How to dynamically add an HTTP Interceptor to a Spring program by mounting a Javaagent

Injecting code to print HTTP request headers dynamically into a Spring application using a Java agent and ASM requires careful bytecode manipulation. Below is a specific and detailed example demonstrating this process. Please note that this example is simplified and may not cover all edge cases.

1. Create the Java Agent:
   • Create the Java agent class (MyJavaAgent.java):

import java.lang.instrument.Instrumentation;

public class MyJavaAgent {
    public static void premain(String agentArgs, Instrumentation inst) {
        MyClassFileTransformer transformer = new MyClassFileTransformer();
        inst.addTransformer(transformer, true);
    }
}

1. Implement a ClassFileTransformer:
   • Create a class that implements the ClassFileTransformer interface (MyClassFileTransformer.java):

import java.lang.instrument.ClassFileTransformer;
import java.lang.instrument.IllegalClassFormatException;
import java.security.ProtectionDomain;
import org.objectweb.asm.ClassReader;
import org.objectweb.asm.ClassVisitor;
import org.objectweb.asm.ClassWriter;
import org.objectweb.asm.MethodVisitor;
import org.objectweb.asm.Opcodes;

public class MyClassFileTransformer implements ClassFileTransformer {
    @Override
    public byte[] transform(
            ClassLoader loader,
            String className,
            Class<?> classBeingRedefined,
            ProtectionDomain protectionDomain,
            byte[] classfileBuffer) throws IllegalClassFormatException {

        if (className.equals("org/springframework/web/servlet/DispatcherServlet")) {
            System.out.println("Transforming DispatcherServlet");

            ClassReader cr = new ClassReader(classfileBuffer);
            ClassWriter cw = new ClassWriter(cr, ClassWriter.COMPUTE_MAXS | ClassWriter.COMPUTE_FRAMES);

            ClassVisitor cv = new ClassVisitor(Opcodes.ASM7, cw) {
                @Override
                public MethodVisitor visitMethod(int access, String name, String descriptor, String signature, String[] exceptions) {
                    MethodVisitor mv = super.visitMethod(access, name, descriptor, signature, exceptions);

                    // Inject interceptor logic before each method in DispatcherServlet
                    return new MethodVisitor(Opcodes.ASM7, mv) {
                        @Override
                        public void visitCode() {
                            mv.visitMethodInsn(Opcodes.INVOKESTATIC, "MyInterceptor", "beforeRequest", "()V", false);
                            super.visitCode();
                        }
                    };
                }
            };

            cr.accept(cv, 0);
            return cw.toByteArray();
        }

        return classfileBuffer;
    }
}

Create the Interceptor Class:

• Create a simple interceptor class (MyInterceptor.java):

import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;

public class MyInterceptor {
    public static void beforeRequest() {
        System.out.println("Intercepting HTTP request headers");

        // Access HttpServletRequest using ThreadLocal
        HttpServletRequest request = RequestHolder.get();

        // Print headers
        if (request != null) {
            System.out.println("Request Headers:");
            for (String headerName : Collections.list(request.getHeaderNames())) {
                System.out.println(headerName + ": " + request.getHeader(headerName));
            }
        }
    }
}

Create a ThreadLocal Holder Class:

• Create a simple class to hold the HttpServletRequest using ThreadLocal (RequestHolder.java):

import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;

public class RequestHolder {
    private static final ThreadLocal<HttpServletRequest> requestHolder = new ThreadLocal<>();

    public static HttpServletRequest get() {
        return requestHolder.get();
    }

    public static void set(HttpServletRequest request) {
        requestHolder.set(request);
    }

    public static void remove() {
        requestHolder.remove();
    }
}

Modify DispatcherServlet to Set and Clear the Request in Filter:

• Modify the DispatcherServlet to set and clear the HttpServletRequest in the filter (MyFilter.java):

import javax.servlet.Filter;
import javax.servlet.FilterChain;
import javax.servlet.FilterConfig;
import javax.servlet.ServletException;
import javax.servlet.ServletRequest;
import javax.servlet.ServletResponse;
import javax.servlet.annotation.WebFilter;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import java.io.IOException;

@WebFilter("/*")
public class MyFilter implements Filter {
    @Override
    public void doFilter(ServletRequest request, ServletResponse response, FilterChain chain) throws IOException, ServletException {
        if (request instanceof HttpServletRequest) {
            RequestHolder.set((HttpServletRequest) request);
        }

        try {
            chain.doFilter(request, response);
        } finally {
            RequestHolder.remove();
        }
    }

    @Override
    public void init(FilterConfig filterConfig) throws ServletException {
        // Initialization logic if needed
    }

    @Override
    public void destroy() {
        // Cleanup logic if needed
    }
}

Compile the Code:

• Compile the code:

javac -cp path/to/asm-7.4.1.jar MyJavaAgent.java MyClassFileTransformer.java MyInterceptor.java RequestHolder.java MyFilter.java

Ensure you have the ASM library JAR (asm-7.4.1.jar or a later version) in the classpath.

1. Run the Spring Application with the Java Agent:
   • Run your Spring application with the Java agent:

java -javaagent:path/to/your-agent.jar -jar your-spring-app.jar

Replace /path/to/your-agent.jar with the actual path to your Java agent JAR file.

This example assumes that the MyFilter class is part of your application. The MyFilter sets and clears the HttpServletRequest using ThreadLocal in a filter, allowing the interceptor (MyInterceptor) to access the headers during the interception.

Keep in mind that bytecode manipulation is complex, and this example may not cover all scenarios. Additionally, this approach may have compatibility issues with different Spring versions or updates. Thoroughly test in your specific environment and consider more standard approaches like Spring AOP if possible.