A QUICker SASE client: re-building Proxy Mode
Key Points
- Proxy mode rebuilt to use QUIC streams
- ~2x throughput and lower latency in internal tests
- Requires client ≥2025.8.779.0 with MASQUE
Summary
Cloudflare rebuilt the Cloudflare One Client's proxy mode to use QUIC-based L4 proxying (HTTP/3 CONNECT via MASQUE) instead of translating TCP over WireGuard/WireGuard+smoltcp. The Client now encapsulates SOCKS5/HTTP proxy streams directly into QUIC streams, removing the user-space L3→L4 translation and improving throughput and latency across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Key Points
- Architectural change: deprecated WireGuard for proxy mode and replaced the L3 translation path (smoltcp) with direct L4 proxying over QUIC (HTTP/3 CONNECT + MASQUE).
- Performance benefits: removes smoltcp limitations, gains native QUIC congestion/flow control, and enables tunable QUIC parameters — internal tests showed ~2x upload/download and significantly lower latency.
- Primary beneficiaries: environments that layer SASE with legacy VPNs, high-bandwidth browser partitioning, and developers using SOCKS5 for CLI/tools.
- Deployment and verification:
- Minimum client version: 2025.8.779.0 (Windows, macOS, Linux).
- Configuration: Teams & Resources > Devices > Device profiles > General profiles -> set Service mode to "Local proxy mode" and Device tunnel protocol to "MASQUE".
- Verify on client:
warp-cli settings | grep protocol.
- Practical impact for engineers: fewer support tickets for slow browser/file/video performance when using proxy mode; better throughput for partitioned traffic and CLI workflows.
Actionable steps
- Upgrade device clients to >= 2025.8.779.0.
- Set device profile Service mode to Local proxy mode and Device tunnel protocol to MASQUE in the Cloudflare One dashboard.
- Verify protocol on endpoints and monitor performance/latency metrics after rollout.
References
- Uses QUIC / HTTP/3 CONNECT (RFC 9114) and MASQUE for tunneling proxy streams.
- Applicable platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.