org/x/net v0.40.0
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.33.0
 	golang.org/x/term v0.32.0
 )
 
 require (
 	github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.13 // indirect
 	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.19 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.33.0 // indirect
 )