# Reverse VPN Tunnel Deployment Plan (WireGuard/UDP) – Windows First Use this checklist to rebuild Borealis reverse tunnels as a WireGuard-based, host-only, single-tunnel-per-agent system. This is written for a Codex agent who will implement the migration; the operator expects milestone checkpoints and commits. Read `AGENTS.md` and `Docs/Codex/REVERSE_TUNNELS.md` first to understand the current stack you are replacing. **Implement Windows first. Do not implement Linux yet; see the separate Linux section for later execution.** ## Context: Why this change - Current tunnels: WebSocket/TLS framing, domain lanes (2/1/2), per-protocol handlers, custom leases, idle/grace timers. - Desired state: one outbound WireGuard/UDP tunnel per agent, host-only reachability, multiplex any protocol (RDP, WinRM/PS, SSH, VNC/WebRTC, etc.) over a single VPN session. No legacy domains/limits, no fallback to WebSocket tunnels. - Constraints: UDP is available (operators can open firewall). Use UDP port **30000** for the VPN server (not 443). Outbound-only from agents, idle timeout 15 minutes, no grace period, immediate teardown on operator exit/stop. Client-to-client disallowed; only engine↔agent virtual /32. - Packaging: Admin rights available. Standardize on WireGuard with the official Windows driver/client. The adapter installs at agent bootstrap and persists; sessions are ephemeral and started on demand. - Keys/Certs: Prefer reusing existing Engine/Agent certificate infrastructure for orchestration token signing/validation. WireGuard still needs its own keypairs; if reuse paths are impossible, store VPN server keys under `Engine/Certificates/VPN_Server` and client keys under `Agent/Borealis/Certificates/VPN_Client`. ## High-Level Outcomes (Windows first) - Engine runs a WireGuard listener on UDP port 30000 (dedicated). - One live VPN tunnel per agent enforced server-side; multiple operators piggyback on the same tunnel. - Engine issues short-lived session material (token + client config + ephemeral or pre-provisioned keys) per connect request; server rejects clients without a fresh orchestration token. - Host-only routing: assign per-agent /32; AllowedIPs limited to the agent /32; no LAN routes. Engine firewall/ACL blocks client-to-client and can restrict engine→agent ports per device defaults and operator overrides. - APIs: `/api/tunnel/connect`, `/api/tunnel/status`, `/api/tunnel/disconnect`. Agent receives start/stop signals analogous to current `reverse_tunnel_start/stop`. - Logging and audit stay in place (use `reverse_tunnel.log` or a renamed equivalent consistently on Engine/Agent). - UI: `Data/Engine/web-interface/src/Devices/Device_Details.jsx` gets an “Advanced Config” tab for per-agent allowed ports; `Data/Engine/web-interface/src/Devices/ReverseTunnel/Powershell.jsx` is reused for a live PowerShell MVP wired to the new APIs. ## Milestone Checkpoints (commit names, Windows first) - Milestone: Dependencies & Bootstrap (Windows) - Milestone: Engine VPN Server & ACLs (Windows) - Milestone: Agent VPN Client & Lifecycle (Windows) - Milestone: API & Service Orchestration (Windows) - Milestone: UI Advanced Config & Operator Flow (Windows, PowerShell MVP) - Milestone: Legacy Tunnel Removal & Cleanup (Windows) - Milestone: End-to-End Validation (Windows) At each milestone: pause, run the listed checks, talk to the operator, and commit with the milestone name. ## Detailed Steps — Windows Implementation ### 1) Dependencies & Bootstrap — Milestone: Dependencies & Bootstrap (Windows) - Agents editing this document should mark tasks they complete with `[x]` (leave `[ ]` otherwise). - WireGuard packaging: - [x] Bundle official WireGuard for Windows (driver + client). - [x] Download installers into `Dependencies/VPN_Tunnel_Adapter/` and keep them there (no deletion) for ad-hoc reinstalls. - Update `Borealis.ps1`: - [x] Install/verify WireGuard driver/client idempotently with admin rights. - [x] Log to `Agent/Logs/install.log`. - [x] Do not start any tunnel yet. - Linux: do nothing yet (see later section). - Checkpoint tests: - [x] WireGuard binaries available in agent runtime. - [x] WireGuard driver installed and visible. ### 2) Engine VPN Server & ACLs — Milestone: Engine VPN Server & ACLs (Windows) - Agents editing this document should mark tasks they complete with `[x]` (leave `[ ]` otherwise). - Configure WireGuard listener on UDP port 30000; bind only on engine host. [x] - Server config: - [x] Assign per-agent virtual IP (/32). Use AllowedIPs to restrict each peer to its /32. - [x] Disable client-to-client by not including other peers’ networks in AllowedIPs. - [x] Do not push DNS or LAN routes; host-only reachability engine IP ↔ agent virtual /32. - ACL layer: - [x] Default allowlist per agent derived from OS (Windows: RDP 3389, WinRM 5985/5986, PS remoting ports; include VNC/WebRTC defaults as desired). - [x] Allow operator overrides per agent; enforce at engine firewall layer. (rule plans produced; application wiring pending) - Keys/Certs: - [x] Prefer reusing existing Engine cert infrastructure for signing orchestration tokens. Generate WireGuard server key and store it; if reuse paths are impossible, place under `Engine/Certificates/VPN_Server`. - [x] Session token binding: require fresh orchestration token (tunnel_id/agent_id/expiry) validated before accepting a peer (e.g., via pre-shared keys or control-plane validation before adding peer). - Logging: server logs to `Engine/Logs/reverse_tunnel.log` (or renamed consistently). [x] - Checkpoint tests: - [x] Engine starts WireGuard listener locally on 30000. - [x] Only engine IP reachable; client-to-client blocked. - [x] Peers without valid token/key are rejected. ### 3) Agent VPN Client & Lifecycle — Milestone: Agent VPN Client & Lifecycle (Windows) - Agent config template: - Outbound UDP to engine:30000. - No DNS/routing changes beyond the /32 to engine. - Adapter persists; sessions start/stop on demand. - Lifecycle in agent role (replace legacy reverse tunnel role): - Receive connect request, fetch session token + WG peer config (keys, endpoint, allowed IPs), start WireGuard. - Enforce single session per agent; reject/dismiss concurrent starts. - Idle timeout: 15 minutes of no operator activity triggers disconnect. No grace period; operator disconnect triggers immediate stop. - Stop path: remove peer/bring interface down cleanly; adapter remains installed. - Keys/Certs: - Prefer reusing existing Agent cert infrastructure for token validation; generate WG client key per agent. If reuse paths are impossible, store under `Agent/Borealis/Certificates/VPN_Client`. - Logging: `Agent/Logs/reverse_tunnel.log` captures connect/disconnect/errors/idle timeouts. - Checkpoint tests: - Manual connect/disconnect against engine test server. - Idle timeout fires at ~15 minutes of inactivity. ### 4) API & Service Orchestration — Milestone: API & Service Orchestration (Windows) - Replace legacy tunnel APIs with: - `POST /api/tunnel/connect` → tunnel_id, token, WG client config (keys, endpoint, allowed IPs), virtual IP, idle_seconds (900). - `GET /api/tunnel/status` → up/down, virtual IP, connected operators. - `DELETE /api/tunnel/disconnect` → immediate teardown and lease release. - Engine orchestrator: - Manages single tunnel per agent; tracks tunnel_id, virtual IP, token expiry. - Emits start/stop signals to agent (rename events as needed). - Cleans peer/routing state on stop. - Token issuance: short-lived, binds agent_id/tunnel_id/port/expiry; validated before adding peer. - Remove domain limits; remove channel/protocol handler registry for tunnels. - Checkpoint tests: - API happy path: connect → status → disconnect. - Reject stale/second connect for same agent while active. ### 5) UI Advanced Config & Operator Flow (PowerShell MVP) — Milestone: UI Advanced Config & Operator Flow (Windows, PowerShell MVP) - In `Data/Engine/web-interface/src/Devices/Device_Details.jsx`, add “Advanced Config” tab: - “Reverse VPN Tunnel - Allowed Ports” with toggles per protocol. - Defaults by OS (Windows: RDP/WinRM/PS; All: VNC/WebRTC; allow operator overrides). - PowerShell MVP: - Reuse `Data/Engine/web-interface/src/Devices/ReverseTunnel/Powershell.jsx` as the base UI. - Rewire to new APIs and virtual IP flow. - Keep live web terminal behavior (WebSocket or equivalent) so operator input streams to remote PowerShell and outputs stream back in real time over the VPN tunnel. - Ensure tunnel is up via `/api/tunnel/connect/status` before opening the terminal; call `/api/tunnel/disconnect` on exit/tab close. - Later protocols (RDP/SSH/etc.) can follow once MVP is proven, but do not block on them for this milestone. - Checkpoint tests: - UI can start a tunnel, launch PowerShell terminal, send commands, receive live output, and tear down. - Toggles change ACL behavior (engine→agent reachability) as expected. ### 6) Legacy Tunnel Removal & Cleanup — Milestone: Legacy Tunnel Removal & Cleanup (Windows) - Remove/retire: - Engine `reverse_tunnel_orchestrator` and domain handlers under `Data/Engine/services/WebSocket/Agent/Reverse_Tunnels/`. - Agent `role_ReverseTunnel.py` and protocol handlers. - WebUI components tied to the old Socket.IO tunnel namespace. - Update docs and references to point to the new WireGuard VPN flow; keep change log entries. - Ensure no lingering domain limits/config knobs remain. - Checkpoint tests: - Codebase builds/starts without references to legacy tunnel modules. - UI no longer calls old APIs or Socket.IO tunnel namespace. ### 7) End-to-End Validation — Milestone: End-to-End Validation (Windows) - Functional: - Windows agent: WireGuard connect on port 30000; PowerShell MVP fully live in the web terminal; RDP/WinRM reachable over tunnel as configured. - Idle timeout at 15 minutes; operator disconnect stops tunnel immediately. - Security: - Client-to-client blocked. - Only engine IP reachable; per-agent ACL enforces allowed ports. - Token enforcement blocks stale/unauthorized sessions. - Resilience: - Restart engine: WireGuard server starts; no orphaned routes. - Restart agent: adapter persists; tunnel stays down until requested. - Logging/audit: - Connect/disconnect/idle/stop reasons recorded in reverse_tunnel.log (Engine/Agent) and Device Activity. - Checkpoint tests: - Run the above matrix; gather logs for operator review before final commit. ## Linux (Deferred) — Do Not Implement Yet - When greenlit, mirror the structure above for Linux: - WireGuard (kernel module preferred) on UDP 30000; userspace fallback if needed. - Per-agent keys; reuse cert infrastructure for token signing/validation if possible; otherwise dedicated `Engine/Certificates/VPN_Server` and `Agent/Borealis/Certificates/VPN_Client`. - Same APIs/UI, same idle/teardown semantics. - Validate SSH/Bash over tunnel for Linux devices. - Add new milestones for Linux when the operator approves. ## Cautions and Gotchas - Use UDP 30000 for WireGuard; do not use 443. - Ensure WireGuard driver install is robust and idempotent; keep installers in `Dependencies/VPN_Tunnel_Adapter/`. - Idle enforcement must be tied to operator activity, not just socket liveness—ensure operator-side clients signal activity. - Keep adapters installed but sessions ephemeral; stop path must tear down the tunnel without removing the driver. - Preserve logging paths and headers per domain docs. - Do not leave any legacy domain-limit logic or protocol-channel framing in the new stack. - Be explicit about token validation before adding peers to the WireGuard interface. ## Operator Check-Ins - After each milestone, present: what changed, tests run/results, any open risks. If green, commit with the milestone name as specified. - If unexpected existing changes appear in git status, pause and ask the operator before proceeding.