engine: rate-limit anonymous service commands so a bot cannot spam a service in a loop

src/engine/dispatch.rs

@@ -34,13 +34,39 @@ impl Engine {
                 self.bump("botserv.messages");
             }
         } else {
-            // A services ignore silences a user's commands entirely — but an oper
-            // can never be ignored (else they could lock themselves out).
+            // A services ignore silences a user's commands entirely, and flood
+            // control clamps a bot spamming a service in a loop — but an oper is
+            // exempt from both (else they could lock themselves out).
             if !privs.any() {
                 let host = self.network.host_of(from).unwrap_or("").to_string();
                 if self.db.is_ignored(&nick, &host) {
                     return Vec::new();
                 }
+                // Flood control targets the stated vector: a bot that connects and
+                // spams a service in a loop without ever logging in. Identified users
+                // are accountable and legitimately burst (channel setup), and the
+                // ircd's own fakelag still governs everyone — so only anonymous
+                // senders are clamped, and only on lines aimed at one of our services.
+                if account.is_none() {
+                    let target = self.services.iter()
+                        .find(|s| to.eq_ignore_ascii_case(s.uid()) || to.eq_ignore_ascii_case(s.nick()))
+                        .map(|s| s.uid().to_string());
+                    if let Some(svc_uid) = target {
+                        match self.cmd_limiter.check(&host) {
+                            CmdVerdict::Allow => {}
+                            CmdVerdict::Warn => {
+                                let mut out = vec![NetAction::Notice {
+                                    from: svc_uid,
+                                    to: from.to_string(),
+                                    text: "You're sending commands too fast. Slow down and try again in a moment.".to_string(),
+                                }];
+                                self.apply_msg_style(&mut out);
+                                return out;
+                            }
+                            CmdVerdict::Drop => return Vec::new(),
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
             }
             let mut matched: Option<String> = None;
             {

src/engine/mod.rs

@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ pub struct Engine {
     sasl_sessions: HashMap<String, TimedSession>, // client uid -> in-progress exchange
     sasl_source: HashMap<String, (Instant, String)>, // client uid -> real host/IP from the SASL H message
     reg_limiter: RegLimiter,
+    cmd_limiter: CmdLimiter, // per-host flood control for service commands
     chan_service: Option<String>, // uid to source channel modes from (ChanServ)
     nick_service: Option<String>, // uid of the account service (NickServ), for its notices
     irc_out: Option<mpsc::UnboundedSender<NetAction>>, // services-initiated actions -> the uplink
@@ -234,6 +235,7 @@ impl Engine {
             sasl_sessions: HashMap::new(),
             sasl_source: HashMap::new(),
             reg_limiter: RegLimiter::new(),
+            cmd_limiter: CmdLimiter::default(),
             chan_service,
             nick_service,
             irc_out: None,
@@ -1956,5 +1958,73 @@ impl RegLimiter {
     }
 }
 
+// Per-host flood control for anonymous service commands. A bot that connects and
+// spams `/msg NickServ HELP` in a loop is warned, then silently dropped until it
+// slows down — never answered per line, which would just double the flood on
+// the wire. A sender may burst up to CMD_BURST commands, then is held to
+// CMD_REFILL_PER_SEC sustained (one every two seconds). Keyed by host so a nick
+// change or reconnect does not reset the count. Ephemeral; never event-logged.
+#[derive(Default)]
+struct CmdLimiter {
+    buckets: HashMap<String, CmdBucket>,
+    last_sweep: Option<Instant>,
+}
+
+struct CmdBucket {
+    tokens: f64,
+    last: Instant,
+    last_warn: Option<Instant>, // when we last told this host to slow down
+}
+
+const CMD_BURST: f64 = 15.0; // commands allowed back-to-back from a full bucket
+const CMD_REFILL_PER_SEC: f64 = 0.5; // steady-state: one every two seconds
+const CMD_WARN_EVERY: Duration = Duration::from_secs(30); // at most one "slow down" per host per window
+const CMD_SWEEP_EVERY: Duration = Duration::from_secs(60);
+
+enum CmdVerdict {
+    Allow, // within budget: run the command
+    Warn,  // just went over: send one "slow down" notice, drop the command
+    Drop,  // still over and already warned: drop silently
+}
+
+impl CmdLimiter {
+    fn check(&mut self, key: &str) -> CmdVerdict {
+        self.check_at(key, Instant::now())
+    }
+
+    fn check_at(&mut self, key: &str, now: Instant) -> CmdVerdict {
+        self.sweep(now);
+        let b = self.buckets.entry(key.to_string()).or_insert(CmdBucket { tokens: CMD_BURST, last: now, last_warn: None });
+        b.tokens = (b.tokens + now.duration_since(b.last).as_secs_f64() * CMD_REFILL_PER_SEC).min(CMD_BURST);
+        b.last = now;
+        if b.tokens >= 1.0 {
+            b.tokens -= 1.0;
+            return CmdVerdict::Allow;
+        }
+        // Over budget. Warn at most once per window, then drop silently — a sustained
+        // flood that the ircd's fakelag paces to a trickle must not draw a fresh
+        // "slow down" on every other line, which would just backscatter the flood.
+        if b.last_warn.is_none_or(|w| now.duration_since(w) >= CMD_WARN_EVERY) {
+            b.last_warn = Some(now);
+            CmdVerdict::Warn
+        } else {
+            CmdVerdict::Drop
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Drop buckets that have refilled to full since we last touched them: a full
+    // bucket is indistinguishable from a fresh one, so this is lossless and keeps
+    // the map bounded to recently-active senders. Runs at most once a minute.
+    fn sweep(&mut self, now: Instant) {
+        if let Some(last) = self.last_sweep {
+            if now.duration_since(last) < CMD_SWEEP_EVERY {
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+        self.last_sweep = Some(now);
+        self.buckets.retain(|_, b| (b.tokens + now.duration_since(b.last).as_secs_f64() * CMD_REFILL_PER_SEC) < CMD_BURST);
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests;

src/engine/tests.rs

@@ -5355,3 +5355,32 @@ fn chanfix_and_diceserv_basic_paths() {
     // DiceServ evaluates an expression.
     assert!(svc_ask(&mut e, "42SAAAAAI", "ROLL 2d6").iter().any(|l| l.contains('=')), "dice result");
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn cmd_limiter_bursts_then_throttles_per_host() {
+    let mut lim = CmdLimiter::default();
+    let t0 = Instant::now();
+    // A full bucket lets a whole burst through back-to-back.
+    for _ in 0..CMD_BURST as usize {
+        assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("1.2.3.4", t0), CmdVerdict::Allow), "burst within budget");
+    }
+    // Going over budget warns once, then drops silently — never a fresh warning per
+    // line, which would just backscatter the flood.
+    assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("1.2.3.4", t0), CmdVerdict::Warn), "first over-budget warns");
+    assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("1.2.3.4", t0), CmdVerdict::Drop), "no repeat warning");
+    assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("1.2.3.4", t0), CmdVerdict::Drop), "stays dropped");
+    // A different host keeps its own independent budget.
+    assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("9.9.9.9", t0), CmdVerdict::Allow), "other host independent");
+    // A trickle refill lets a couple through, but an abuser the ircd is already
+    // pacing must not be re-warned each time the bucket briefly recovers.
+    let paced = t0 + Duration::from_secs(4); // +2 tokens
+    assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("1.2.3.4", paced), CmdVerdict::Allow), "refilled token 1");
+    assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("1.2.3.4", paced), CmdVerdict::Allow), "refilled token 2");
+    assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("1.2.3.4", paced), CmdVerdict::Drop), "dropped, not re-warned mid-window");
+    // Only once the warn window has elapsed does one fresh warning surface again.
+    let next_window = t0 + Duration::from_secs(CMD_WARN_EVERY.as_secs() + 5);
+    for _ in 0..CMD_BURST as usize {
+        assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("1.2.3.4", next_window), CmdVerdict::Allow), "bucket refilled after idle");
+    }
+    assert!(matches!(lim.check_at("1.2.3.4", next_window), CmdVerdict::Warn), "one fresh warning in a new window");
+}