✅ e2e mock: add AppSec scenario + custom remediation header assertion

Address review feedback on the binary e2e suite:

- mocklapi: add an AppSec WAF stand-in (--appsec-addr) that blocks any URI
  containing "rpc2" — the exact probe from examples/appsec-enabled — and allows
  the rest. Lets the suite exercise the plugin's AppSec wiring (header
  forwarding + allow/block enforcement) without the real CRS engine.
- new scenarios/appsec: benign request passes, /foo/rpc2 is 403.
- custom-ban-page: assert the banned response carries the custom remediation
  header (remediationHeadersCustomName), per review.
- README: drop the "don't open issues / AppSec intentionally absent" framing;
  describe what the suite actually covers, including AppSec wiring.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.github/workflows/e2e.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+name: E2E
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches: [main]
+  pull_request:
+
+concurrency:
+  group: e2e-${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  e2e:
+    name: e2e (binary + mock LAPI)
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - name: Set up Go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+        with:
+          # Track go.mod (Go 1.22) — the plugin's yaegi-bound floor. Keeps the
+          # single source of truth and builds the mock on the supported version.
+          go-version-file: go.mod
+      # CI runs the binary/mock suite only: Traefik as a downloaded binary +
+      # a small LAPI mock (no Docker, no real Crowdsec). It validates the
+      # plugin's own behaviour. Crowdsec / AppSec correctness is upstream's
+      # responsibility, so those are intentionally out of scope here. The
+      # Docker suite (tests/e2e/scenarios) stays available for local debugging.
+      # `-k` keeps going after a failing scenario so the logs cover all of
+      # them, while make still exits non-zero if any scenario failed.
+      - name: Run mock scenarios
+        run: make -k e2e_mock
+      - name: Upload logs on failure
+        if: failure()
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: e2e-logs
+          path: /tmp/e2e-mock-*.log
+          if-no-files-found: ignore

.github/workflows/main.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 name: Main
 
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
 on:
   push:
     branches:

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+name: Release Version Update
+
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [published]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
+jobs:
+  update-version:
+    name: Update version in source
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          ref: main
+
+      - name: Extract version from tag
+        id: get_version
+        run: |
+          TAG="${{ github.event.release.tag_name }}"
+          VERSION="${TAG#v}"
+          echo "version=$VERSION" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "tag=$TAG" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
+      - name: Update version in version.go
+        run: |
+          sed -i 's/pluginVersion = "[^"]*"/pluginVersion = "'"${{ steps.get_version.outputs.version }}"'"/' version.go
+          cat version.go
+
+      - name: Commit, push, and retag
+        run: |
+          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
+          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+          git add version.go
+          if git diff --cached --quiet; then
+            echo "Version already up to date, nothing to commit"
+            exit 0
+          fi
+          git commit -m "⬆️ chore: bump version to ${{ steps.get_version.outputs.version }}"
+          git push origin main
+          # Move the release tag to include the version update
+          git tag -f "${{ steps.get_version.outputs.tag }}"
+          git push -f origin "${{ steps.get_version.outputs.tag }}"

.gitignore

@@ -5,3 +5,7 @@ conf
 db
 logs
 docker-compose.dev.yml
+
+# Binary e2e suite working cache: Traefik binary + compiled mock. Persisted
+# across local runs; CI runs on fresh runners so it is recreated every time.
+tests/e2e/mock/.cache/

.golangci.yml

@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ linters:
     - gci
     - mnd
     - exportloopref
+    - contextcheck
 issues:
   exclude-use-default: false
   max-same-issues: 0

Makefile

@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-.PHONY: lint test vendor clean
+.PHONY: lint test vendor clean e2e_mock
 
 export GO111MODULE=on
 
+# Binary/mock suite (Traefik binary + mock LAPI). This is what CI runs.
+# The local Docker suite (make e2e) lives in a separate PR/branch.
+E2E_MOCK_SCENARIOS := stream-mode live-mode none-mode trusted-ips custom-ban-page captcha appsec
+
 default: lint test
 
 lint:
@@ -13,6 +17,11 @@ test:
 yaegi_test:
 	yaegi test -v .
 
+e2e_mock: $(addprefix e2e_mock_,$(E2E_MOCK_SCENARIOS))
+
+e2e_mock_%:
+	./tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/$*/run.sh
+
 vendor:
 	go mod vendor
 

README.md

@@ -329,8 +329,12 @@ make run
   - Enable the plugin
 - LogLevel
   - string
-  - default: `INFO`, expected values are: `INFO`, `DEBUG`, `ERROR`
+  - default: `INFO`, expected values are: `DEBUG`, `INFO`, `WARN`, `ERROR`
   - Log are written to `stdout` / `stderr` or file if LogFilePath is provided
+- LogFormat
+  - string
+  - default: `common`, expected values are: `common`, `json`
+  - Log format: `common` for traditional text logs, `json` for structured JSON logs
 - LogFilePath
   - string
   - default: ""
@@ -420,7 +424,7 @@ make run
 - RemediationHeadersCustomName
   - string
   - default: ""
-  - Name of the header you want in response when request are cancelled (possible value of the header `ban` or `captcha`)
+  - Name of the header you want in response when request are handled by plugin (possible value of the header `ban`, `captcha` or `solved-captcha`)
 - ForwardedHeadersCustomName
   - string
   - default: "X-Forwarded-For"
@@ -461,6 +465,12 @@ make run
   - int64
   - default: 0
   - Used only in `stream` and `alone` mode, the maximum number of time we can not reach Crowdsec before blocking traffic (set -1 to never block)
+- StreamStartupBlock
+  - bool
+  - default: true
+  - Used only in `stream` and `alone` mode, controls whether the initial stream update runs synchronously or asynchronously during plugin initialization
+  - When `true`, plugin initialization waits for Crowdsec to be ready before serving traffic.
+  - **Warning**: When `false`, all requests bypass remediation until the first stream sync completes — banned IPs will be allowed through during this window. Only disable when startup availability is more important than blocking at startup.
 - DefaultDecisionSeconds
   - int64
   - default: 60
@@ -536,7 +546,37 @@ experimental:
 ```
 
 ```yaml
-# Dynamic configuration
+# Simplified dynamic configuration
+
+http:
+  routers:
+    my-router:
+      rule: host(`whoami.localhost`)
+      service: service-foo
+      entryPoints:
+        - web
+      middlewares:
+        - crowdsec
+
+  services:
+    service-foo:
+      loadBalancer:
+        servers:
+          - url: http://127.0.0.1:5000
+
+  middlewares:
+    crowdsec:
+      plugin:
+        bouncer:
+          enabled: true
+          logLevel: DEBUG
+          crowdsecMode: live
+          crowdsecLapiKey: privateKey-foo
+          crowdsecLapiHost: crowdsec:8080
+```
+
+```yaml
+# Full dynamic configuration
 
 http:
   routers:
@@ -560,9 +600,11 @@ http:
         bouncer:
           enabled: false
           logLevel: DEBUG
+          logFormat: common
           LogFilePath: ""
           updateIntervalSeconds: 60
           updateMaxFailure: 0
+          streamStartupBlock: true
           defaultDecisionSeconds: 60
           remediationStatusCode: 403
           httpTimeoutSeconds: 10

bouncer.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	htmltemplate "html/template"
 	"io"
+	"log/slog"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
 	"strconv"
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ const (
 
 //nolint:gochecknoglobals
 var (
-	isStartup               = true
+	isCrowdsecStreamStartup = true
 	isCrowdsecStreamHealthy = true
 	updateFailure           int64
 	streamTicker            chan bool
@@ -117,16 +118,16 @@ type Bouncer struct {
 	httpAppsecClient        *http.Client
 	cacheClient             *cache.Client
 	captchaClient           *captcha.Client
-	log                     *logger.Log
+	log                     *slog.Logger
 }
 
 // New creates the crowdsec bouncer plugin.
 //
-//nolint:gocyclo
+//nolint:nestif,gocyclo,gocognit
 func New(_ context.Context, next http.Handler, config *configuration.Config, name string) (http.Handler, error) {
 	config.LogLevel = strings.ToUpper(config.LogLevel)
-	log := logger.New(config.LogLevel, config.LogFilePath)
-	err := configuration.ValidateParams(config)
+	log := logger.NewWithFormat(config.LogLevel, config.LogFilePath, config.LogFormat)
+	err := configuration.ValidateParams(config, log)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("New:validateParams " + err.Error())
 		return nil, err
@@ -290,8 +291,11 @@ func New(_ context.Context, next http.Handler, config *configuration.Config, nam
 				return nil, err
 			}
 		}
-		handleStreamTicker(bouncer)
-		isStartup = false
+		if config.StreamStartupBlock {
+			handleStreamTicker(bouncer)
+		} else {
+			go handleStreamTicker(bouncer)
+		}
 		streamTicker = startTicker("stream", config.UpdateIntervalSeconds, log, func() {
 			handleStreamTicker(bouncer)
 		})
@@ -300,7 +304,7 @@ func New(_ context.Context, next http.Handler, config *configuration.Config, nam
 	// Start metrics ticker if not already running
 	if metricsTicker == nil && config.MetricsUpdateIntervalSeconds > 0 {
 		lastMetricsPush = time.Now() // Initialize lastMetricsPush when starting the metrics ticker
-		handleMetricsTicker(bouncer)
+		go handleMetricsTicker(bouncer)
 		metricsTicker = startTicker("metrics", config.MetricsUpdateIntervalSeconds, log, func() {
 			handleMetricsTicker(bouncer)
 		})
@@ -455,7 +459,7 @@ func (bouncer *Bouncer) handleBanServeHTTP(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Req
 	err := bouncer.banTemplate.Execute(rw, templateData)
 
 	if err != nil {
-		bouncer.log.Error("handleBanServeHTTP banTemplateServe " + err.Error())
+		bouncer.log.Warn("handleBanServeHTTP could not write template to ResponseWriter: " + err.Error())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -486,7 +490,7 @@ func (bouncer *Bouncer) handleNextServeHTTP(rw http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Re
 
 func handleStreamTicker(bouncer *Bouncer) {
 	if err := handleStreamCache(bouncer); err != nil {
-		bouncer.log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("handleStreamTicker updateFailure:%d isCrowdsecStreamHealthy:%t %s", updateFailure, isCrowdsecStreamHealthy, err.Error()))
+		bouncer.log.Warn(fmt.Sprintf("handleStreamTicker updateFailure:%d isCrowdsecStreamHealthy:%t %s", updateFailure, isCrowdsecStreamHealthy, err.Error()))
 		if bouncer.updateMaxFailure != -1 && updateFailure >= bouncer.updateMaxFailure && isCrowdsecStreamHealthy {
 			isCrowdsecStreamHealthy = false
 			bouncer.log.Error(fmt.Sprintf("handleStreamTicker:error updateFailure:%d %s", updateFailure, err.Error()))
@@ -504,7 +508,7 @@ func handleMetricsTicker(bouncer *Bouncer) {
 	}
 }
 
-func startTicker(name string, updateInterval int64, log *logger.Log, work func()) chan bool {
+func startTicker(name string, updateInterval int64, log *slog.Logger, work func()) chan bool {
 	ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Duration(updateInterval) * time.Second)
 	stop := make(chan bool, 1)
 	go func() {
@@ -571,7 +575,7 @@ func handleNoStreamCache(bouncer *Bouncer, remoteIP string) (string, error) {
 	case "captcha":
 		value = cache.CaptchaValue
 	default:
-		bouncer.log.Debug("handleStreamCache:unknownType " + decision.Type)
+		bouncer.log.Info("handleStreamCache:unknownType " + decision.Type)
 	}
 	if isLiveMode && bouncer.defaultDecisionTimeout > 0 {
 		durationSecond := int64(duration.Seconds())
@@ -607,11 +611,11 @@ func getToken(bouncer *Bouncer) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("getToken:parsingBody %w", err)
 	}
-	if login.Code == 200 && len(login.Token) > 0 {
+	if login.Code == http.StatusOK && len(login.Token) > 0 {
 		bouncer.crowdsecKey = login.Token
-		bouncer.log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("getToken statusCode:%d", login.Code))
 		return nil
 	}
+	bouncer.log.Warn(fmt.Sprintf("getToken statusCode:%d", login.Code))
 	return fmt.Errorf("getToken statusCode:%d", login.Code)
 }
 
@@ -623,6 +627,7 @@ func handleStreamCache(bouncer *Bouncer) error {
 	_, err := bouncer.cacheClient.Get(cacheTimeoutKey)
 	if err == nil {
 		bouncer.log.Debug("handleStreamCache:alreadyUpdated")
+		isCrowdsecStreamStartup = false
 		return nil
 	}
 	if err.Error() != cache.CacheMiss {
@@ -633,7 +638,7 @@ func handleStreamCache(bouncer *Bouncer) error {
 		Scheme:   bouncer.crowdsecScheme,
 		Host:     bouncer.crowdsecHost,
 		Path:     bouncer.crowdsecPath + bouncer.crowdsecStreamRoute,
-		RawQuery: fmt.Sprintf("startup=%t", !isCrowdsecStreamHealthy || isStartup),
+		RawQuery: fmt.Sprintf("startup=%t", !isCrowdsecStreamHealthy || isCrowdsecStreamStartup),
 	}
 	body, err := crowdsecQuery(bouncer, streamRouteURL.String(), nil)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -654,7 +659,7 @@ func handleStreamCache(bouncer *Bouncer) error {
 			case "captcha":
 				value = cache.CaptchaValue
 			default:
-				bouncer.log.Debug("handleStreamCache:unknownType " + decision.Type)
+				bouncer.log.Info("handleStreamCache:unknownType " + decision.Type)
 			}
 			bouncer.cacheClient.Set(decision.Value, value, int64(duration.Seconds()))
 		}
@@ -663,6 +668,7 @@ func handleStreamCache(bouncer *Bouncer) error {
 		bouncer.cacheClient.Delete(decision.Value)
 	}
 	bouncer.log.Debug("handleStreamCache:updated")
+	isCrowdsecStreamStartup = false
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -673,8 +679,8 @@ func crowdsecQuery(bouncer *Bouncer, stringURL string, data []byte) ([]byte, err
 	} else {
 		req, _ = http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, stringURL, nil)
 	}
-	req.Header.Add(bouncer.crowdsecHeader, bouncer.crowdsecKey)
-	req.Header.Add("User-Agent", "Crowdsec-Bouncer-Traefik-Plugin/1.X.X")
+	req.Header.Set(bouncer.crowdsecHeader, bouncer.crowdsecKey)
+	req.Header.Set("User-Agent", "Crowdsec-Bouncer-Traefik-Plugin/"+pluginVersion)
 
 	res, err := bouncer.httpClient.Do(req)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -712,7 +718,7 @@ func appsecQuery(bouncer *Bouncer, ip string, httpReq *http.Request) error {
 		Path:   bouncer.appsecPath,
 	}
 	var req *http.Request
-	if bouncer.appsecBodyLimit > 0 && httpReq.Body != nil && httpReq.ContentLength > 0 {
+	if bouncer.appsecBodyLimit > 0 && httpReq.Body != nil {
 		var bodyBuffer bytes.Buffer
 		limitedReader := io.LimitReader(httpReq.Body, bouncer.appsecBodyLimit)
 		teeReader := io.TeeReader(limitedReader, &bodyBuffer)
@@ -738,6 +744,7 @@ func appsecQuery(bouncer *Bouncer, ip string, httpReq *http.Request) error {
 	req.Header.Set(crowdsecAppsecHostHeader, httpReq.Host)
 	req.Header.Set(crowdsecAppsecURIHeader, httpReq.URL.String())
 	req.Header.Set(crowdsecAppsecUserAgent, httpReq.Header.Get("User-Agent"))
+	req.Header.Set("User-Agent", "Crowdsec-Bouncer-Traefik-Plugin/"+pluginVersion)
 
 	res, err := bouncer.httpAppsecClient.Do(req)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -779,7 +786,7 @@ func reportMetrics(bouncer *Bouncer) error {
 	metrics := map[string]interface{}{
 		"remediation_components": []map[string]interface{}{
 			{
-				"version": "1.X.X",
+				"version": pluginVersion,
 				"type":    "bouncer",
 				"name":    "traefik_plugin",
 				"metrics": []map[string]interface{}{

bouncer_logging_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,320 @@
+package crowdsec_bouncer_traefik_plugin //nolint:revive,stylecheck
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin/pkg/configuration"
+)
+
+// getTestConfig returns a minimal valid configuration for testing.
+// Override specific fields by modifying the returned config.
+func getTestConfig() *configuration.Config {
+	return &configuration.Config{
+		Enabled:                              true,
+		LogLevel:                             "INFO",
+		LogFormat:                            "common",
+		LogFilePath:                          "",
+		CrowdsecMode:                         "none",
+		CrowdsecLapiKey:                      "test-key",
+		CrowdsecLapiHost:                     "localhost",
+		CrowdsecLapiScheme:                   "http",
+		UpdateIntervalSeconds:                60,
+		DefaultDecisionSeconds:               60,
+		HTTPTimeoutSeconds:                   10,
+		ForwardedHeadersTrustedIPs:           []string{"127.0.0.1"},
+		ForwardedHeadersCustomName:           "",
+		RemediationStatusCode:                403,
+		BanHTMLFilePath:                      "",
+		RemediationHeadersCustomName:         "",
+		CaptchaProvider:                      "",
+		CaptchaSiteKey:                       "",
+		CaptchaSecretKey:                     "",
+		CaptchaGracePeriodSeconds:            1,
+		CaptchaHTMLFilePath:                  "",
+		RedisCacheEnabled:                    false,
+		RedisCacheHost:                       "",
+		RedisCachePassword:                   "",
+		RedisCacheDatabase:                   "",
+		RedisCacheUnreachableBlock:           false,
+		CrowdsecAppsecEnabled:                false,
+		CrowdsecAppsecHost:                   "",
+		CrowdsecAppsecPath:                   "",
+		CrowdsecAppsecFailureBlock:           false,
+		CrowdsecAppsecUnreachableBlock:       false,
+		CrowdsecLapiTLSInsecureVerify:        true,
+		CrowdsecLapiTLSCertificateBouncer:    "",
+		CrowdsecLapiTLSCertificateBouncerKey: "",
+		CrowdsecCapiMachineID:                "",
+		CrowdsecCapiPassword:                 "",
+		CrowdsecCapiScenarios:                []string{},
+		UpdateMaxFailure:                     0,
+		MetricsUpdateIntervalSeconds:         0,
+	}
+}
+
+// Helper function to create and execute a bouncer request for testing
+func createAndExecuteBouncerRequest(t *testing.T, config *configuration.Config) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	// Create a mock next handler
+	nextHandler := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("OK"))
+	})
+
+	// Create the bouncer plugin (this will initialize the logger with file output)
+	bouncerHandler, err := New(context.Background(), nextHandler, config, "test-bouncer")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create bouncer: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a test request to trigger logging
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "http://example.com/test", nil)
+	req.RemoteAddr = "192.168.1.100:12345" // Use a non-trusted IP to trigger logging
+	rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+	// Process the request (this should generate log entries)
+	bouncerHandler.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+
+	// Give a moment for log writes to complete
+	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+}
+
+// Helper function to parse log file and extract found levels
+func parseLogFileAndExtractLevels(t *testing.T, logFile string) map[string]bool {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	// Verify the log file was created and contains entries
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(logFile); os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+		t.Fatalf("Log file was not created: %s", logFile)
+	}
+
+	// Read the log file content
+	// #nosec G304 - logFile is a test-generated temporary file path
+	logContent, err := os.ReadFile(logFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to read log file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	logString := string(logContent)
+	if len(logString) == 0 {
+		return make(map[string]bool) // Return empty map for empty log files
+	}
+
+	// Parse and verify JSON log entries
+	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(logString), "\n")
+	foundLevels := make(map[string]bool)
+
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(line) == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		var logEntry map[string]interface{}
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(line), &logEntry); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Invalid JSON log entry: %s, error: %v", line, err)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Verify required fields
+		validateLogEntry(t, logEntry)
+
+		// Track log levels we've seen
+		if level, ok := logEntry["level"].(string); ok {
+			foundLevels[level] = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return foundLevels
+}
+
+// Helper function to validate log entry structure
+func validateLogEntry(t *testing.T, logEntry map[string]interface{}) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	if logEntry["time"] == nil {
+		t.Error("Log entry missing 'time' field")
+	}
+	if logEntry["level"] == nil {
+		t.Error("Log entry missing 'level' field")
+	}
+	if logEntry["msg"] == nil {
+		t.Error("Log entry missing 'msg' field")
+	}
+	if logEntry["component"] != "CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected component 'CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin', got %v", logEntry["component"])
+	}
+}
+
+// Helper function to verify expected and forbidden log levels
+func verifyLogLevels(t *testing.T, foundLevels map[string]bool, expectedLevels, forbiddenLevels []string, logLevel string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	// Handle case where no logs are expected
+	if len(expectedLevels) == 0 {
+		if len(foundLevels) > 0 {
+			t.Errorf("Expected no logs at %s level, but found: %v", logLevel, foundLevels)
+		}
+	} else {
+		// Verify we got some log entries
+		if len(foundLevels) == 0 {
+			t.Fatal("No valid log entries found")
+		}
+
+		// Verify expected levels are present
+		for _, expectedLevel := range expectedLevels {
+			if !foundLevels[expectedLevel] {
+				t.Errorf("Expected to find %s level logs, but didn't. Found levels: %v", expectedLevel, foundLevels)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Verify forbidden levels are NOT present
+	for _, forbiddenLevel := range forbiddenLevels {
+		if foundLevels[forbiddenLevel] {
+			t.Errorf("Found forbidden %s level logs at %s level. Found levels: %v", forbiddenLevel, logLevel, foundLevels)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBouncerFileLoggingLevels(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name            string
+		logLevel        string
+		expectedLevels  []string // Levels that should appear
+		forbiddenLevels []string // Levels that should NOT appear
+	}{
+		{
+			name:            "DEBUG level should show DEBUG only",
+			logLevel:        "DEBUG",
+			expectedLevels:  []string{"DEBUG"},
+			forbiddenLevels: []string{},
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "INFO level should show no logs (bouncer doesn't generate INFO during normal operation)",
+			logLevel:        "INFO",
+			expectedLevels:  []string{}, // No logs expected for normal operation
+			forbiddenLevels: []string{"DEBUG"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			// Create temporary directory for log file
+			tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+			logFile := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "bouncer.log")
+
+			// Get test config and override specific fields
+			config := getTestConfig()
+			config.LogLevel = tt.logLevel
+			config.LogFormat = "json" // Use JSON format for easier parsing
+			config.LogFilePath = logFile
+
+			// Create and execute bouncer request
+			createAndExecuteBouncerRequest(t, config)
+
+			// Parse log file and extract found levels
+			foundLevels := parseLogFileAndExtractLevels(t, logFile)
+
+			// Handle empty log files for higher log levels (expected behavior)
+			if len(foundLevels) == 0 && len(tt.expectedLevels) > 0 {
+				t.Fatalf("Expected log entries but log file is empty for level %s", tt.logLevel)
+			}
+			if len(foundLevels) == 0 {
+				// Empty file is expected for this log level
+				t.Logf("LogLevel %s: No logs generated (expected behavior)", tt.logLevel)
+				return
+			}
+
+			// Verify expected and forbidden log levels
+			verifyLogLevels(t, foundLevels, tt.expectedLevels, tt.forbiddenLevels, tt.logLevel)
+
+			t.Logf("LogLevel %s: Successfully logged to file with levels: %v", tt.logLevel, foundLevels)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBouncerFileLoggingCommonFormat(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create temporary directory for log file
+	tmpDir := t.TempDir()
+	logFile := filepath.Join(tmpDir, "bouncer-common.log")
+
+	// Get test config and override specific fields
+	config := getTestConfig()
+	config.LogLevel = "DEBUG"
+	config.LogFormat = "common" // Use common format
+	config.LogFilePath = logFile
+
+	// Create a mock next handler
+	nextHandler := http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("OK"))
+	})
+
+	// Create the bouncer plugin
+	bouncerHandler, err := New(context.Background(), nextHandler, config, "test-bouncer")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create bouncer: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a test request to trigger logging
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "http://example.com/test", nil)
+	req.RemoteAddr = "192.168.1.100:12345"
+	rw := httptest.NewRecorder()
+
+	// Process the request
+	bouncerHandler.ServeHTTP(rw, req)
+
+	// Give a moment for log writes to complete
+	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	// Verify the log file was created and contains entries
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(logFile); os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+		t.Fatalf("Log file was not created: %s", logFile)
+	}
+
+	// Read the log file content
+	// #nosec G304 - logFile is a test-generated temporary file path
+	logContent, err := os.ReadFile(logFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to read log file: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	logString := string(logContent)
+	if len(logString) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("Log file is empty")
+	}
+
+	// Verify common format structure
+	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(logString), "\n")
+	foundDebug := false
+
+	for _, line := range lines {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(line) == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		// Common format should contain time, level, msg, and component
+		if strings.Contains(line, "level=DEBUG") {
+			foundDebug = true
+		}
+		if !strings.Contains(line, "component=CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin") {
+			t.Errorf("Log line missing component field: %s", line)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// We should see DEBUG level logs since we set LogLevel to DEBUG
+	if !foundDebug {
+		t.Errorf("Expected to find DEBUG level logs in common format. Log content:\n%s", logString)
+	}
+
+	t.Logf("Successfully logged to file %s in common format with %d lines", logFile, len(lines))
+}

pkg/cache/cache.go

@@ -5,11 +5,10 @@ package cache
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
 
 	ttl_map "github.com/leprosus/golang-ttl-map"
 	simpleredis "github.com/maxlerebourg/simpleredis"
-
-	logger "github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin/pkg/logger"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ func (localCache) delete(key string) {
 }
 
 type redisCache struct {
-	log *logger.Log
+	log *slog.Logger
 }
 
 func (redisCache) get(key string) (string, error) {
@@ -93,11 +92,11 @@ type cacheInterface interface {
 // Client Cache client.
 type Client struct {
 	cache cacheInterface
-	log   *logger.Log
+	log   *slog.Logger
 }
 
 // New Initialize cache client.
-func (c *Client) New(log *logger.Log, isRedis bool, host, pass, database string) {
+func (c *Client) New(log *slog.Logger, isRedis bool, host, pass, database string) {
 	c.log = log
 	if isRedis {
 		redis.Init(host, pass, database)

pkg/captcha/captcha.go

@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"html/template"
+	"log/slog"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
 	"strings"
 
 	cache "github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin/pkg/cache"
 	configuration "github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin/pkg/configuration"
-	logger "github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin/pkg/logger"
 )
 
 // Client Captcha client.
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	captchaTemplate         *template.Template
 	cacheClient             *cache.Client
 	httpClient              *http.Client
-	log                     *logger.Log
+	log                     *slog.Logger
 	infoProvider            *infoProvider
 }
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ var infoProviders = map[string]*infoProvider{
 }
 
 // New Initialize captcha client.
-func (c *Client) New(log *logger.Log, cacheClient *cache.Client, httpClient *http.Client, provider, js, key, response, validate, siteKey, secretKey, remediationCustomHeader, captchaTemplatePath string, gracePeriodSeconds int64) error {
+func (c *Client) New(log *slog.Logger, cacheClient *cache.Client, httpClient *http.Client, provider, js, key, response, validate, siteKey, secretKey, remediationCustomHeader, captchaTemplatePath string, gracePeriodSeconds int64) error {
 	c.Valid = provider != ""
 	if !c.Valid {
 		return nil
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ func (c *Client) ServeHTTP(rw http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, remoteIP str
 	if valid {
 		c.log.Debug("captcha:ServeHTTP captcha:valid")
 		c.cacheClient.Set(remoteIP+"_captcha", cache.CaptchaDoneValue, c.gracePeriodSeconds)
+		if c.remediationCustomHeader != "" {
+			rw.Header().Set(c.remediationCustomHeader, "solved-captcha")
+		}
 		http.Redirect(rw, r, r.URL.String(), http.StatusFound)
 		return
 	}

pkg/configuration/configuration.go

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"html/template"
+	"log/slog"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	ip "github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin/pkg/ip"
-	logger "github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin/pkg/logger"
 )
 
 // Enums for crowdsec mode.
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ const (
 	HTTP              = "http"
 	LogDEBUG          = "DEBUG"
 	LogINFO           = "INFO"
+	LogWARN           = "WARN"
 	LogERROR          = "ERROR"
 	ReasonTECH        = "TECHNICAL_ISSUE"
 	ReasonLAPI        = "LAPI"
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ const (
 type Config struct {
 	Enabled                                    bool     `json:"enabled,omitempty"`
 	LogLevel                                   string   `json:"logLevel,omitempty"`
+	LogFormat                                  string   `json:"logFormat,omitempty"`
 	LogFilePath                                string   `json:"logFilePath,omitempty"`
 	CrowdsecMode                               string   `json:"crowdsecMode,omitempty"`
 	CrowdsecAppsecEnabled                      bool     `json:"crowdsecAppsecEnabled,omitempty"`
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	UpdateIntervalSeconds                      int64    `json:"updateIntervalSeconds,omitempty"`
 	MetricsUpdateIntervalSeconds               int64    `json:"metricsUpdateIntervalSeconds,omitempty"`
 	UpdateMaxFailure                           int64    `json:"updateMaxFailure,omitempty"`
+	StreamStartupBlock                         bool     `json:"streamStartupBlock,omitempty"`
 	DefaultDecisionSeconds                     int64    `json:"defaultDecisionSeconds,omitempty"`
 	RemediationStatusCode                      int      `json:"remediationStatusCode,omitempty"`
 	HTTPTimeoutSeconds                         int64    `json:"httpTimeoutSeconds,omitempty"`
@@ -124,6 +127,7 @@ func New() *Config {
 	return &Config{
 		Enabled:                         false,
 		LogLevel:                        LogINFO,
+		LogFormat:                       "common",
 		LogFilePath:                     "",
 		CrowdsecMode:                    LiveMode,
 		CrowdsecAppsecEnabled:           false,
@@ -143,6 +147,7 @@ func New() *Config {
 		UpdateIntervalSeconds:           60,
 		MetricsUpdateIntervalSeconds:    600,
 		UpdateMaxFailure:                0,
+		StreamStartupBlock:              true,
 		DefaultDecisionSeconds:          60,
 		RemediationStatusCode:           http.StatusForbidden,
 		HTTPTimeoutSeconds:              10,
@@ -218,7 +223,7 @@ func GetHTMLTemplate(path string) (*template.Template, error) {
 // ValidateParams validate all the param gave by user.
 //
 //nolint:gocyclo,gocognit
-func ValidateParams(config *Config) error {
+func ValidateParams(config *Config, log *slog.Logger) error {
 	if err := validateParamsRequired(config); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -227,10 +232,10 @@ func ValidateParams(config *Config) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := validateParamsIPs(config.ForwardedHeadersTrustedIPs, "ForwardedHeadersTrustedIPs"); err != nil {
+	if err := validateParamsIPs(log, config.ForwardedHeadersTrustedIPs, "ForwardedHeadersTrustedIPs"); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := validateParamsIPs(config.ClientTrustedIPs, "ClientTrustedIPs"); err != nil {
+	if err := validateParamsIPs(log, config.ClientTrustedIPs, "ClientTrustedIPs"); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -317,8 +322,8 @@ func ValidateParams(config *Config) error {
 
 	// Check logging configuration
 	// to upper allow of anycase of log level
-	if !contains([]string{LogERROR, LogDEBUG, LogINFO}, strings.ToUpper(config.LogLevel)) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("LogLevel should be one of (%s,%s,%s)", LogDEBUG, LogINFO, LogERROR)
+	if !contains([]string{LogDEBUG, LogINFO, LogWARN, LogERROR}, strings.ToUpper(config.LogLevel)) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("LogLevel should be one of (%s,%s,%s,%s)", LogDEBUG, LogINFO, LogWARN, LogERROR)
 	}
 	if config.LogFilePath != "" {
 		_, err = os.OpenFile(filepath.Clean(config.LogFilePath), os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0600)
@@ -366,9 +371,9 @@ func validateParamsTLS(config *Config) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func validateParamsIPs(listIP []string, key string) error {
+func validateParamsIPs(log *slog.Logger, listIP []string, key string) error {
 	if len(listIP) > 0 {
-		if _, err := ip.NewChecker(logger.New(LogINFO, ""), listIP); err != nil {
+		if _, err := ip.NewChecker(log, listIP); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("%s must be a list of IP/CIDR :%w", key, err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -446,17 +451,17 @@ func validateParamsRequired(config *Config) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func getTLSConfig(config *Config, log *logger.Log, prefix, scheme string, insecureVerify bool) (*tls.Config, error) {
+func getTLSConfig(config *Config, log *slog.Logger, prefix, scheme string, insecureVerify bool) (*tls.Config, error) {
 	tlsConfig := new(tls.Config)
 	tlsConfig.RootCAs = x509.NewCertPool()
 	if scheme != HTTPS {
-		log.Debug("getTLSConfigCrowdsec:" + prefix + "Scheme https:no")
+		log.Debug("getTLSConfig:" + prefix + "Scheme https:no")
 		return tlsConfig, nil
 	}
 	//nolint:nestif
 	if insecureVerify {
 		tlsConfig.InsecureSkipVerify = true
-		log.Debug("getTLSConfigCrowdsec:" + prefix + "TLSInsecureVerify tlsInsecure:true")
+		log.Debug("getTLSConfig:" + prefix + "TLSInsecureVerify tlsInsecure:true")
 		// If we return here and still want to use client auth this won't work
 		// return tlsConfig, nil
 	} else {
@@ -468,9 +473,9 @@ func getTLSConfig(config *Config, log *logger.Log, prefix, scheme string, insecu
 			if !tlsConfig.RootCAs.AppendCertsFromPEM([]byte(certAuthority)) {
 				// here we return because if CrowdsecLapiTLSInsecureVerify is false
 				// and CA not load, we can't communicate with https
-				return nil, errors.New("getTLSConfigCrowdsec:" + prefix + "cannot load CA and verify cert is enabled")
+				return nil, errors.New("getTLSConfig:" + prefix + " cannot load CA and verify cert is enabled")
 			}
-			log.Debug("getTLSConfigCrowdsec:" + prefix + "TLSCertificateAuthority CA added successfully")
+			log.Debug("getTLSConfig:" + prefix + "TLSCertificateAuthority CA added successfully")
 		}
 	}
 	certBouncer, err := GetVariable(config, prefix+"TLSCertificateBouncer")
@@ -494,7 +499,7 @@ func getTLSConfig(config *Config, log *logger.Log, prefix, scheme string, insecu
 }
 
 // GetTLSConfigCrowdsec get TLS config from Config.
-func GetTLSConfigCrowdsec(config *Config, log *logger.Log, isAppsec bool) (*tls.Config, error) {
+func GetTLSConfigCrowdsec(config *Config, log *slog.Logger, isAppsec bool) (*tls.Config, error) {
 	var prefix string
 	if isAppsec && config.CrowdsecAppsecScheme != "" {
 		prefix = "CrowdsecAppsec"

pkg/configuration/configuration_test.go

@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ func Test_GetVariable(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func Test_ValidateParams(t *testing.T) {
+	log := logger.New("INFO", "")
 	cfg1 := New()
 	cfg1.CrowdsecLapiKey = "test\n\n"
 	cfg2 := New()
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ func Test_ValidateParams(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if err := ValidateParams(tt.args.config); (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
+			if err := ValidateParams(tt.args.config, log); (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
 				t.Errorf("validateParams() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
 			}
 		})
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ func Test_validateParamsTLS(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func Test_validateParamsIPs(t *testing.T) {
+	log := logger.New("INFO", "")
 	type args struct {
 		listIP []string
 		key    string
@@ -164,7 +166,7 @@ func Test_validateParamsIPs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if err := validateParamsIPs(tt.args.listIP, tt.args.key); (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
+			if err := validateParamsIPs(log, tt.args.listIP, tt.args.key); (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
 				t.Errorf("validateParamsIPs() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
 			}
 		})
@@ -230,6 +232,7 @@ func Test_validateParamsAPIKey(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func Test_GetTLSConfigCrowdsec(t *testing.T) {
+	log := logger.New("INFO", "")
 	type args struct {
 		config *Config
 	}
@@ -243,7 +246,7 @@ func Test_GetTLSConfigCrowdsec(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			got, err := GetTLSConfigCrowdsec(tt.args.config, logger.New("INFO", ""), false)
+			got, err := GetTLSConfigCrowdsec(tt.args.config, log, false)
 			if (err != nil) != tt.wantErr {
 				t.Errorf("getTLSConfigCrowdsec() error = %v, wantErr %v", err, tt.wantErr)
 				return

pkg/ip/ip.go

@@ -5,11 +5,10 @@ package ip
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
-
-	logger "github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin/pkg/logger"
 )
 
 // CHECKER
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ type Checker struct {
 }
 
 // NewChecker builds a new Checker given a list of CIDR-Strings to trusted IPs.
-func NewChecker(log *logger.Log, trustedIPs []string) (*Checker, error) {
+func NewChecker(log *slog.Logger, trustedIPs []string) (*Checker, error) {
 	checker := &Checker{}
 
 	for _, ipMaskRaw := range trustedIPs {

pkg/logger/logger.go

@@ -1,79 +1,92 @@
 // Package logger implements utility routines to write to stdout and stderr.
-// It supports trace, debug, info and error level
+// It supports trace, debug, info, warn and error level using Go's standard log/slog
 package logger
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-	"io"
-	"log"
+	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 )
 
-// Log Logger struct.
-type Log struct {
-	logError *log.Logger
-	logInfo  *log.Logger
-	logDebug *log.Logger
+// Custom log levels following slog best practices.
+const (
+	LevelDebug = slog.LevelDebug
+	LevelInfo  = slog.LevelInfo
+	LevelWarn  = slog.LevelWarn
+	LevelError = slog.LevelError
+)
+
+// New creates a Log wrapper with default format (common).
+func New(logLevel string, logFilePath string) *slog.Logger {
+	return NewWithFormat(logLevel, logFilePath, "common")
 }
 
-// New Set Default log level to info in case log level to defined.
-func New(logLevel string, logFilePath string) *Log {
-	// Initialize loggers with discard output
-	logError := log.New(io.Discard, "ERROR: CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin: ", log.Ldate|log.Ltime)
-	logInfo := log.New(io.Discard, "INFO: CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin: ", log.Ldate|log.Ltime)
-	logDebug := log.New(io.Discard, "DEBUG: CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin: ", log.Ldate|log.Ltime)
+// NewWithFormat creates a Log wrapper with specified format (common or json).
+func NewWithFormat(logLevel, logFilePath, logFormat string) *slog.Logger {
+	// Determine log level
+	var level slog.Level
+	switch logLevel {
+	case "ERROR":
+		level = LevelError
+	case "WARN":
+		level = LevelWarn
+	case "INFO":
+		level = LevelInfo
+	case "DEBUG":
+		level = LevelDebug
+	default:
+		// Default to INFO level
+		level = LevelInfo
+	}
 
-	// we initialize logger to STDOUT/STDERR first so if the file logger cannot be initialized we can inform the user
-	output := os.Stdout
-	errorOutput := os.Stderr
-
-	// prepare file logging if specified
+	// Set output destination
+	var output *os.File
 	if logFilePath != "" {
 		logFile, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Clean(logFilePath), os.O_APPEND|os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY, 0600)
 		if err == nil {
 			output = logFile
-			errorOutput = logFile
 		} else {
-			_ = fmt.Errorf("LogFilePath is not writable %w", err)
+			// Fall back to stdout and log the error
+			output = os.Stdout
+			slog.Warn("LogFilePath is not writable, using stdout", "error", err)
 		}
+	} else {
+		output = os.Stdout
 	}
 
-	// Set error logger output
-	logError.SetOutput(errorOutput)
-
-	// Configure log levels
-	switch logLevel {
-	case "ERROR":
-		// Only error logging is enabled
-	case "INFO":
-		logInfo.SetOutput(output)
-	case "DEBUG":
-		logInfo.SetOutput(output)
-		logDebug.SetOutput(output)
-	default:
-		// Default to INFO level
-		logInfo.SetOutput(output)
+	// Create handler based on format with custom level names
+	var handler slog.Handler
+	opts := &slog.HandlerOptions{
+		Level: level,
+		ReplaceAttr: func(_ []string, a slog.Attr) slog.Attr {
+			// Customize level names to match our expected format
+			if a.Key == slog.LevelKey {
+				lvl, ok := a.Value.Any().(slog.Level)
+				if !ok {
+					return a
+				}
+				switch {
+				case lvl < LevelInfo:
+					a.Value = slog.StringValue("DEBUG")
+				case lvl < LevelWarn:
+					a.Value = slog.StringValue("INFO")
+				case lvl < LevelError:
+					a.Value = slog.StringValue("WARN")
+				default:
+					a.Value = slog.StringValue("ERROR")
+				}
+			}
+			return a
+		},
 	}
 
-	return &Log{
-		logError: logError,
-		logInfo:  logInfo,
-		logDebug: logDebug,
+	if logFormat == "json" {
+		handler = slog.NewJSONHandler(output, opts)
+	} else {
+		// Common format (default)
+		handler = slog.NewTextHandler(output, opts)
 	}
-}
 
-// Info log to Stdout.
-func (l *Log) Info(str string) {
-	l.logInfo.Printf("%s", str)
-}
-
-// Debug log to Stdout.
-func (l *Log) Debug(str string) {
-	l.logDebug.Printf("%s", str)
-}
-
-// Error log to Stderr.
-func (l *Log) Error(str string) {
-	l.logError.Printf("%s", str)
+	// Create logger with component attribute
+	return slog.New(handler).With("component", "CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin")
 }

pkg/logger/logger_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+package logger
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"log/slog"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestNew(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		logLevel string
+	}{
+		{name: "ERROR level", logLevel: "ERROR"},
+		{name: "WARN level", logLevel: "WARN"},
+		{name: "INFO level", logLevel: "INFO"},
+		{name: "DEBUG level", logLevel: "DEBUG"},
+		{name: "Default level (INFO)", logLevel: "INVALID"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			logger := New(tt.logLevel, "")
+
+			// Verify logger is created
+			if logger == nil {
+				t.Fatal("Expected logger to be created, got nil")
+			}
+
+			// Verify it's a slog.Logger (we can call methods on it)
+			logger.Info("test initialization")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestJSONLogFormat(t *testing.T) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
+	// Create a logger with JSON handler to capture output
+	handler := slog.NewJSONHandler(&buf, &slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelInfo})
+	logger := slog.New(handler).With("component", "CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin")
+
+	testMessage := "json test message"
+	logger.Info(testMessage)
+
+	output := buf.String()
+	lines := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(output), "\n")
+
+	if len(lines) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected 1 log line, got %d", len(lines))
+	}
+
+	// Verify it's valid JSON
+	var logEntry map[string]interface{}
+	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(lines[0]), &logEntry)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected valid JSON output, got error: %v, output: %s", err, output)
+	}
+
+	// Verify JSON structure
+	if logEntry["level"] != "INFO" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected level 'INFO', got '%v'", logEntry["level"])
+	}
+	if logEntry["msg"] != testMessage {
+		t.Errorf("Expected message '%s', got '%v'", testMessage, logEntry["msg"])
+	}
+	if logEntry["time"] == nil {
+		t.Error("Expected timestamp to be set")
+	}
+	if logEntry["component"] != "CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected component 'CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin', got '%v'", logEntry["component"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCommonLogFormat(t *testing.T) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
+	// Create a logger with text handler to capture output
+	handler := slog.NewTextHandler(&buf, &slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelInfo})
+	logger := slog.New(handler).With("component", "CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin")
+
+	testMessage := "common test message"
+	logger.Info(testMessage)
+
+	output := buf.String()
+
+	// Verify common format (should contain level and message)
+	if !strings.Contains(output, "level=INFO") {
+		t.Error("Expected common format with INFO level")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(output, testMessage) {
+		t.Error("Expected test message in common format")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(output, "component=CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin") {
+		t.Error("Expected component field in common format")
+	}
+
+	// Should NOT be JSON (should be slog text format)
+	var logEntry map[string]interface{}
+	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(strings.TrimSpace(output)), &logEntry)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("Expected common format (not JSON), but got valid JSON")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestErrorLevel(t *testing.T) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+
+	// Create a logger with ERROR level to capture output
+	handler := slog.NewTextHandler(&buf, &slog.HandlerOptions{Level: slog.LevelError})
+	logger := slog.New(handler).With("component", "CrowdsecBouncerTraefikPlugin")
+
+	testMessage := "error only test"
+
+	// Test all log methods
+	logger.Error(testMessage)
+	logger.Warn(testMessage)  // Should not appear
+	logger.Info(testMessage)  // Should not appear
+	logger.Debug(testMessage) // Should not appear
+
+	output := buf.String()
+
+	// Only ERROR should appear
+	if !strings.Contains(output, "level=ERROR") {
+		t.Error("Expected ERROR message to appear")
+	}
+
+	// Other levels should NOT appear
+	unwantedLevels := []string{"level=WARN", "level=INFO", "level=DEBUG"}
+	for _, level := range unwantedLevels {
+		if strings.Contains(output, level) {
+			t.Errorf("Unexpected %s message appeared at ERROR level", level)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Verify only one message appears
+	messageCount := strings.Count(output, testMessage)
+	if messageCount != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("Expected 1 occurrence of test message at ERROR level, got %d", messageCount)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInvalidLogFile(t *testing.T) {
+	// Try to create logger with invalid file path
+	logger := New("INFO", "/invalid/path/that/does/not/exist/test.log")
+
+	// Logger should still be created (falls back to stdout)
+	if logger == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Expected logger to be created even with invalid file path")
+	}
+
+	// Should not panic when logging
+	logger.Info("test message")
+}

tests/e2e/mock/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# Binary e2e suite (Traefik binary + mock LAPI)
+
+This suite runs **Traefik as a downloaded binary** with the plugin loaded from
+the local source tree, and replaces Crowdsec with a small **HTTP mock**
+([`mocklapi/`](mocklapi/main.go), a stdlib-only Go command). No Docker, no real
+Crowdsec.
+
+It is what **CI runs** (`make e2e_mock`). A separate, local-only **Docker
+suite** (real Traefik + Crowdsec, under `tests/e2e/scenarios`) is kept for
+high-fidelity debugging against a real Crowdsec but is not exercised in CI; it
+ships in its own PR (#333).
+
+## Scope — what this suite tests
+
+These tests validate the **plugin's own behaviour**: the request flow through
+the Traefik middleware, the live / none / stream modes, caching, trusted-IP
+bypass, ban / captcha page rendering, and the AppSec request path (header
+forwarding + enforcing the engine's allow/block verdict).
+
+The mock stands in for Crowdsec, emulating the slice of the LAPI HTTP contract
+the plugin consumes — including a single, deterministic AppSec rule (block any
+URI containing `rpc2`, the probe from [`examples/appsec-enabled`](../../../examples/appsec-enabled)).
+It is not the real WAF engine, so this suite exercises the plugin's AppSec
+*wiring* rather than the detection accuracy of OWASP CRS / virtual patching —
+that lives upstream in Crowdsec.
+
+## What runs
+
+| Component | How |
+|-----------|-----|
+| Traefik   | Binary `v3.7.1`, downloaded into `.cache/` (reused across local runs; re-downloaded on fresh CI runners) |
+| Plugin    | Loaded via `experimental.localPlugins` from the repo root (symlinked into `plugins-local/`) |
+| LAPI      | `mocklapi` — a stdlib-only Go command (its own nested module), compiled and cached under `.cache/`, driven through `/admin` endpoints instead of `cscli` |
+| AppSec    | WAF stand-in built into the mock — blocks URIs containing `rpc2`, allows the rest |
+| Backend   | A plain HTTP responder built into the mock |
+
+Fixed ports (override with env vars if needed): Traefik `8000`, LAPI `8090`,
+backend `8091`, AppSec `8092`.
+
+## Running locally
+
+Prerequisites: `bash`, `curl`, `go`, `tar`. On first use the Traefik binary is
+fetched and the mock is compiled into `.cache/`. That cache is reused across
+local runs; CI runs on fresh runners, so both are recreated on every CI run.
+
+```bash
+# one scenario
+make e2e_mock_stream-mode
+# or directly
+./tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/stream-mode/run.sh
+
+# the whole suite
+make e2e_mock
+```
+
+## Layout
+
+```
+mock/
+  lib/
+    common.sh     # stack lifecycle, Traefik download, mock build, assertions, admin client
+    traefik.yml   # static Traefik config (shared by all scenarios)
+  mocklapi/
+    go.mod        # nested module — kept out of the plugin's build/lint/vendor
+    main.go       # mock LAPI + AppSec stand-in + backend
+  scenarios/
+    <name>/
+      dynamic.yml # Traefik dynamic config (router + bouncer middleware + backend)
+      run.sh      # assertions for the scenario
+      *.html      # optional fixtures (ban / captcha templates)
+```
+
+`dynamic.yml` uses placeholders (`@@APIKEY@@`, `@@LAPI_HOST@@`,
+`@@BACKEND_URL@@`, `@@SCENARIO_DIR@@`) that `common.sh` substitutes at runtime.
+
+## Adding a scenario
+
+1. Create `scenarios/<name>/dynamic.yml` and `run.sh` (copy `stream-mode/` as a
+   template).
+2. In `run.sh`, define a `body` function with the assertions and call
+   `run_scenario "<name>" "$HERE" body`.
+3. Drive decisions with `lapi_add_decision <ip> [type] [duration]` and
+   `lapi_delete_decision <ip>`.
+4. Add `<name>` to `E2E_MOCK_SCENARIOS` in the `Makefile`.

tests/e2e/mock/lib/common.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,248 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Shared helpers for the binary (mock) e2e suite.
+#
+# Unlike the Docker suite under tests/e2e/scenarios, this one runs Traefik as a
+# downloaded binary and replaces Crowdsec with a small HTTP mock (the mocklapi
+# Go command). It validates the plugin's own behaviour (modes, cache, trusted
+# IPs, ban / captcha rendering, AppSec wiring) — not the accuracy of Crowdsec's
+# detection or its WAF engine, which the mock only stands in for.
+#
+# Dependencies: bash, curl, go, tar. The Traefik binary is downloaded and the
+# mock is compiled into .cache/ on first use. That cache persists across local
+# runs; CI runs on fresh runners, so both are recreated on every CI run.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Pinned to match the Docker suite (tests/e2e/scenarios/*/docker-compose.yml).
+TRAEFIK_VERSION="${TRAEFIK_VERSION:-v3.7.1}"
+
+WEB_PORT="${WEB_PORT:-8000}"
+LAPI_PORT="${LAPI_PORT:-8090}"
+BACKEND_PORT="${BACKEND_PORT:-8091}"
+APPSEC_PORT="${APPSEC_PORT:-8092}"
+LAPI_KEY="${LAPI_KEY:-e2e-mock-key}"
+
+MOCK_LIB_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$MOCK_LIB_DIR/../../../.." && pwd)"
+CACHE_DIR="$MOCK_LIB_DIR/../.cache"
+
+# Populated by start_stack / run_scenario, consumed by the EXIT trap.
+WORKDIR=""
+TRAEFIK_PID=""
+MOCK_PID=""
+SCENARIO_NAME=""
+SCENARIO_LOG=""
+
+# Resolve (and cache) the Traefik binary for this host, echoing its path.
+ensure_traefik() {
+  local bin="$CACHE_DIR/traefik-$TRAEFIK_VERSION"
+  if [[ -x "$bin" ]]; then
+    echo "$bin"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  mkdir -p "$CACHE_DIR"
+  local os arch
+  case "$(uname -s)" in
+    Linux) os=linux ;;
+    Darwin) os=darwin ;;
+    *) echo "ensure_traefik: unsupported OS $(uname -s)" >&2; return 1 ;;
+  esac
+  case "$(uname -m)" in
+    x86_64 | amd64) arch=amd64 ;;
+    aarch64 | arm64) arch=arm64 ;;
+    *) echo "ensure_traefik: unsupported arch $(uname -m)" >&2; return 1 ;;
+  esac
+  local url="https://github.com/traefik/traefik/releases/download/${TRAEFIK_VERSION}/traefik_${TRAEFIK_VERSION}_${os}_${arch}.tar.gz"
+  echo "ensure_traefik: downloading $url" >&2
+  local tmp
+  tmp="$(mktemp -d)"
+  curl -sSfL "$url" -o "$tmp/traefik.tar.gz"
+  tar -xzf "$tmp/traefik.tar.gz" -C "$tmp" traefik
+  mv "$tmp/traefik" "$bin"
+  chmod +x "$bin"
+  rm -rf "$tmp"
+  echo "$bin"
+}
+
+# Build (and cache) the mock LAPI binary, echoing its path. Go's build cache
+# makes the rebuild near-instant after the first run.
+ensure_mock() {
+  local bin="$CACHE_DIR/mocklapi"
+  mkdir -p "$CACHE_DIR"
+  ( cd "$MOCK_LIB_DIR/../mocklapi" && go build -o "$bin" . ) >&2
+  echo "$bin"
+}
+
+# Poll a URL until it returns the expected status code, or fail.
+# Usage: wait_for_status URL CODE [TIMEOUT_SECONDS] [curl args...]
+wait_for_status() {
+  local url="$1" expected="$2" timeout="${3:-30}"
+  shift 3 || true
+  local elapsed=0 got=""
+  while (( elapsed < timeout )); do
+    got=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' "$@" "$url" || true)
+    if [[ "$got" == "$expected" ]]; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+    sleep 1
+    # Note: `((elapsed++))` returns exit 1 when elapsed is 0, which trips set -e.
+    elapsed=$((elapsed + 1))
+  done
+  echo "wait_for_status: $url expected $expected, last seen ${got:-<none>}" >&2
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Poll a URL until its body contains a substring, or fail. Used when the status
+# code alone can't tell the states apart (e.g. captcha page vs backend, both 200).
+# Usage: wait_for_body_contains URL NEEDLE [TIMEOUT_SECONDS] [curl args...]
+wait_for_body_contains() {
+  local url="$1" needle="$2" timeout="${3:-30}"
+  shift 3 || true
+  local elapsed=0 body=""
+  while (( elapsed < timeout )); do
+    body=$(curl -s "$@" "$url" || true)
+    if grep -q "$needle" <<<"$body"; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+    sleep 1
+    elapsed=$((elapsed + 1))
+  done
+  echo "wait_for_body_contains: $url did not contain \"$needle\" within ${timeout}s" >&2
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Assert a single curl returns the expected status code.
+# Usage: assert_status URL CODE [curl args...]
+assert_status() {
+  local url="$1" expected="$2"
+  shift 2 || true
+  local got
+  got=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' "$@" "$url")
+  if [[ "$got" != "$expected" ]]; then
+    echo "assert_status: $url expected $expected, got $got" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+}
+
+# Assert a response header matches a value (case-insensitive name).
+# Usage: assert_header URL HEADER VALUE [curl args...]
+assert_header() {
+  local url="$1" header="$2" expected="$3"
+  shift 3 || true
+  local got
+  got=$(curl -s -D - -o /dev/null "$@" "$url" | tr -d '\r' \
+    | awk -v h="${header,,}" -F': ' 'tolower($1) == h { print $2; exit }')
+  if [[ "$got" != "$expected" ]]; then
+    echo "assert_header: $url header $header expected \"$expected\", got \"$got\"" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+}
+
+# Assert a response body contains a substring.
+# Usage: assert_body_contains URL NEEDLE [curl args...]
+assert_body_contains() {
+  local url="$1" needle="$2"
+  shift 2 || true
+  local body
+  body=$(curl -s "$@" "$url")
+  if ! grep -q "$needle" <<<"$body"; then
+    echo "assert_body_contains: $url expected to contain \"$needle\", got:" >&2
+    echo "$body" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+}
+
+# --- mock admin client -------------------------------------------------------
+
+lapi_add_decision() {
+  local ip="$1" type="${2:-ban}" duration="${3:-4h}"
+  curl -sS -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:${LAPI_PORT}/admin/decisions?ip=${ip}&type=${type}&duration=${duration}" >/dev/null
+}
+
+lapi_delete_decision() {
+  local ip="$1"
+  curl -sS -X DELETE "http://127.0.0.1:${LAPI_PORT}/admin/decisions?ip=${ip}" >/dev/null
+}
+
+# --- stack lifecycle ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+# start_stack SCENARIO_DIR
+# Spins up the mock + Traefik (with the scenario's dynamic.yml) and waits ready.
+start_stack() {
+  local scenario_dir="$1"
+  local traefik_bin mock_bin
+  traefik_bin="$(ensure_traefik)"
+  mock_bin="$(ensure_mock)"
+
+  WORKDIR="$(mktemp -d)"
+  # Expose the plugin source where Traefik's localPlugins loader expects it.
+  mkdir -p "$WORKDIR/plugins-local/src/github.com/maxlerebourg"
+  ln -s "$REPO_ROOT" "$WORKDIR/plugins-local/src/github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin"
+
+  cp "$MOCK_LIB_DIR/traefik.yml" "$WORKDIR/traefik.yml"
+
+  # Render the scenario's dynamic config with the live ports / key / paths.
+  sed \
+    -e "s|@@APIKEY@@|${LAPI_KEY}|g" \
+    -e "s|@@LAPI_HOST@@|127.0.0.1:${LAPI_PORT}|g" \
+    -e "s|@@APPSEC_HOST@@|127.0.0.1:${APPSEC_PORT}|g" \
+    -e "s|@@BACKEND_URL@@|http://127.0.0.1:${BACKEND_PORT}|g" \
+    -e "s|@@SCENARIO_DIR@@|${scenario_dir}|g" \
+    "$scenario_dir/dynamic.yml" > "$WORKDIR/dynamic.yml"
+
+  "$mock_bin" \
+    --lapi-addr "127.0.0.1:${LAPI_PORT}" \
+    --backend-addr "127.0.0.1:${BACKEND_PORT}" \
+    --appsec-addr "127.0.0.1:${APPSEC_PORT}" >"$WORKDIR/mock.log" 2>&1 &
+  MOCK_PID=$!
+
+  ( cd "$WORKDIR" && exec "$traefik_bin" --configfile=traefik.yml ) >"$WORKDIR/traefik.log" 2>&1 &
+  TRAEFIK_PID=$!
+
+  wait_for_status "http://127.0.0.1:${LAPI_PORT}/health" 200 30
+  # AppSec stand-in: a bare GET carries no "rpc2" URI, so it answers 200 (allow).
+  wait_for_status "http://127.0.0.1:${APPSEC_PORT}/" 200 30
+  # /ping is served by Traefik itself once it is up (plugin compilation included).
+  wait_for_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/ping" 200 60
+}
+
+stop_stack() {
+  [[ -n "$TRAEFIK_PID" ]] && kill "$TRAEFIK_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  [[ -n "$MOCK_PID" ]] && kill "$MOCK_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  [[ -n "$TRAEFIK_PID" ]] && wait "$TRAEFIK_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  [[ -n "$MOCK_PID" ]] && wait "$MOCK_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+  [[ -n "$WORKDIR" && -d "$WORKDIR" ]] && rm -rf "$WORKDIR" || true
+}
+
+dump_diagnostics() {
+  echo "=== traefik.log ==="
+  cat "$WORKDIR/traefik.log" 2>/dev/null || true
+  echo "=== mock.log ==="
+  cat "$WORKDIR/mock.log" 2>/dev/null || true
+}
+
+# EXIT trap: runs after the scenario body (or after a failed assertion under
+# `set -e`), so it relies only on globals, never on run_scenario's locals.
+_scenario_cleanup() {
+  local rc=$?
+  if (( rc != 0 )); then
+    dump_diagnostics > "$SCENARIO_LOG" 2>&1 || true
+    echo "[$SCENARIO_NAME] failed. Logs written to $SCENARIO_LOG" >&2
+  fi
+  stop_stack
+  exit $rc
+}
+
+# run_scenario SCENARIO_NAME SCENARIO_DIR BODY_FN
+# Wraps lifecycle + diagnostics so each run.sh stays declarative.
+run_scenario() {
+  SCENARIO_NAME="$1"
+  local dir="$2" body="$3"
+  SCENARIO_LOG="/tmp/e2e-mock-${SCENARIO_NAME}.log"
+  trap _scenario_cleanup EXIT
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO_NAME] starting binary stack (Traefik + mock LAPI)..."
+  start_stack "$dir"
+  "$body"
+  echo "[$SCENARIO_NAME] OK"
+}

tests/e2e/mock/lib/traefik.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Static Traefik configuration for the binary e2e suite.
+# The dynamic part (router + bouncer middleware + backend service) lives in
+# dynamic.yml, generated per scenario by common.sh.
+entryPoints:
+  web:
+    address: ":8000"
+    forwardedHeaders:
+      # The test's curl sets X-Forwarded-For; preserve it through the proxy.
+      insecure: true
+
+log:
+  level: INFO
+
+accessLog: {}
+
+# /ping on the web entrypoint is the readiness probe — no dashboard/API needed.
+ping:
+  entryPoint: web
+
+providers:
+  file:
+    filename: dynamic.yml
+    watch: false
+
+experimental:
+  localPlugins:
+    bouncer:
+      moduleName: github.com/maxlerebourg/crowdsec-bouncer-traefik-plugin

tests/e2e/mock/mocklapi/go.mod

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+// Standalone module so this test helper stays out of the plugin module:
+// it is excluded from the plugin's `go build ./...`, `go test ./...`,
+// golangci-lint and `go mod vendor`. Stdlib only — no dependencies.
+module mocklapi
+
+go 1.22

tests/e2e/mock/mocklapi/main.go

@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+// Command mocklapi is a minimal Crowdsec LAPI stand-in for the binary e2e
+// suite. It answers only the few LAPI routes the plugin calls — live/none
+// decision lookups, the stream poll and the usage-metrics push — and lets the
+// test drive decisions through /admin instead of `cscli`. It also serves the
+// stub upstream that Traefik proxies allowed requests to.
+//
+// It is NOT a Crowdsec/AppSec conformance harness — the real WAF engine (OWASP
+// CRS, virtual patching) is out of scope. The AppSec endpoint here emulates a
+// single deterministic rule so the suite can exercise the plugin's AppSec
+// wiring (header forwarding, allow/block handling) end to end. See the README.
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"flag"
+	"log"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+)
+
+// Decision is the subset of a LAPI decision the plugin actually reads.
+type Decision struct {
+	Value    string `json:"value"`
+	Type     string `json:"type"`
+	Duration string `json:"duration"`
+}
+
+var (
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	active  = map[string]Decision{} // ip -> decision currently in force
+	deleted = map[string]Decision{} // ip -> decision to report in the stream "deleted" list
+)
+
+func writeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, v any) {
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(v)
+}
+
+func list(m map[string]Decision) []Decision {
+	out := make([]Decision, 0, len(m))
+	for _, d := range m {
+		out = append(out, d)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func main() {
+	lapiAddr := flag.String("lapi-addr", "127.0.0.1:8090", "address for the LAPI mock")
+	// The stub upstream Traefik proxies allowed requests to — the binary-suite
+	// equivalent of the traefik/whoami container. Not AppSec.
+	backendAddr := flag.String("backend-addr", "127.0.0.1:8091", "address for the stub upstream service")
+	// AppSec WAF stand-in (the real engine listens on :7422). Not a CRS engine.
+	appsecAddr := flag.String("appsec-addr", "127.0.0.1:8092", "address for the AppSec mock")
+	flag.Parse()
+
+	go func() {
+		log.Fatal(http.ListenAndServe(*backendAddr, http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte("E2E_BACKEND_OK\n"))
+		})))
+	}()
+
+	// AppSec mock: the plugin forwards the request metadata in X-Crowdsec-Appsec-*
+	// headers and reads our status — 200 allows, 403 blocks. We emulate one
+	// deterministic virtual-patching rule (block any URI containing "rpc2", the
+	// exact probe from examples/appsec-enabled) so the plugin's AppSec path is
+	// exercised without standing up the real WAF.
+	go func() {
+		log.Fatal(http.ListenAndServe(*appsecAddr, http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+			if strings.Contains(r.Header.Get("X-Crowdsec-Appsec-Uri"), "rpc2") {
+				w.WriteHeader(http.StatusForbidden)
+			}
+		})))
+	}()
+
+	mux := http.NewServeMux()
+
+	// Readiness probe for the test harness (empty body, 200).
+	mux.HandleFunc("/health", func(http.ResponseWriter, *http.Request) {})
+
+	// live / none mode: the plugin asks about one IP and expects a decision
+	// array, or the literal `null` when there is none.
+	mux.HandleFunc("/v1/decisions", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		if d, ok := active[r.URL.Query().Get("ip")]; ok {
+			writeJSON(w, []Decision{d})
+			return
+		}
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte("null"))
+	})
+
+	// stream mode: report the whole active set as "new" and anything removed as
+	// "deleted". Re-sending the same on every poll is harmless — the plugin just
+	// re-adds to / re-deletes from its cache.
+	mux.HandleFunc("/v1/decisions/stream", func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		writeJSON(w, map[string][]Decision{"new": list(active), "deleted": list(deleted)})
+	})
+
+	// usage-metrics push: accept and ignore.
+	mux.HandleFunc("/v1/usage-metrics", func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusCreated)
+	})
+
+	// Test control plane: add / remove decisions instead of cscli.
+	mux.HandleFunc("/admin/decisions", func(_ http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		q := r.URL.Query()
+		ip := q.Get("ip")
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		switch r.Method {
+		case http.MethodPost:
+			dtype := q.Get("type")
+			if dtype == "" {
+				dtype = "ban"
+			}
+			duration := q.Get("duration")
+			if duration == "" {
+				duration = "4h"
+			}
+			active[ip] = Decision{Value: ip, Type: dtype, Duration: duration}
+			delete(deleted, ip)
+		case http.MethodDelete:
+			if d, ok := active[ip]; ok {
+				deleted[ip] = d
+				delete(active, ip)
+			}
+		}
+	})
+
+	log.Printf("mocklapi: LAPI on %s, backend on %s, appsec on %s", *lapiAddr, *backendAddr, *appsecAddr)
+	log.Fatal(http.ListenAndServe(*lapiAddr, mux))
+}

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/appsec/dynamic.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+http:
+  routers:
+    r:
+      rule: "PathPrefix(`/foo`)"
+      entryPoints:
+        - web
+      service: backend
+      middlewares:
+        - bouncer
+  services:
+    backend:
+      loadBalancer:
+        servers:
+          - url: "@@BACKEND_URL@@"
+  middlewares:
+    bouncer:
+      plugin:
+        bouncer:
+          enabled: "true"
+          # IP bouncing disabled — this scenario exercises AppSec only.
+          crowdsecMode: none
+          crowdsecLapiScheme: http
+          crowdsecLapiHost: "@@LAPI_HOST@@"
+          crowdsecLapiKey: "@@APIKEY@@"
+          crowdsecAppsecEnabled: "true"
+          crowdsecAppsecScheme: http
+          crowdsecAppsecHost: "@@APPSEC_HOST@@"
+          forwardedHeadersTrustedIps:
+            - "127.0.0.1/32"

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/appsec/run.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HERE="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=../../lib/common.sh
+source "$HERE/../../lib/common.sh"
+
+SCENARIO=appsec
+
+# AppSec wiring check: the plugin forwards each request to the AppSec engine and
+# enforces its verdict. The mock emulates one virtual-patching rule (block any
+# URI containing "rpc2"), mirroring examples/appsec-enabled. This proves the
+# plugin's AppSec path end to end (header forwarding + allow/block handling); it
+# does not test the real WAF's detection accuracy.
+body() {
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] benign request must pass (AppSec allows)"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] request whose URI contains 'rpc2' must be blocked (AppSec 403)"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo/rpc2" 403 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+}
+
+run_scenario "$SCENARIO" "$HERE" body

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/captcha/captcha.html

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head><meta charset="utf-8"><title>E2E captcha marker</title></head>
+<body>
+<h1 id="e2e-captcha-marker">E2E_CAPTCHA_PAGE_MARKER</h1>
+<script src="{{ .FrontendJS }}"></script>
+<div class="{{ .FrontendKey }}" data-sitekey="{{ .SiteKey }}"></div>
+</body>
+</html>

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/captcha/dynamic.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+http:
+  routers:
+    r:
+      rule: "PathPrefix(`/foo`)"
+      entryPoints:
+        - web
+      service: backend
+      middlewares:
+        - bouncer
+  services:
+    backend:
+      loadBalancer:
+        servers:
+          - url: "@@BACKEND_URL@@"
+  middlewares:
+    bouncer:
+      plugin:
+        bouncer:
+          enabled: "true"
+          crowdsecMode: stream
+          updateIntervalSeconds: "2"
+          crowdsecLapiScheme: http
+          crowdsecLapiHost: "@@LAPI_HOST@@"
+          crowdsecLapiKey: "@@APIKEY@@"
+          forwardedHeadersTrustedIps:
+            - "127.0.0.1/32"
+          captchaProvider: turnstile
+          # Cloudflare Turnstile public test keys: render a valid widget without
+          # contacting a real API key.
+          captchaSiteKey: "1x00000000000000000000AA"
+          captchaSecretKey: "1x0000000000000000000000000000000AA"
+          captchaHtmlFilePath: "@@SCENARIO_DIR@@/captcha.html"
+          captchaGracePeriodSeconds: "10"

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/captcha/run.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HERE="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=../../lib/common.sh
+source "$HERE/../../lib/common.sh"
+
+SCENARIO=captcha
+
+body() {
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] adding captcha decision for 1.2.3.4"
+  lapi_add_decision 1.2.3.4 captcha 5m
+
+  # Status stays 200 before/after (captcha page vs backend), so gate on the body
+  # marker appearing once the captcha decision has been polled.
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] captcha page must be served once the decision is polled (200 + marker)"
+  wait_for_body_contains "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" "E2E_CAPTCHA_PAGE_MARKER" 15 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] captcha response is HTTP 200 (the captcha page itself, not a 403)"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] non-flagged IP must still pass through to the backend"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 5.6.7.8"
+}
+
+run_scenario "$SCENARIO" "$HERE" body

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/custom-ban-page/ban.html

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head><meta charset="utf-8"><title>E2E ban marker</title></head>
+<body>
+<h1 id="e2e-ban-marker">E2E_CUSTOM_BAN_PAGE_MARKER</h1>
+<p>IP: {{ .ClientIP }} reason: {{ .RemediationReason }}</p>
+</body>
+</html>

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/custom-ban-page/dynamic.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+http:
+  routers:
+    r:
+      rule: "PathPrefix(`/foo`)"
+      entryPoints:
+        - web
+      service: backend
+      middlewares:
+        - bouncer
+  services:
+    backend:
+      loadBalancer:
+        servers:
+          - url: "@@BACKEND_URL@@"
+  middlewares:
+    bouncer:
+      plugin:
+        bouncer:
+          enabled: "true"
+          crowdsecMode: stream
+          updateIntervalSeconds: "2"
+          crowdsecLapiScheme: http
+          crowdsecLapiHost: "@@LAPI_HOST@@"
+          crowdsecLapiKey: "@@APIKEY@@"
+          forwardedHeadersTrustedIps:
+            - "127.0.0.1/32"
+          banHtmlFilePath: "@@SCENARIO_DIR@@/ban.html"
+          remediationHeadersCustomName: "X-E2E-Remediation"

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/custom-ban-page/run.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HERE="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=../../lib/common.sh
+source "$HERE/../../lib/common.sh"
+
+SCENARIO=custom-ban-page
+
+body() {
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] adding ban decision"
+  lapi_add_decision 1.2.3.4 ban 5m
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] banned response becomes 403 once the next stream poll lands"
+  wait_for_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 403 15 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] banned response Content-Type is HTML"
+  assert_header "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" Content-Type "text/html; charset=utf-8" -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] banned response body contains the custom marker"
+  assert_body_contains "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" "E2E_CUSTOM_BAN_PAGE_MARKER" -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] banned response carries the custom remediation header (remediationHeadersCustomName)"
+  assert_header "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" X-E2E-Remediation "ban" -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+}
+
+run_scenario "$SCENARIO" "$HERE" body

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/live-mode/dynamic.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+http:
+  routers:
+    r:
+      rule: "PathPrefix(`/foo`)"
+      entryPoints:
+        - web
+      service: backend
+      middlewares:
+        - bouncer
+  services:
+    backend:
+      loadBalancer:
+        servers:
+          - url: "@@BACKEND_URL@@"
+  middlewares:
+    bouncer:
+      plugin:
+        bouncer:
+          enabled: "true"
+          crowdsecMode: live
+          defaultDecisionSeconds: "2"
+          crowdsecLapiScheme: http
+          crowdsecLapiHost: "@@LAPI_HOST@@"
+          crowdsecLapiKey: "@@APIKEY@@"
+          forwardedHeadersTrustedIps:
+            - "127.0.0.1/32"

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/live-mode/run.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HERE="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=../../lib/common.sh
+source "$HERE/../../lib/common.sh"
+
+SCENARIO=live-mode
+
+body() {
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] no decision -> first hit queries LAPI, returns 200, caches 'allowed' for 2s"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] adding ban decision for 1.2.3.4"
+  lapi_add_decision 1.2.3.4 ban 5m
+
+  # Stays 200 until the cached 'allowed' (defaultDecisionSeconds) expires, then
+  # the re-query sees the ban — poll instead of guessing the cache TTL.
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] hit must turn 403 once the cached 'allowed' expires and LAPI is re-queried"
+  wait_for_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 403 15 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] another non-banned IP must still pass"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 5.6.7.8"
+}
+
+run_scenario "$SCENARIO" "$HERE" body

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/none-mode/dynamic.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+http:
+  routers:
+    r:
+      rule: "PathPrefix(`/foo`)"
+      entryPoints:
+        - web
+      service: backend
+      middlewares:
+        - bouncer
+  services:
+    backend:
+      loadBalancer:
+        servers:
+          - url: "@@BACKEND_URL@@"
+  middlewares:
+    bouncer:
+      plugin:
+        bouncer:
+          enabled: "true"
+          crowdsecMode: none
+          crowdsecLapiScheme: http
+          crowdsecLapiHost: "@@LAPI_HOST@@"
+          crowdsecLapiKey: "@@APIKEY@@"
+          forwardedHeadersTrustedIps:
+            - "127.0.0.1/32"

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/none-mode/run.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HERE="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=../../lib/common.sh
+source "$HERE/../../lib/common.sh"
+
+SCENARIO=none-mode
+
+body() {
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] no decision -> request passes (LAPI queried per request)"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] adding ban decision for 1.2.3.4"
+  lapi_add_decision 1.2.3.4 ban 5m
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] none mode has no cache -> next request must be blocked immediately"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 403 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] deleting decision"
+  lapi_delete_decision 1.2.3.4
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] previously banned IP must pass again immediately"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+}
+
+run_scenario "$SCENARIO" "$HERE" body

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/stream-mode/dynamic.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+http:
+  routers:
+    r:
+      rule: "PathPrefix(`/foo`)"
+      entryPoints:
+        - web
+      service: backend
+      middlewares:
+        - bouncer
+  services:
+    backend:
+      loadBalancer:
+        servers:
+          - url: "@@BACKEND_URL@@"
+  middlewares:
+    bouncer:
+      plugin:
+        bouncer:
+          enabled: "true"
+          crowdsecMode: stream
+          updateIntervalSeconds: "2"
+          crowdsecLapiScheme: http
+          crowdsecLapiHost: "@@LAPI_HOST@@"
+          crowdsecLapiKey: "@@APIKEY@@"
+          forwardedHeadersTrustedIps:
+            - "127.0.0.1/32"

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/stream-mode/run.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HERE="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=../../lib/common.sh
+source "$HERE/../../lib/common.sh"
+
+SCENARIO=stream-mode
+
+body() {
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] no decision yet -> request allowed"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] adding ban decision for 1.2.3.4"
+  lapi_add_decision 1.2.3.4 ban 5m
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] banned IP must be blocked once the next stream poll lands (HTTP 403)"
+  wait_for_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 403 15 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] non-banned IP must still pass (HTTP 200)"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 5.6.7.8"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] deleting ban decision"
+  lapi_delete_decision 1.2.3.4
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] previously banned IP must pass again once the deletion is polled"
+  wait_for_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 15 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+}
+
+run_scenario "$SCENARIO" "$HERE" body

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/trusted-ips/dynamic.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+http:
+  routers:
+    r:
+      rule: "PathPrefix(`/foo`)"
+      entryPoints:
+        - web
+      service: backend
+      middlewares:
+        - bouncer
+  services:
+    backend:
+      loadBalancer:
+        servers:
+          - url: "@@BACKEND_URL@@"
+  middlewares:
+    bouncer:
+      plugin:
+        bouncer:
+          enabled: "true"
+          crowdsecMode: stream
+          updateIntervalSeconds: "2"
+          crowdsecLapiScheme: http
+          crowdsecLapiHost: "@@LAPI_HOST@@"
+          crowdsecLapiKey: "@@APIKEY@@"
+          forwardedHeadersTrustedIps:
+            - "127.0.0.1/32"
+          clientTrustedIps:
+            - "1.2.3.4/32"

tests/e2e/mock/scenarios/trusted-ips/run.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+HERE="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=../../lib/common.sh
+source "$HERE/../../lib/common.sh"
+
+SCENARIO=trusted-ips
+
+body() {
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] banning the trusted IP 1.2.3.4 and an untrusted IP 5.6.7.8"
+  lapi_add_decision 1.2.3.4 ban 5m
+  lapi_add_decision 5.6.7.8 ban 5m
+
+  # The untrusted IP turning 403 is our signal that the bans have been polled;
+  # it also doubles as the control proving the bouncer is active.
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] untrusted banned IP must be blocked once the bans are polled (HTTP 403)"
+  wait_for_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 403 15 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 5.6.7.8"
+
+  echo "[$SCENARIO] trusted IP must bypass the bouncer even though it is banned"
+  assert_status "http://127.0.0.1:${WEB_PORT}/foo" 200 -H "X-Forwarded-For: 1.2.3.4"
+}
+
+run_scenario "$SCENARIO" "$HERE" body

version.go

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+package crowdsec_bouncer_traefik_plugin //nolint:revive,stylecheck
+
+// pluginVersion is updated automatically by the release workflow.
+var pluginVersion = "1.6.X" //nolint:gochecknoglobals