Understanding the Challenge
Web applications and APIs rely on HTTP headers for authentication, caching, security, and traffic management. However, modifying headers at the origin often requires server-side code changes, leading to:
Complex deployment cycles for simple header updates.
Security risks when sensitive headers (e.g., API keys, authentication tokens) are exposed.
Inconsistent behavior across distributed environments, requiring global enforcement.
Lack of flexibility to optimize caching, redirection, or security headers on the fly.
A CDN-based header modification solution enables real-time control over request and response headers without modifying origin server configurations.
1. Edge-Level Header Modification
What it is:
VergeCloud allows modifying, adding, or removing headers at the edge before reaching the origin or client.
How it helps:
Redacts sensitive headers (e.g., Authorization, API-Key) before forwarding requests.
Injects security headers like Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS), X-Frame-Options, and Content-Security-Policy.
Customizes caching behavior by modifying Cache-Control and ETag headers.
2. Dynamic Request Header Manipulation
What it is:
Intercepts and modifies incoming request headers before forwarding to the origin.
How it helps:
Adds authentication tokens for API requests dynamically.
Alters User-Agent, Referer, or Cookies for geo-based personalization.
Blocks unwanted requests based on header values (e.g., rejecting X-Forwarded-For spoofing).
3. Real-Time Response Header Injection
What it is:
Edits response headers before they reach the client for security and optimization.
How it helps:
Enforces HSTS & CORS policies (Access-Control-Allow-Origin, Access-Control-Allow-Methods).
Adds security layers with X-XSS-Protection and X-Content-Type-Options.
Modifies caching policies by overriding Cache-Control headers based on request types.
4. Bot Protection & API Rate Limiting via Headers
What it is:
Uses header-based fingerprinting to block malicious traffic and manage API rate limits.
How it helps:
Detects bots and scrapers by analyzing User-Agent and JA3 fingerprinting.
Adds tracking headers for monitoring API request patterns without modifying backend logic.
5. Header-Based Redirects & Rewrites (Under Development)
What it is:
Enables custom header-based redirects and rewrites for A/B testing, localization, or security.
How it helps:
Redirects users dynamically based on Accept-Language or X-Region.
Enforces HTTPS-only connections via X-Forwarded-Proto header detection.
Implements AB testing by injecting X-Split-Test headers for different user segments.
Zero Origin Changes – Modify headers without updating backend code.
Enhanced Security – Enforce HSTS, CSP, and CORS headers for improved security.
Better API Management – Rate limit abusive clients and block bad bots before they reach the origin.
Improved Performance – Optimize caching by adjusting Cache-Control and ETag headers dynamically.
Simplified Traffic Management – Modify headers on the fly for geo-based personalization, redirects, and security enforcement.