feat(transport): real TLS-443 on the TCP backend (replaces HTTP/1.1 masquerade)

The TCP fallback now does a full outer TLS handshake (tokio-rustls 0.26 over
rustls 0.23, ring provider) before the Aura proto handshake, exactly like the
QUIC backend: on the wire it is indistinguishable from genuine HTTPS until the
inner Aura mutual-auth handshake starts. Removes v1's "light HTTP masquerade"
limitation; the real security boundary remains the inner PQ handshake.

- aura-transport::tcp: dropped the HTTP/1.1 preamble helpers and TcpOpts
  fields (masquerade, host, user_agent, server_header). New flow:
  TlsAcceptor::accept (server) / TlsConnector::connect (client) →
  tokio::io::split(TlsStream) → server_handshake / client_handshake → Session.
  Client reuses crate::quic::AcceptAnyServerCert (outer SNI not authenticated;
  inner handshake is the security boundary). Outer server cert auto-sourced
  from proto_cfg.server_cert_pem (no API change for the CLI's bind).
- ALPN default: ["h2", "http/1.1"] (DEFAULT_TCP_ALPN, exported).
- TcpOpts: now just { alpn: Option<Vec<Vec<u8>>> }.
- TcpClient::connect gains an outer-SNI &str param; DialConfig.sni passes it
  through (separate from the inner proto_cfg.server_name).
- tokio-rustls 0.26 added as a transport-local dependency (not workspace).

CLI updates: removed dead host/user_agent/server_header wiring; mask rotation
no longer touches TCP outer parameters (TLS doesn't have a Host header on
the wire). [transport] masquerade kept as a no-op for back-compat with old
configs (documented).

3 new tcp_loopback tests (default ALPN end-to-end, custom ALPN, outer SNI
mismatch still connects = proves accept-any is in effect). Workspace: 142
tests passed (+1), clippy -D warnings clean, fmt clean.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Cargo.lock

@@ -282,6 +282,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "rustls-pki-types",
  "thiserror 1.0.69",
  "tokio",
+ "tokio-rustls",
  "tracing",
 ]
 
@@ -2659,6 +2660,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 2.0.117",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "tokio-rustls"
+version = "0.26.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1729aa945f29d91ba541258c8df89027d5792d85a8841fb65e8bf0f4ede4ef61"
+dependencies = [
+ "rustls",
+ "tokio",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "tokio-util"
 version = "0.7.18"

crates/aura-cli/src/client.rs

@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
 //! 2. Build a shared [`RouteTable`] from `[tunnel.split]` (default action + direct/vpn CIDR rules);
 //!    record domain rules for resolution.
 //! 3. [`aura_transport::dial`] the server, trying each transport in `[transport] order` (the
-//!    UDP→TCP→QUIC "handover") until one connects; QUIC presents `[client] sni` as the outer
+//!    UDP→TCP→QUIC "handover") until one connects; both QUIC and TCP present `[client] sni` as
-//!    (mimicry) hostname and TCP uses it as the masquerade `Host`.
+//!    their outer-TLS SNI (the TCP backend wraps the connection in a real TLS-443 handshake too;
+//!    see [`aura_transport::TcpClient::connect`]).
 //! 4. Resolve any split-tunnel domain rules via [`AuraDns`] into host routes (best-effort).
 //! 5. Create the local TUN ([`AuraTun::create`]) on `[tunnel] local_ip/prefix` and run
 //!    [`AuraRouter`] to bridge the TUN and the connection.
@@ -47,10 +48,10 @@ pub async fn run(config_path: &Path, admin_socket: &str) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let rot = Arc::new(MaskRotator::new(&proto_cfg.ca_cert_pem)?);
         let initial = rot.current().await;
         dial_cfg.sni = initial.sni.clone();
-        dial_cfg.tcp.host = initial.http_host.clone();
-        dial_cfg.tcp.user_agent = initial.user_agent.clone();
-        dial_cfg.tcp.server_header = initial.server_header.clone();
         dial_cfg.udp.padding_profile = initial.padding_profile_id;
+        // The TCP transport now wraps in real outer TLS-443 (no HTTP preamble), so the per-mask
+        // `Host:` / `User-Agent:` / `Server:` strings no longer feed `dial_cfg.tcp`. The outer TLS
+        // SNI for both TCP and QUIC is `dial_cfg.sni` (above).
         tracing::info!(
             sni = %initial.sni,
             padding_profile = initial.padding_profile_id,

crates/aura-cli/src/config.rs

@@ -265,7 +265,9 @@ pub struct TransportSection {
     pub quic_port: u16,
     /// UDP transport: pad datagrams up to HTTPS size buckets to blur on-wire sizes.
     pub obfuscate: bool,
-    /// TCP transport: prepend a minimal HTTP/1.1 preamble so the open resembles plain HTTP.
+    /// **Deprecated, ignored.** The TCP transport used to optionally prepend a minimal HTTP/1.1
+    /// preamble (a light disguise); in v2 it always uses a real outer TLS-443 handshake (a much
+    /// stronger camouflage), so this knob has no effect. Kept for backwards-compat config parsing.
     pub masquerade: bool,
     /// `[transport.masks]`: daily protocol-mask rotation knobs.
     pub masks: MasksSection,
@@ -542,17 +544,14 @@ impl ServerConfigFile {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Build the [`TcpOpts`] for the server's TCP transport from `[transport] masquerade`; the
+    /// Build the [`TcpOpts`] for the server's TCP transport.
-    /// masquerade `Host` reuses the mimicry SNI when one is configured.
+    ///
+    /// In v2 the TCP backend always uses a real outer TLS-443 layer, so there are no per-config
+    /// knobs here (ALPN keeps its `[h2, http/1.1]` default). The legacy `[transport] masquerade` /
+    /// `[mimicry] sni` values are still parsed for backwards compatibility but are no longer plumbed
+    /// into [`TcpOpts`].
     pub fn tcp_opts(&self) -> TcpOpts {
-        let mut opts = TcpOpts {
+        TcpOpts::default()
-            masquerade: self.transport.masquerade,
-            ..TcpOpts::default()
-        };
-        if let Some(sni) = &self.mimicry.sni {
-            opts.host = sni.clone();
-        }
-        opts
     }
 }
 
@@ -588,9 +587,10 @@ impl ClientConfigFile {
     /// Build the [`DialConfig`] the client passes to [`aura_transport::dial`].
     ///
     /// The server **IP** is taken from `[client] server_addr` (its port is ignored: each transport
-    /// uses its own port from `[transport]`). `order` becomes the fallback order, and the per-
+    /// uses its own port from `[transport]`). `order` becomes the fallback order. Per-transport
-    /// transport options (UDP `obfuscate`, TCP `masquerade`/`host` and the QUIC SNI) come from
+    /// options: UDP gets `obfuscate` from `[transport]`; TCP/QUIC both use `[client] sni` as their
-    /// `[transport]` + `[client] sni`.
+    /// outer-TLS camouflage SNI (TLS is now real on the TCP side too, see
+    /// [`aura_transport::TcpClient::connect`]).
     pub fn dial_config(&self) -> anyhow::Result<DialConfig> {
         let ip = self.server_socket_addr()?.ip();
         let order = self.transport.modes()?;
@@ -611,11 +611,7 @@ impl ClientConfigFile {
                 obfuscate: self.transport.obfuscate,
                 ..UdpOpts::default()
             },
-            tcp: TcpOpts {
+            tcp: TcpOpts::default(),
-                masquerade: self.transport.masquerade,
-                host: self.client.sni.clone(),
-                ..TcpOpts::default()
-            },
             attempt_timeout: Duration::from_secs(8),
         })
     }
@@ -787,9 +783,10 @@ masquerade = true
         assert_eq!(eps.tcp.unwrap().to_string(), "0.0.0.0:4433");
         assert_eq!(eps.quic.unwrap().to_string(), "0.0.0.0:4434");
         assert!(cfg.udp_opts().obfuscate);
+        // TCP options are now ALPN-only (real outer TLS handles the camouflage); the legacy
+        // [transport] masquerade / [mimicry] sni values are parsed but no longer plumbed into TcpOpts.
         let tcp = cfg.tcp_opts();
-        assert!(tcp.masquerade);
+        assert!(tcp.alpn.is_none(), "default ALPN is used");
-        assert_eq!(tcp.host, "cdn.example.com"); // reuses mimicry SNI
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -848,8 +845,9 @@ pool_cidr = "10.7.0.0/24"
         assert!(dial.endpoints.quic.is_none());
         assert_eq!(dial.sni, "cdn.example.com");
         assert!(!dial.udp.obfuscate);
-        assert!(dial.tcp.masquerade);
+        // TCP is wrapped in real outer TLS now; the legacy HTTP `Host` / masquerade fields are gone.
-        assert_eq!(dial.tcp.host, "cdn.example.com");
+        // The outer TLS SNI is `dial.sni`, asserted above.
+        assert!(dial.tcp.alpn.is_none(), "default ALPN is used");
     }
 
     #[test]

crates/aura-cli/src/masks.rs

@@ -9,10 +9,18 @@
 //! 4. logs the rotation and loops.
 //!
 //! Each new connection (`UdpServer::accept`, `UdpClient::connect`, `TcpClient::connect`, ...)
-//! reads the **current** mask once when constructing its [`UdpOpts`] / [`TcpOpts`] / QUIC SNI, so
+//! reads the **current** mask once when constructing its [`UdpOpts`] padding profile / QUIC SNI /
-//! already-established connections keep their original mask and only fresh connections see the
+//! TCP outer-TLS SNI, so already-established connections keep their original mask and only fresh
-//! rotation. There is no need to coordinate with the peer: each side independently derived the same
+//! connections see the rotation. There is no need to coordinate with the peer: each side
-//! set from the CA fingerprint it already trusts.
+//! independently derived the same set from the CA fingerprint it already trusts.
+//!
+//! v2 note: the [`MaskSet::user_agent`] / [`MaskSet::server_header`] fields and the corresponding
+//! palettes ([`USER_AGENT_PALETTE`](aura_crypto::USER_AGENT_PALETTE) /
+//! [`SERVER_HEADER_PALETTE`](aura_crypto::SERVER_HEADER_PALETTE)) survive but are no longer plumbed
+//! into the TCP transport — the v1 HTTP/1.1 masquerade preamble has been replaced by a real outer
+//! TLS-443 handshake (see [`aura_transport::TcpClient::connect`]) which makes those header strings
+//! irrelevant. They are kept for a possible future evolution (e.g. mimicking specific origin
+//! fingerprints via ALPN rotation or in an in-stream HTTP request inside the TLS tunnel).
 //!
 //! ## Date arithmetic (no external date crate)
 //!

crates/aura-cli/src/server.rs

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ pub async fn run(config_path: &Path, admin_socket: &str) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     // Per-transport endpoints (UDP/TCP/QUIC) derived from the listen IP + `[transport]` ports.
     let endpoints = cfg.transport_endpoints()?;
     let mut udp_opts = cfg.udp_opts();
-    let mut tcp_opts = cfg.tcp_opts();
+    let tcp_opts = cfg.tcp_opts();
 
     // Build the daily mask rotator (HKDF over the CA fingerprint + MSK date). When enabled in the
     // config, the *initial* mask overrides the static SNI / padding-profile / header values from
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@ pub async fn run(config_path: &Path, admin_socket: &str) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let rot = Arc::new(MaskRotator::new(&proto_cfg.ca_cert_pem)?);
         let initial = rot.current().await;
         udp_opts.padding_profile = initial.padding_profile_id;
-        tcp_opts.host = initial.http_host.clone();
+        // The TCP transport now uses a real outer TLS-443 layer, which subsumes the old HTTP
-        tcp_opts.user_agent = initial.user_agent.clone();
+        // masquerade preamble — there is no longer a per-mask `Host:` / `User-Agent:` / `Server:`
-        tcp_opts.server_header = initial.server_header.clone();
+        // header to inject. Mask rotation still drives UDP padding (above) and the QUIC SNI.
         tracing::info!(
             sni = %initial.sni,
             padding_profile = initial.padding_profile_id,
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ pub async fn run(config_path: &Path, admin_socket: &str) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         tcp = ?endpoints.tcp,
         quic = ?endpoints.quic,
         obfuscate = udp_opts.obfuscate,
-        masquerade = tcp_opts.masquerade,
+        tcp_tls = "real outer TLS-443 (h2/http1.1 ALPN)",
         "starting Aura server"
     );
 
@@ -129,11 +129,15 @@ pub async fn run(config_path: &Path, admin_socket: &str) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let server_for_apply = Arc::clone(&server);
         let rot_for_apply = Arc::clone(rot);
         let base_udp = udp_opts;
-        let base_tcp = tcp_opts.clone();
         tokio::spawn(async move {
             // Poll the rotator's handle for a change once a minute, and push it into the live
             // MultiServer when it changes. The actual rotation timer lives inside the rotator's
             // spawn; this loop is just the "apply to bound sockets" bridge.
+            //
+            // Only UDP's padding profile gets pushed: the TCP transport now uses real outer TLS,
+            // not an HTTP preamble, so the per-mask `Host:` / `User-Agent:` / `Server:` headers no
+            // longer apply. The QUIC outer SNI is also derived from the mask but is per-connect on
+            // the client side (the server does not advertise an SNI).
             let handle = rot_for_apply.handle();
             let mut last = rot_for_apply.current().await;
             loop {
@@ -142,13 +146,8 @@ pub async fn run(config_path: &Path, admin_socket: &str) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 if current != last {
                     let mut new_udp = base_udp;
                     new_udp.padding_profile = current.padding_profile_id;
-                    let mut new_tcp = base_tcp.clone();
-                    new_tcp.host = current.http_host.clone();
-                    new_tcp.user_agent = current.user_agent.clone();
-                    new_tcp.server_header = current.server_header.clone();
                     let srv = server_for_apply.lock().await;
                     srv.set_udp_opts(new_udp).await;
-                    srv.set_tcp_opts(new_tcp).await;
                     tracing::info!(
                         sni = %current.sni,
                         padding_profile = current.padding_profile_id,

crates/aura-transport/Cargo.toml

@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ async-trait.workspace = true
 # PEM (certificates + PKCS#8 keys) -> DER for the outer QUIC/TLS rustls config. Already resolved
 # in the workspace lockfile (pulled transitively), so this adds no new version resolution.
 rustls-pemfile = "2"
+# Outer TLS-443 wrapper for the TCP transport (real HTTPS-on-the-wire camouflage; the security
+# boundary is still the inner Aura handshake, just like for the QUIC backend). Local-only to this
+# crate — not a new workspace dependency.
+tokio-rustls = { version = "0.26", default-features = false, features = ["ring"] }
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 # The loopback integration test mints a CA + server/client certs to drive a real QUIC handshake.

crates/aura-transport/src/dial.rs

@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ use crate::{AuraClient, AuraServer, TcpClient, TcpOpts, TcpServer, UdpClient, Ud
 pub enum TransportMode {
     /// Aura's own protocol over plain UDP (primary).
     Udp,
-    /// Aura over TCP (fallback for UDP-blocking networks; optional HTTP masquerade).
+    /// Aura over TCP wrapped in a real outer TLS-443 handshake (fallback for UDP-blocking
+    /// networks; the on-wire bytes are indistinguishable from a normal HTTPS connection).
     Tcp,
     /// Aura inside QUIC/HTTP3 mimicry (fallback / strong camouflage).
     Quic,
@@ -71,7 +72,9 @@ pub struct Endpoints {
 pub struct DialConfig {
     /// Server addresses per transport.
     pub endpoints: Endpoints,
-    /// SNI / masquerade hostname (QUIC outer SNI; TCP masquerade Host).
+    /// Outer-TLS SNI: presented by both the QUIC and the TCP backends as the camouflage hostname.
+    /// Not verified (both backends use [`crate::quic::AcceptAnyServerCert`] on the outer layer); the
+    /// real server-name check happens in the inner Aura handshake against `proto_cfg.server_name`.
     pub sni: String,
     /// Transports to try, in order. The first that connects wins.
     pub order: Vec<TransportMode>,
@@ -149,9 +152,11 @@ async fn dial_one(
         TransportMode::Udp => UdpClient::connect(addr, proto_cfg.clone(), cfg.udp)
             .await?
             .into_dyn(),
-        TransportMode::Tcp => TcpClient::connect(addr, proto_cfg.clone(), cfg.tcp.clone())
+        TransportMode::Tcp => {
-            .await?
+            TcpClient::connect(addr, &cfg.sni, proto_cfg.clone(), cfg.tcp.clone())
-            .into_dyn(),
+                .await?
+                .into_dyn()
+        }
         TransportMode::Quic => AuraClient::connect(addr, &cfg.sni, proto_cfg.clone())
             .await?
             .into_dyn(),
@@ -176,8 +181,9 @@ pub struct Accepted {
 /// QUIC, or run one UDP server per client.
 ///
 /// The UDP and TCP servers are kept behind shared [`Arc`] handles so the daily mask rotator can
-/// update their accept-time options (padding profile, masquerade preamble strings) without
+/// update their accept-time options (UDP padding profile; TCP currently only carries ALPN, which is
-/// disturbing in-flight connections — see [`MultiServer::set_udp_opts`] / [`MultiServer::set_tcp_opts`].
+/// usually static) without disturbing in-flight connections — see [`MultiServer::set_udp_opts`] /
+/// [`MultiServer::set_tcp_opts`].
 pub struct MultiServer {
     rx: mpsc::Receiver<Accepted>,
     tasks: Vec<tokio::task::JoinHandle<()>>,

crates/aura-transport/src/lib.rs

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ pub use padding::{
     HTTPS_SIZE_BUCKETS, PADDING_PROFILES,
 };
 pub use quic::{client_endpoint, server_endpoint, AcceptAnyServerCert};
-pub use tcp::{TcpClient, TcpConnection, TcpOpts, TcpServer};
+pub use tcp::{TcpClient, TcpConnection, TcpOpts, TcpServer, DEFAULT_TCP_ALPN};
 pub use udp::{UdpClient, UdpConnection, UdpOpts, UdpServer};
 
 // Re-export the inner proto trait so downstream crates (the CLI) can name the connection as

crates/aura-transport/src/tcp.rs

@@ -1,18 +1,19 @@
-//! Aura over plain **TCP** — a fallback transport for networks that block UDP/QUIC (project §7).
+//! Aura over **TLS-443 / TCP** — fallback transport for networks that block UDP/QUIC (project §7).
 //!
-//! This runs the SAME Aura proto handshake (hybrid X25519 + ML-KEM-768 + mutual X.509) and
+//! This wires the Aura proto handshake (hybrid X25519 + ML-KEM-768 + mutual X.509) and
-//! [`aura_proto::Session`] directly over a [`TcpStream`], which already implements
+//! [`aura_proto::Session`] **inside a real TLS-443 connection**. The outer rustls TLS layer is
-//! [`AsyncRead`](tokio::io::AsyncRead) + [`AsyncWrite`](tokio::io::AsyncWrite). No extra crypto and
+//! exactly the same camouflage idea as for the QUIC backend (see [`crate::quic`]):
-//! no QUIC are involved — the security boundary is the inner Aura handshake, exactly as for the UDP
-//! backend.
 //!
-//! ## Optional HTTP masquerade
+//! * On the wire the connection is indistinguishable from a normal HTTPS session up to the start of
+//!   the Aura handshake (the TLS record stream is identical to e.g. a browser hitting an
+//!   `nginx`-fronted endpoint with ALPN `h2`/`http/1.1`).
+//! * The outer TLS is **not** the source of trust. The client uses [`AcceptAnyServerCert`]
+//!   (reused verbatim from the QUIC backend) so the outer SNI / server certificate carry no
+//!   authentication weight. The single security boundary is the inner Aura handshake — mutual X.509
+//!   against the Aura CA + hybrid PQ key agreement — which runs over the already-encrypted TLS
+//!   stream.
 //!
-//! With [`TcpOpts::masquerade`] the peers exchange a minimal HTTP/1.1 request/response preamble
+//! [`AcceptAnyServerCert`]: crate::quic::AcceptAnyServerCert
-//! before the Aura handshake, so the start of the connection resembles a plain HTTP session to a
-//! casual observer. This is a **light disguise, not TLS** — full HTTPS/TLS-443 mimicry (reusing the
-//! rustls outer layer from the QUIC backend) is a planned enhancement; for now TCP's main job is to
-//! get bytes through where UDP is blocked.
 
 use std::io;
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
@@ -20,76 +21,147 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use bytes::Bytes;
-use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt};
+use tokio::io::{ReadHalf, WriteHalf};
-use tokio::net::tcp::{OwnedReadHalf, OwnedWriteHalf};
 use tokio::net::{TcpListener, TcpStream};
 use tokio::sync::Mutex;
+use tokio_rustls::{
+    client::TlsStream as ClientTlsStream, server::TlsStream as ServerTlsStream, TlsAcceptor,
+    TlsConnector,
+};
 
 use aura_proto::{
     client_handshake, server_handshake, ClientConfig, Frame, PacketConnection, ServerConfig,
     Session, SessionReceiver, SessionSender,
 };
+use rustls::pki_types::ServerName;
+
+use crate::quic::{certs_from_pem, ensure_crypto_provider, key_from_pem, AcceptAnyServerCert};
+use crate::TransportError;
+
+/// Default outer-TLS ALPN list presented by the TCP transport. The pair `h2` then `http/1.1` is the
+/// canonical browser/CDN advert — it is what a passive observer would expect to see on a TLS-443
+/// connection to virtually any modern web origin.
+pub const DEFAULT_TCP_ALPN: &[&[u8]] = &[b"h2", b"http/1.1"];
 
 /// Tunables for the TCP transport.
 ///
-/// `user_agent` / `server_header` defaults match the original hard-coded preamble strings, so a
+/// The HTTP/1.1 "light masquerade" preamble that lived here pre-v2 has been removed: the outer
-/// pre-rotation deployment that constructs `TcpOpts::default()` retains exact wire compatibility
+/// camouflage is now a real rustls TLS-443 handshake (much stronger). The only knob left is the
-/// with previous Aura builds (used by existing TCP loopback tests).
+/// **ALPN advertisement** in case a deployment wants to mimic a specific origin's stack; the
-#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+/// default of `[h2, http/1.1]` is the canonical browser-CDN advertisement.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default)]
 pub struct TcpOpts {
-    /// When `true`, exchange a minimal HTTP/1.1 preamble before the Aura handshake so the connection
+    /// Custom ALPN list for the outer TLS handshake. `None` (the default) uses
-    /// opening resembles plain HTTP. A light disguise only (not TLS).
+    /// [`DEFAULT_TCP_ALPN`] (= `[b"h2", b"http/1.1"]`).
-    pub masquerade: bool,
+    pub alpn: Option<Vec<Vec<u8>>>,
-    /// `Host:` header value used in the client's masquerade preamble.
-    pub host: String,
-    /// `User-Agent:` header value used in the client's masquerade preamble; the daily mask
-    /// rotation supplies this from [`aura_crypto::MaskSet::user_agent`].
-    pub user_agent: String,
-    /// `Server:` header value used in the server's masquerade preamble; the daily mask rotation
-    /// supplies this from [`aura_crypto::MaskSet::server_header`].
-    pub server_header: String,
 }
 
-impl Default for TcpOpts {
+impl TcpOpts {
-    fn default() -> Self {
+    /// Materialize the ALPN protocol list this options instance should send on the wire.
-        Self {
+    fn alpn_protocols(&self) -> Vec<Vec<u8>> {
-            masquerade: false,
+        self.alpn
-            host: "cdn.example.com".to_string(),
+            .clone()
-            // Match the pre-rotation hard-coded preamble strings exactly so existing loopback tests
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| DEFAULT_TCP_ALPN.iter().map(|p| p.to_vec()).collect())
-            // (which build `TcpOpts::default()`) keep observing identical wire bytes.
-            user_agent: "Mozilla/5.0".to_string(),
-            server_header: "nginx".to_string(),
-        }
     }
 }
 
-/// The concrete session type carried over TCP: a proto session over TcpStream's owned halves.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-type TcpSession = Session<OwnedReadHalf, OwnedWriteHalf>;
+// TLS handshake glue
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-/// An established Aura connection carried over **plain TCP**, exposed as a packet pipe.
+/// Build the outer rustls server config (mirrors the QUIC server config: ALPN, single cert, no
+/// client auth — mutual auth happens inside the Aura handshake on the encrypted stream).
+fn server_tls_config(
+    cert_pem: &str,
+    key_pem: &str,
+    alpn: Vec<Vec<u8>>,
+) -> Result<rustls::ServerConfig, TransportError> {
+    ensure_crypto_provider();
+
+    let certs = certs_from_pem(cert_pem)?;
+    let key = key_from_pem(key_pem)?;
+
+    let mut sc = rustls::ServerConfig::builder()
+        .with_no_client_auth()
+        .with_single_cert(certs, key)
+        .map_err(|e| TransportError::Tls(format!("building TCP outer-TLS server config: {e}")))?;
+    sc.alpn_protocols = alpn;
+    Ok(sc)
+}
+
+/// Build the outer rustls client config: the dangerous accept-any verifier (reused from the QUIC
+/// path) so the outer SNI / server cert carry no authentication weight.
+fn client_tls_config(alpn: Vec<Vec<u8>>) -> Result<rustls::ClientConfig, TransportError> {
+    ensure_crypto_provider();
+
+    let mut cc = rustls::ClientConfig::builder()
+        .dangerous()
+        .with_custom_certificate_verifier(Arc::new(AcceptAnyServerCert))
+        .with_no_client_auth();
+    cc.alpn_protocols = alpn;
+    Ok(cc)
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Connection
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// Server-side proto reader / writer halves: a split TLS stream over a [`TcpStream`].
+type ServerReader = ReadHalf<ServerTlsStream<TcpStream>>;
+type ServerWriter = WriteHalf<ServerTlsStream<TcpStream>>;
+/// Client-side proto reader / writer halves: a split TLS stream over a [`TcpStream`].
+type ClientReader = ReadHalf<ClientTlsStream<TcpStream>>;
+type ClientWriter = WriteHalf<ClientTlsStream<TcpStream>>;
+
+/// An established Aura connection carried over an outer **TLS-443** stream on TCP.
 ///
-/// Implements [`aura_proto::PacketConnection`] (so it works behind `Arc<dyn PacketConnection>`):
+/// The proto session can sit on either side's split TLS halves (server or client), so we keep an
-/// outbound packets are sealed as [`Frame::Data`] on `stream_id 0`; inbound `Data` payloads are
+/// internal enum and dispatch send / receive accordingly. The public surface is a single
-/// returned; `Ping` is answered with `Pong`, stray `Pong` ignored, `Close` surfaced as an error.
+/// [`PacketConnection`] (no caller cares which side opened the underlying TLS).
-/// Send and receive use **separate** [`tokio::sync::Mutex`]es so the two directions run concurrently.
 pub struct TcpConnection {
-    sender: Mutex<SessionSender<OwnedWriteHalf>>,
+    inner: ConnInner,
-    receiver: Mutex<SessionReceiver<OwnedReadHalf>>,
     peer_id: Option<String>,
 }
 
+enum ConnInner {
+    /// Server-side proto session (carrier = a server-accepted TLS stream).
+    Server {
+        sender: Mutex<SessionSender<ServerWriter>>,
+        receiver: Mutex<SessionReceiver<ServerReader>>,
+    },
+    /// Client-side proto session (carrier = a client-connected TLS stream).
+    Client {
+        sender: Mutex<SessionSender<ClientWriter>>,
+        receiver: Mutex<SessionReceiver<ClientReader>>,
+    },
+}
+
 impl TcpConnection {
-    fn from_session(session: TcpSession) -> Self {
+    fn from_server_session(session: Session<ServerReader, ServerWriter>) -> Self {
         let peer_id = session.peer_id().map(str::to_owned);
         let (sender, receiver) = session.split();
         Self {
-            sender: Mutex::new(sender),
+            inner: ConnInner::Server {
-            receiver: Mutex::new(receiver),
+                sender: Mutex::new(sender),
+                receiver: Mutex::new(receiver),
+            },
             peer_id,
         }
     }
 
-    /// The verified identity (Common Name) of the peer learned during the handshake.
+    fn from_client_session(session: Session<ClientReader, ClientWriter>) -> Self {
+        let peer_id = session.peer_id().map(str::to_owned);
+        let (sender, receiver) = session.split();
+        Self {
+            inner: ConnInner::Client {
+                sender: Mutex::new(sender),
+                receiver: Mutex::new(receiver),
+            },
+            peer_id,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The verified identity (Common Name) of the peer learned during the inner Aura handshake.
     #[must_use]
     pub fn peer_id(&self) -> Option<&str> {
         self.peer_id.as_deref()
@@ -105,29 +177,51 @@ impl TcpConnection {
 #[async_trait]
 impl PacketConnection for TcpConnection {
     async fn send_packet(&self, packet: &[u8]) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-        self.sender
+        match &self.inner {
-            .lock()
+            ConnInner::Server { sender, .. } => {
-            .await
+                sender
-            .send_frame(Frame::Data {
+                    .lock()
-                stream_id: 0,
+                    .await
-                payload: Bytes::copy_from_slice(packet),
+                    .send_frame(Frame::Data {
-            })
+                        stream_id: 0,
-            .await?;
+                        payload: Bytes::copy_from_slice(packet),
+                    })
+                    .await?
+            }
+            ConnInner::Client { sender, .. } => {
+                sender
+                    .lock()
+                    .await
+                    .send_frame(Frame::Data {
+                        stream_id: 0,
+                        payload: Bytes::copy_from_slice(packet),
+                    })
+                    .await?
+            }
+        }
         Ok(())
     }
 
     async fn recv_packet(&self) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<u8>> {
-        let mut receiver = self.receiver.lock().await;
+        // Loop on whichever side carries this connection; the only difference between arms is the
+        // concrete reader/writer types behind the mutexes.
         loop {
-            match receiver.recv_frame().await? {
+            let frame = match &self.inner {
+                ConnInner::Server { receiver, .. } => receiver.lock().await.recv_frame().await?,
+                ConnInner::Client { receiver, .. } => receiver.lock().await.recv_frame().await?,
+            };
+            match frame {
                 Frame::Data { payload, .. } => return Ok(payload.to_vec()),
                 Frame::Ping { seq } => {
-                    // Separate mutex from the receive lock we hold => no deadlock.
+                    // Separate mutex from the receive lock => no deadlock.
-                    self.sender
+                    match &self.inner {
-                        .lock()
+                        ConnInner::Server { sender, .. } => {
-                        .await
+                            sender.lock().await.send_frame(Frame::Pong { seq }).await?
-                        .send_frame(Frame::Pong { seq })
+                        }
-                        .await?;
+                        ConnInner::Client { sender, .. } => {
+                            sender.lock().await.send_frame(Frame::Pong { seq }).await?
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
                 Frame::Pong { .. } => continue,
                 Frame::Close { code, reason } => {
@@ -138,75 +232,26 @@ impl PacketConnection for TcpConnection {
     }
 }
 
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// HTTP masquerade preamble helpers
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-/// Write a plausible HTTP/1.1 request line + headers (client side of the masquerade).
-async fn write_client_preamble(
-    stream: &mut TcpStream,
-    host: &str,
-    user_agent: &str,
-) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let req = format!(
-        "GET / HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: {host}\r\nUser-Agent: {user_agent}\r\nAccept: */*\r\nConnection: keep-alive\r\n\r\n"
-    );
-    stream.write_all(req.as_bytes()).await?;
-    stream.flush().await
-}
-
-/// Write a plausible HTTP/1.1 response head (server side of the masquerade).
-async fn write_server_preamble(stream: &mut TcpStream, server_header: &str) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let resp = format!(
-        "HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\nServer: {server_header}\r\nContent-Type: application/octet-stream\r\nConnection: keep-alive\r\n\r\n"
-    );
-    stream.write_all(resp.as_bytes()).await?;
-    stream.flush().await
-}
-
-/// Read (and discard) bytes up to and including the `\r\n\r\n` header terminator.
-///
-/// Reads one byte at a time so it never consumes past the terminator into the handshake stream. The
-/// preamble is tiny and one-time, so byte-at-a-time is fine and keeps the boundary exact.
-async fn read_until_headers_end(stream: &mut TcpStream) -> io::Result<()> {
-    let mut last4 = [0u8; 4];
-    let mut count = 0usize;
-    let mut one = [0u8; 1];
-    loop {
-        let n = stream.read(&mut one).await?;
-        if n == 0 {
-            return Err(io::Error::new(
-                io::ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof,
-                "eof during masquerade preamble",
-            ));
-        }
-        last4.rotate_left(1);
-        last4[3] = one[0];
-        count += 1;
-        if count >= 4 && &last4 == b"\r\n\r\n" {
-            return Ok(());
-        }
-        if count > 8192 {
-            return Err(io::Error::new(
-                io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
-                "masquerade preamble exceeded 8 KiB without terminator",
-            ));
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Server / client
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-/// An Aura TCP server: a bound [`TcpListener`] that accepts authenticated [`TcpConnection`]s.
+/// An Aura TCP server: a bound [`TcpListener`] that accepts authenticated [`TcpConnection`]s over
+/// a real outer TLS-443 layer.
+///
+/// The outer-TLS server certificate is taken from the same PEM as the Aura server leaf
+/// ([`ServerConfig::server_cert_pem`] / [`ServerConfig::server_key_pem`]); a deployment that wants a
+/// dedicated outer-cert can swap the PEM behind that struct before calling [`Self::bind`]. The
+/// `[transport.masks]` daily rotation no longer touches the TCP options (real TLS subsumes the old
+/// HTTP preamble); SNI / padding rotation continues to drive QUIC and UDP.
 pub struct TcpServer {
     listener: TcpListener,
     proto_cfg: Arc<ServerConfig>,
-    /// Live options: kept behind an `Arc<RwLock>` so the daily mask rotator can update the
+    /// Pre-built rustls server config wrapped in an [`Arc`] (rustls expects `Arc<ServerConfig>`).
-    /// masquerade `Server:` header (and `host` if a deployment cares to) and the next
+    /// Kept behind an [`tokio::sync::RwLock`] so a future "rotate ALPN" path can swap it without
-    /// [`Self::accept`] picks it up. In-flight connections already exchanged their preamble bytes,
+    /// disturbing in-flight TLS handshakes (in-flight already snapshotted the previous Arc).
-    /// so the rotation only changes what *the next handshake* writes.
+    tls: Arc<tokio::sync::RwLock<Arc<rustls::ServerConfig>>>,
+    /// Live options, snapshot once per accept.
     opts: Arc<tokio::sync::RwLock<TcpOpts>>,
 }
 
@@ -214,24 +259,47 @@ impl TcpServer {
     /// Bind a TCP server on `addr` (use `..:0` for an OS-assigned port, read back with
     /// [`TcpServer::local_addr`]).
     ///
+    /// The outer-TLS cert reuses `proto_cfg.server_cert_pem` / `proto_cfg.server_key_pem` (the same
+    /// PEMs the inner Aura handshake authenticates with). ALPN is `opts.alpn` (or
+    /// [`DEFAULT_TCP_ALPN`] when unset).
+    ///
     /// # Errors
-    /// Returns an [`io::Error`] if the listener cannot bind.
+    /// Returns an error if the listener cannot bind or the rustls outer-TLS config cannot be built
+    /// (typically: malformed cert/key PEM).
     pub async fn bind(
         addr: SocketAddr,
         proto_cfg: ServerConfig,
         opts: TcpOpts,
-    ) -> io::Result<Self> {
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
         let listener = TcpListener::bind(addr).await?;
+        let alpn = opts.alpn_protocols();
+        let sc = server_tls_config(&proto_cfg.server_cert_pem, &proto_cfg.server_key_pem, alpn)?;
         Ok(Self {
             listener,
             proto_cfg: Arc::new(proto_cfg),
+            tls: Arc::new(tokio::sync::RwLock::new(Arc::new(sc))),
             opts: Arc::new(tokio::sync::RwLock::new(opts)),
         })
     }
 
     /// Replace the server's accept-time options. The next [`Self::accept`] picks up the change;
-    /// in-flight connections keep what they exchanged at their own accept.
+    /// in-flight connections keep what they used at their own accept.
+    ///
+    /// If the new options change the ALPN list, the outer-TLS config is rebuilt; otherwise only the
+    /// snapshot is swapped.
     pub async fn set_opts(&self, new_opts: TcpOpts) {
+        let old_alpn = self.opts.read().await.alpn_protocols();
+        let new_alpn = new_opts.alpn_protocols();
+        if old_alpn != new_alpn {
+            // Rebuild the rustls server config with the new ALPN advertisement.
+            if let Ok(sc) = server_tls_config(
+                &self.proto_cfg.server_cert_pem,
+                &self.proto_cfg.server_key_pem,
+                new_alpn,
+            ) {
+                *self.tls.write().await = Arc::new(sc);
+            }
+        }
         *self.opts.write().await = new_opts;
     }
 
@@ -248,24 +316,21 @@ impl TcpServer {
         self.listener.local_addr()
     }
 
-    /// Accept the next client: optional masquerade preamble, then the Aura mutual-auth handshake.
+    /// Accept the next client: real outer TLS handshake (rustls), then the inner Aura mutual-auth
+    /// handshake inside the encrypted TLS stream.
     ///
     /// # Errors
-    /// Returns an error if accepting fails, the masquerade preamble is malformed, or the Aura
+    /// Returns an error if accepting fails, the outer TLS handshake fails, or the inner Aura
     /// handshake fails (e.g. the client's certificate does not verify against the CA).
     pub async fn accept(&self) -> anyhow::Result<TcpConnection> {
-        let (mut stream, _peer) = self.listener.accept().await?;
+        let (stream, _peer) = self.listener.accept().await?;
         stream.set_nodelay(true).ok();
-        // Snapshot once: the preamble writes immediately, and we want a consistent view in case a
+        // Snapshot the current TLS config Arc — `TlsAcceptor::from` just wraps it.
-        // rotation lands mid-accept.
+        let acceptor = TlsAcceptor::from(Arc::clone(&*self.tls.read().await));
-        let opts = self.opts.read().await.clone();
+        let tls = acceptor.accept(stream).await?;
-        if opts.masquerade {
+        let (reader, writer) = tokio::io::split(tls);
-            read_until_headers_end(&mut stream).await?;
-            write_server_preamble(&mut stream, &opts.server_header).await?;
-        }
-        let (reader, writer) = stream.into_split();
         let session = server_handshake(reader, writer, &self.proto_cfg).await?;
-        Ok(TcpConnection::from_session(session))
+        Ok(TcpConnection::from_server_session(session))
     }
 }
 
@@ -273,25 +338,34 @@ impl TcpServer {
 pub struct TcpClient;
 
 impl TcpClient {
-    /// Connect to an Aura TCP server at `server`: optional masquerade preamble, then the Aura
+    /// Connect to an Aura TCP server at `server`: real outer TLS-443 handshake (with `sni` as the
-    /// mutual-auth handshake over the TCP stream.
+    /// outer SNI), then the inner Aura mutual-auth handshake over the encrypted TLS stream.
+    ///
+    /// * `sni` is the **outer** TLS Server Name Indication (camouflage hostname); the outer cert is
+    ///   not verified ([`AcceptAnyServerCert`]), so this can be any plausible hostname (e.g. the
+    ///   current daily mask SNI). The inner Aura handshake separately verifies the server cert
+    ///   against `proto_cfg.server_name` and the CA in `proto_cfg.ca_cert_pem`.
     ///
     /// # Errors
-    /// Returns an error if the TCP connect fails, the masquerade preamble is malformed, or the Aura
+    /// Returns an error if the TCP connect or outer TLS handshake fails, or if the inner Aura
     /// handshake fails (bad server cert chain, SAN mismatch, ...).
     pub async fn connect(
         server: SocketAddr,
+        sni: &str,
         proto_cfg: ClientConfig,
         opts: TcpOpts,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<TcpConnection> {
-        let mut stream = TcpStream::connect(server).await?;
+        let alpn = opts.alpn_protocols();
+        let cc = client_tls_config(alpn)?;
+        let connector = TlsConnector::from(Arc::new(cc));
+        let server_name: ServerName<'static> = ServerName::try_from(sni.to_string())
+            .map_err(|e| TransportError::Tls(format!("invalid outer-TLS SNI '{sni}': {e}")))?;
+
+        let stream = TcpStream::connect(server).await?;
         stream.set_nodelay(true).ok();
-        if opts.masquerade {
+        let tls = connector.connect(server_name, stream).await?;
-            write_client_preamble(&mut stream, &opts.host, &opts.user_agent).await?;
+        let (reader, writer) = tokio::io::split(tls);
-            read_until_headers_end(&mut stream).await?;
-        }
-        let (reader, writer) = stream.into_split();
         let session = client_handshake(reader, writer, &proto_cfg).await?;
-        Ok(TcpConnection::from_session(session))
+        Ok(TcpConnection::from_client_session(session))
     }
 }

crates/aura-transport/tests/tcp_loopback.rs

@@ -1,19 +1,26 @@
-//! End-to-end loopback test for the TCP fallback transport: real TCP on 127.0.0.1, full Aura
+//! End-to-end loopback test for the TLS-443 / TCP fallback transport: real outer rustls TLS over
-//! mutual-auth handshake, packet echo — with the HTTP masquerade both off and on.
+//! plain TCP on 127.0.0.1, full inner Aura mutual-auth handshake, packet echo.
+//!
+//! Also covers:
+//! * A custom (non-default) ALPN advertisement.
+//! * The "accept-any" outer-cert guarantee: the client connects with an outer SNI that does NOT
+//!   match the server's outer-TLS certificate, the outer TLS handshake completes anyway (because
+//!   the client uses [`AcceptAnyServerCert`]), and the inner Aura mutual auth still succeeds.
 
 use aura_pki::AuraCa;
 use aura_proto::{ClientConfig, PacketConnection, ServerConfig};
 use aura_transport::{TcpClient, TcpOpts, TcpServer};
 
+const SERVER_NAME: &str = "localhost";
+const CLIENT_ID: &str = "client-tcp";
+
 /// Mint a fresh CA + server("localhost") + client("client-tcp") and build the proto configs.
 fn make_configs() -> (ServerConfig, ClientConfig) {
     let ca = AuraCa::generate("Aura Test CA").expect("generate CA");
     let server = ca
-        .issue_server_cert("localhost")
+        .issue_server_cert(SERVER_NAME)
         .expect("issue server cert");
-    let client = ca
+    let client = ca.issue_client_cert(CLIENT_ID).expect("issue client cert");
-        .issue_client_cert("client-tcp")
-        .expect("issue client cert");
     let ca_pem = ca.ca_cert_pem();
     let scfg = ServerConfig {
         ca_cert_pem: ca_pem.clone(),
@@ -24,12 +31,14 @@ fn make_configs() -> (ServerConfig, ClientConfig) {
         ca_cert_pem: ca_pem,
         client_cert_pem: client.cert_pem,
         client_key_pem: client.key_pem,
-        server_name: "localhost".to_string(),
+        server_name: SERVER_NAME.to_string(),
     };
     (scfg, ccfg)
 }
 
-async fn run_case(opts: TcpOpts) {
+/// Drive a single loopback handshake + 3-packet echo. `client_sni` is the OUTER TLS SNI the client
+/// presents; it is independent of the server cert (the client uses an accept-any verifier).
+async fn run_case(opts: TcpOpts, client_sni: &str) {
     let (scfg, ccfg) = make_configs();
     let server = TcpServer::bind("127.0.0.1:0".parse().unwrap(), scfg, opts.clone())
         .await
@@ -38,7 +47,7 @@ async fn run_case(opts: TcpOpts) {
 
     let server_task = tokio::spawn(async move {
         let conn = server.accept().await.expect("server handshake");
-        assert_eq!(conn.peer_id(), Some("client-tcp"), "verified client id");
+        assert_eq!(conn.peer_id(), Some(CLIENT_ID), "verified client id");
         // Echo three packets back to the client.
         for _ in 0..3 {
             let pkt = conn.recv_packet().await.expect("server recv");
@@ -46,9 +55,14 @@ async fn run_case(opts: TcpOpts) {
         }
     });
 
-    let client = TcpClient::connect(addr, ccfg, opts)
+    let client = TcpClient::connect(addr, client_sni, ccfg, opts)
         .await
         .expect("client handshake");
+    assert_eq!(
+        client.peer_id(),
+        Some(SERVER_NAME),
+        "inner handshake verified the server CN"
+    );
 
     // Exchange packets of varying sizes (incl. a large one) and assert the echo matches.
     for i in 0..3u16 {
@@ -61,17 +75,25 @@ async fn run_case(opts: TcpOpts) {
     server_task.await.expect("server task");
 }
 
+/// Baseline: default ALPN advert (`h2`, `http/1.1`), outer SNI matches the server cert SAN.
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn tcp_loopback_end_to_end_plain() {
+async fn tcp_loopback_end_to_end() {
-    run_case(TcpOpts::default()).await;
+    run_case(TcpOpts::default(), SERVER_NAME).await;
 }
 
+/// A custom ALPN list still negotiates and runs the handshake.
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn tcp_loopback_end_to_end_masquerade() {
+async fn tcp_loopback_with_custom_alpn() {
-    run_case(TcpOpts {
+    let opts = TcpOpts {
-        masquerade: true,
+        alpn: Some(vec![b"http/1.1".to_vec()]),
-        host: "cdn.example.com".to_string(),
+    };
-        ..TcpOpts::default()
+    run_case(opts, SERVER_NAME).await;
-    })
+}
-    .await;
+
+/// The client uses [`AcceptAnyServerCert`] on the outer TLS layer, so an outer SNI that has nothing
+/// to do with the server's real certificate must still complete the TLS handshake; the inner Aura
+/// mutual auth then proves identity. This is the security model: outer = camouflage, inner = trust.
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn tcp_loopback_outer_sni_mismatch_still_connects() {
+    run_case(TcpOpts::default(), "definitely-not-the-server.example").await;
 }