fix BCH-01-004: rate-limit subscription-triggered announces

Adds rate-limiting to prevent device enumeration attacks via rapid
subscription/disconnect cycles. Without this fix, an attacker could
enumerate ~120 bitchat devices per minute by connecting, subscribing,
capturing the announce packet, then disconnecting and moving to the next.

Key changes:
- Add per-central rate-limit tracking with exponential backoff
- Minimum 2-second interval between announces per central
- Exponential backoff (2x) up to 30 seconds for rapid reconnects
- After 5 rapid attempts, suppress announces entirely (likely attack)
- Clean up stale rate-limit entries after 60-second window
- Clear rate-limit state during panic mode

Configuration:
- bleSubscriptionRateLimitMinSeconds: 2.0
- bleSubscriptionRateLimitBackoffFactor: 2.0
- bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxBackoffSeconds: 30.0
- bleSubscriptionRateLimitWindowSeconds: 60.0
- bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxAttempts: 5

Security audit reference: Cure53 BCH-01-004 (Medium severity)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

bitchat/Services/BLE/BLEService.swift

@@ -53,6 +53,15 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     private var subscribedCentrals: [CBCentral] = []
     private var centralToPeerID: [String: PeerID] = [:]  // Central UUID -> Peer ID mapping
 
+    // BCH-01-004: Rate-limiting for subscription-triggered announces
+    // Tracks subscription attempts per central to prevent enumeration attacks
+    private struct SubscriptionRateLimitState {
+        var lastAnnounceTime: Date
+        var attemptCount: Int
+        var currentBackoffSeconds: TimeInterval
+    }
+    private var centralSubscriptionRateLimits: [String: SubscriptionRateLimitState] = [:]  // Central UUID -> rate limit state
+    
     // 3. Peer Information (single source of truth)
     private struct PeerInfo {
         let peerID: PeerID
@@ -575,6 +584,9 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         subscribedCentrals.removeAll()
         centralToPeerID.removeAll()
         meshTopology.reset()
+
+        // BCH-01-004: Clear rate-limit state
+        centralSubscriptionRateLimits.removeAll()
     }
     
     // MARK: Connectivity and peers
@@ -2179,9 +2191,68 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
     }
     
     func peripheralManager(_ peripheral: CBPeripheralManager, central: CBCentral, didSubscribeTo characteristic: CBCharacteristic) {
-        SecureLogger.debug("📥 Central subscribed: \(central.identifier.uuidString)", category: .session)
+        let centralUUID = central.identifier.uuidString
+        SecureLogger.debug("📥 Central subscribed: \(centralUUID)", category: .session)
         subscribedCentrals.append(central)
-        // Send announce to the newly subscribed central after a small delay to avoid overwhelming
+
+        // BCH-01-004: Rate-limit subscription-triggered announces to prevent enumeration attacks
+        let now = Date()
+        var state = centralSubscriptionRateLimits[centralUUID]
+
+        // Clean up stale entries periodically
+        cleanupStaleSubscriptionRateLimits()
+
+        // Check if this central is rate-limited
+        if let existingState = state {
+            let timeSinceLastAnnounce = now.timeIntervalSince(existingState.lastAnnounceTime)
+
+            // If within backoff period, skip the announce
+            if timeSinceLastAnnounce < existingState.currentBackoffSeconds {
+                SecureLogger.warning("🛡️ BCH-01-004: Rate-limited announce for central \(centralUUID.prefix(8))... (backoff: \(Int(existingState.currentBackoffSeconds))s, attempts: \(existingState.attemptCount))", category: .security)
+
+                // Increment attempt count and increase backoff
+                let newAttemptCount = existingState.attemptCount + 1
+                let newBackoff = min(
+                    existingState.currentBackoffSeconds * TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitBackoffFactor,
+                    TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxBackoffSeconds
+                )
+                centralSubscriptionRateLimits[centralUUID] = SubscriptionRateLimitState(
+                    lastAnnounceTime: existingState.lastAnnounceTime,
+                    attemptCount: newAttemptCount,
+                    currentBackoffSeconds: newBackoff
+                )
+
+                // If too many rapid attempts, this is likely an enumeration attack - don't respond
+                if newAttemptCount >= TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxAttempts {
+                    SecureLogger.warning("🚨 BCH-01-004: Possible enumeration attack from central \(centralUUID.prefix(8))... - suppressing announce", category: .security)
+                    return
+                }
+
+                // Still flush directed packets and rebroadcast for legitimate mesh operation
+                messageQueue.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + TransportConfig.blePostAnnounceDelaySeconds) { [weak self] in
+                    self?.flushDirectedSpool()
+                    self?.rebroadcastRecentAnnounces()
+                }
+                return
+            }
+
+            // Outside backoff period - allow announce but track it
+            state = SubscriptionRateLimitState(
+                lastAnnounceTime: now,
+                attemptCount: 1,
+                currentBackoffSeconds: TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMinSeconds
+            )
+        } else {
+            // First subscription from this central - track it
+            state = SubscriptionRateLimitState(
+                lastAnnounceTime: now,
+                attemptCount: 1,
+                currentBackoffSeconds: TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMinSeconds
+            )
+        }
+        centralSubscriptionRateLimits[centralUUID] = state
+
+        // Send announce to the newly subscribed central after a small delay
         messageQueue.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + TransportConfig.blePostAnnounceDelaySeconds) { [weak self] in
             self?.sendAnnounce(forceSend: true)
             // Flush any spooled directed packets now that we have a central subscribed
@@ -2191,6 +2262,15 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
         }
     }
 
+    /// BCH-01-004: Clean up stale rate-limit entries to prevent memory growth
+    private func cleanupStaleSubscriptionRateLimits() {
+        let now = Date()
+        let windowSeconds = TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitWindowSeconds
+        centralSubscriptionRateLimits = centralSubscriptionRateLimits.filter { _, state in
+            now.timeIntervalSince(state.lastAnnounceTime) < windowSeconds
+        }
+    }
+    
     func peripheralManager(_ peripheral: CBPeripheralManager, central: CBCentral, didUnsubscribeFrom characteristic: CBCharacteristic) {
         SecureLogger.debug("📤 Central unsubscribed: \(central.identifier.uuidString)", category: .session)
         subscribedCentrals.removeAll { $0.identifier == central.identifier }

bitchat/Services/TransportConfig.swift

@@ -162,6 +162,14 @@ enum TransportConfig {
     static let blePostAnnounceDelaySeconds: TimeInterval = 0.4
     static let bleForceAnnounceMinIntervalSeconds: TimeInterval = 0.15
 
+    // BCH-01-004: Rate-limiting for subscription-triggered announces
+    // Prevents rapid enumeration attacks by rate-limiting announce responses
+    static let bleSubscriptionRateLimitMinSeconds: TimeInterval = 2.0       // Minimum interval between announces per central
+    static let bleSubscriptionRateLimitBackoffFactor: Double = 2.0          // Exponential backoff multiplier
+    static let bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxBackoffSeconds: TimeInterval = 30.0  // Maximum backoff period
+    static let bleSubscriptionRateLimitWindowSeconds: TimeInterval = 60.0   // Window for tracking subscription attempts
+    static let bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxAttempts: Int = 5                 // Max attempts before extended cooldown
+
     // Store-and-forward for directed packets at relays
     static let bleDirectedSpoolWindowSeconds: TimeInterval = 15.0
 

bitchatTests/SubscriptionRateLimitTests.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+//
+// SubscriptionRateLimitTests.swift
+// bitchatTests
+//
+// This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.
+// For more information, see <https://unlicense.org>
+//
+
+import Testing
+import Foundation
+@testable import bitchat
+
+/// Tests for BCH-01-004 fix: Rate-limiting subscription-triggered announces
+/// to prevent device enumeration attacks
+struct SubscriptionRateLimitTests {
+
+    @Test("Rate limit configuration values are sensible")
+    func rateLimitConfigurationValues() {
+        // Minimum interval should be at least 1 second to slow enumeration
+        #expect(TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMinSeconds >= 1.0)
+
+        // Backoff factor should be > 1 for exponential backoff
+        #expect(TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitBackoffFactor > 1.0)
+
+        // Max backoff should be reasonable (not hours)
+        #expect(TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxBackoffSeconds <= 60.0)
+        #expect(TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxBackoffSeconds >= TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMinSeconds)
+
+        // Window should be long enough to track repeated attempts
+        #expect(TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitWindowSeconds >= 30.0)
+
+        // Max attempts before suppression should be > 1 to allow legitimate reconnects
+        #expect(TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxAttempts >= 2)
+    }
+
+    @Test("Exponential backoff calculation is correct")
+    func exponentialBackoffCalculation() {
+        let minInterval = TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMinSeconds
+        let factor = TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitBackoffFactor
+        let maxBackoff = TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxBackoffSeconds
+
+        // Simulate backoff progression
+        var currentBackoff = minInterval
+        var iterations = 0
+        let maxIterations = 10
+
+        while currentBackoff < maxBackoff && iterations < maxIterations {
+            let nextBackoff = min(currentBackoff * factor, maxBackoff)
+            #expect(nextBackoff >= currentBackoff, "Backoff should increase or stay at max")
+            currentBackoff = nextBackoff
+            iterations += 1
+        }
+
+        // Should reach max within reasonable iterations
+        #expect(iterations <= maxIterations, "Backoff should reach max within \(maxIterations) iterations")
+        #expect(currentBackoff == maxBackoff, "Final backoff should equal max")
+    }
+
+    @Test("Rate limiting would significantly slow enumeration attacks")
+    func rateLimitingSlowsEnumeration() {
+        // Without rate limiting: ~120 devices/minute (0.5 seconds per device)
+        // With rate limiting: minimum interval enforced
+
+        let minInterval = TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMinSeconds
+        let devicesPerMinuteWithRateLimit = 60.0 / minInterval
+
+        // Should be significantly slower than 120 devices/minute
+        #expect(devicesPerMinuteWithRateLimit < 60, "Rate limiting should significantly slow enumeration")
+
+        // With 2-second minimum interval, max ~30 devices/minute per connection
+        // And with backoff, repeated attempts are even slower
+        #expect(devicesPerMinuteWithRateLimit <= 30, "With 2s minimum, should be <=30/min")
+    }
+
+    @Test("Max attempts threshold prevents complete enumeration")
+    func maxAttemptsThresholdPreventsEnumeration() {
+        let maxAttempts = TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMaxAttempts
+        let minInterval = TransportConfig.bleSubscriptionRateLimitMinSeconds
+
+        // After max attempts within window, announces are suppressed entirely
+        // This means an attacker gets at most maxAttempts announces per window
+        #expect(maxAttempts >= 2, "Should allow at least 2 attempts for legitimate reconnects")
+        #expect(maxAttempts <= 10, "Should cap attempts to prevent enumeration")
+
+        // With 5 attempts max and 2s minimum interval, attacker gets limited info
+        let maxAnnounces = maxAttempts
+        #expect(maxAnnounces <= 10, "Max announces per window should be limited")
+    }
+}