v1.2.51 - Fix NIP-01 non-compliance: limit:0 now correctly returns zero stored events instead of falling through to default_limit

Dockerfile.alpine-musl

@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ RUN if [ "$DEBUG_BUILD" = "true" ]; then \
     -Inostr_core_lib/cjson -Inostr_core_lib/nostr_websocket \
     src/main.c src/config.c src/dm_admin.c src/request_validator.c \
     src/nip009.c src/nip011.c src/nip013.c src/nip040.c src/nip042.c \
-    src/websockets.c src/subscriptions.c src/api.c src/embedded_web_content.c \
+    src/websockets.c src/subscriptions.c src/api.c src/embedded_web_content.c src/ip_ban.c \
     -o /build/c_relay_static \
     c_utils_lib/libc_utils.a \
     nostr_core_lib/libnostr_core_x64.a \

Makefile

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ LIBS = -lsqlite3 -lwebsockets -lz -ldl -lpthread -lm -L/usr/local/lib -lsecp256k
 BUILD_DIR = build
 
 # Source files
-MAIN_SRC = src/main.c src/config.c src/dm_admin.c src/request_validator.c src/nip009.c src/nip011.c src/nip013.c src/nip040.c src/nip042.c src/websockets.c src/subscriptions.c src/api.c src/embedded_web_content.c
+MAIN_SRC = src/main.c src/config.c src/dm_admin.c src/request_validator.c src/nip009.c src/nip011.c src/nip013.c src/nip040.c src/nip042.c src/websockets.c src/subscriptions.c src/api.c src/embedded_web_content.c src/ip_ban.c
 NOSTR_CORE_LIB = nostr_core_lib/libnostr_core_x64.a
 C_UTILS_LIB = c_utils_lib/libc_utils.a
 

api/index.css

@@ -1486,3 +1486,16 @@ body.dark-mode .admin-verification-content {
     font-size: 12px;
 }
 
+
+/* ================================
+   IP BANS TABLE - compact rows
+   ================================ */
+#ip-bans-table td, #ip-bans-table th {
+    padding: 4px 8px;
+    line-height: 1.3;
+    font-size: 13px;
+}
+#ip-bans-table button {
+    padding: 2px 8px;
+    font-size: 12px;
+}

api/index.html

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
             <li><button class="nav-item" data-page="subscriptions">Subscriptions</button></li>
             <li><button class="nav-item" data-page="configuration">Configuration</button></li>
             <li><button class="nav-item" data-page="authorization">Authorization</button></li>
+            <li><button class="nav-item" data-page="ip-bans">IP BANS</button></li>
             <li><button class="nav-item" data-page="relay-events">Relay Events</button></li>
             <li><button class="nav-item" data-page="dm">DM</button></li>
             <li><button class="nav-item" data-page="database">Database Query</button></li>
@@ -111,6 +112,10 @@
                             <td>Process ID</td>
                             <td id="process-id">-</td>
                         </tr>
+                        <tr>
+                            <td>WebSocket Connections</td>
+                            <td id="websocket-connections">-</td>
+                        </tr>
                         <tr>
                             <td>Active Subscriptions</td>
                             <td id="active-subscriptions">-</td>
@@ -119,14 +124,14 @@
                             <td>Memory Usage</td>
                             <td id="memory-usage">-</td>
                         </tr>
-                        <tr>
-                            <td>CPU Core</td>
-                            <td id="cpu-core">-</td>
-                        </tr>
                         <tr>
                             <td>CPU Usage</td>
                             <td id="cpu-usage">-</td>
                         </tr>
+                        <tr>
+                            <td>CPU Core</td>
+                            <td id="cpu-core">-</td>
+                        </tr>
                         <tr>
                             <td>Oldest Event</td>
                             <td id="oldest-event">-</td>
@@ -288,8 +293,8 @@ AUTH RULES MANAGEMENT
         <!-- Auth Rule Input Section -->
         <div id="authRuleInputSections" style="display: block;">
             <div class="input-group">
-                <label for="authRulePubkey">Pubkey (nsec or hex):</label>
-                <input type="text" id="authRulePubkey" placeholder="nsec1... or 64-character hex pubkey">
+                <label for="authRulePubkey">Public Key (npub or hex):</label>
+                <input type="text" id="authRulePubkey" placeholder="npub1... or 64-character hex pubkey">
             </div>
             <div id="whitelistWarning" class="warning-box" style="display: none;">
                 <strong>⚠️ WARNING:</strong> Adding whitelist rules changes relay behavior to whitelist-only
@@ -382,6 +387,109 @@ WEB OF TRUST
         </div>
     </div>
 
+    <!-- IP BANS Section -->
+    <div class="section" id="ipBansSection" style="display: none;">
+        <div class="section-header">
+            IP BAN MANAGEMENT
+        </div>
+
+        <!-- Statistics Cards -->
+        <div class="input-group">
+            <div class="config-table-container">
+                <table class="config-table" id="ip-bans-stats-table">
+                    <thead>
+                        <tr>
+                            <th>Total IPs Tracked</th>
+                            <th>Currently Banned</th>
+                            <th>Total Bans Issued</th>
+                        </tr>
+                    </thead>
+                    <tbody>
+                        <tr>
+                            <td id="ip-bans-total">-</td>
+                            <td id="ip-bans-active">-</td>
+                            <td id="ip-bans-issued">-</td>
+                        </tr>
+                    </tbody>
+                </table>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <!-- Add Ban Form -->
+        <div class="input-group">
+            <h3>Manually Ban IP Address</h3>
+            <div class="form-group">
+                <label for="ban-ip-input">IP Address:</label>
+                <input type="text" id="ban-ip-input" placeholder="192.168.1.100">
+            </div>
+            <div class="form-group">
+                <label for="ban-duration-select">Ban Duration:</label>
+                <select id="ban-duration-select">
+                    <option value="3600">1 Hour</option>
+                    <option value="86400" selected>24 Hours</option>
+                    <option value="604800">7 Days</option>
+                    <option value="2592000">30 Days</option>
+                    <option value="31536000">1 Year</option>
+                    <option value="999999999">Permanent</option>
+                </select>
+            </div>
+            <div class="inline-buttons">
+                <button type="button" id="add-ban-btn">BAN IP</button>
+            </div>
+            <div id="add-ban-status" class="status-message"></div>
+        </div>
+
+        <!-- Whitelist Management -->
+        <div class="input-group">
+            <h3>IP Whitelist (Never Banned)</h3>
+            <p style="font-size:13px;opacity:0.8;">IPs in this list are never idle-banned. Comma-separated.</p>
+            <div class="form-group">
+                <label for="whitelist-ip-input">Add IP to Whitelist:</label>
+                <input type="text" id="whitelist-ip-input" placeholder="103.81.231.220">
+            </div>
+            <div class="inline-buttons">
+                <button type="button" id="add-whitelist-btn">ADD TO WHITELIST</button>
+            </div>
+            <div id="whitelist-status" class="status-message"></div>
+            <div id="whitelist-current" style="margin-top:8px;font-size:13px;"></div>
+        </div>
+
+        <!-- Filter Controls -->
+        <div class="input-group">
+            <div class="inline-buttons">
+                <button type="button" id="ip-ban-filter-all" class="active">All IPs</button>
+                <button type="button" id="ip-ban-filter-banned">Currently Banned</button>
+                <button type="button" id="ip-ban-filter-expired">Expired</button>
+                <button type="button" id="refresh-ip-bans-btn">REFRESH</button>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <!-- IP Bans List -->
+        <div class="input-group">
+            <label>Banned IP Addresses:</label>
+            <div class="config-table-container">
+                <table class="config-table" id="ip-bans-table">
+                        <thead>
+                            <tr>
+                                <th>IP Address</th>
+                                <th>Status</th>
+                                <th>Banned Until</th>
+                                <th>Failures</th>
+                                <th>Authed Successfully</th>
+                                <th>Connection Attempts</th>
+                                <th>Actions</th>
+                            </tr>
+                        </thead>
+                    <tbody id="ip-bans-tbody">
+                        <tr>
+                                                    <td colspan="7" style="text-align: center;">Click REFRESH to load IP bans</td>
+                                                </tr>
+                    </tbody>
+                </table>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
     <!-- RELAY EVENTS Section -->
     <div class="section" id="relayEventsSection" style="display: none;">
         <div class="section-header">
@@ -467,6 +575,10 @@ WEB OF TRUST
                     <option value="event_kinds">Event Kinds Distribution</option>
                     <option value="time_stats">Time-based Statistics</option>
                 </optgroup>
+                <optgroup label="IP Ban Queries">
+                    <option value="banned_ips_summary">Banned IPs Summary</option>
+                    <option value="banned_ips_list">All Banned IP Addresses</option>
+                </optgroup>
                 <optgroup label="Query History" id="history-group">
                     <!-- Dynamically populated from localStorage -->
                 </optgroup>

api/nostr.bundle.js

@@ -3297,8 +3297,18 @@ var NostrTools = (() => {
       this.enablePing = opts.enablePing;
     }
     async ensureRelay(url, params) {
+      const rawUrl = url;
+      const debugEnabled = typeof window !== "undefined" && !!window.__SIMPLE_POOL_DEBUG__;
       url = normalizeURL(url);
       let relay = this.relays.get(url);
+      if (debugEnabled) {
+        console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL ensureRelay START", {
+          rawUrl,
+          normalizedUrl: url,
+          hadRelay: !!relay,
+          relayMapKeysBefore: Array.from(this.relays.keys())
+        });
+      }
       if (!relay) {
         relay = new AbstractRelay(url, {
           verifyEvent: this.trustedRelayURLs.has(url) ? alwaysTrue : this.verifyEvent,
@@ -3306,13 +3316,38 @@ var NostrTools = (() => {
           enablePing: this.enablePing
         });
         relay.onclose = () => {
+          if (debugEnabled) {
+            console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL ensureRelay onclose", {
+              normalizedUrl: url,
+              relayMapKeysBeforeDelete: Array.from(this.relays.keys())
+            });
+          }
           this.relays.delete(url);
+          if (debugEnabled) {
+            console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL ensureRelay onclose complete", {
+              normalizedUrl: url,
+              relayMapKeysAfterDelete: Array.from(this.relays.keys())
+            });
+          }
         };
         if (params?.connectionTimeout)
           relay.connectionTimeout = params.connectionTimeout;
         this.relays.set(url, relay);
+        if (debugEnabled) {
+          console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL ensureRelay created relay", {
+            normalizedUrl: url,
+            relayMapKeysAfterCreate: Array.from(this.relays.keys())
+          });
+        }
       }
       await relay.connect();
+      if (debugEnabled) {
+        console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL ensureRelay connected", {
+          normalizedUrl: url,
+          relayConnected: relay.connected,
+          relayMapKeysAfterConnect: Array.from(this.relays.keys())
+        });
+      }
       return relay;
     }
     close(relays) {
@@ -3334,16 +3369,26 @@ var NostrTools = (() => {
     }
     subscribeMany(relays, filters, params) {
       params.onauth = params.onauth || params.doauth;
+      const debugEnabled = typeof window !== "undefined" && !!window.__SIMPLE_POOL_DEBUG__;
       const request = [];
       const uniqUrls = [];
       for (let i2 = 0; i2 < relays.length; i2++) {
         const url = normalizeURL(relays[i2]);
         if (uniqUrls.indexOf(url) === -1) {
+          uniqUrls.push(url);
           for (let f2 = 0; f2 < filters.length; f2++) {
             request.push({ url, filter: filters[f2] });
           }
         }
       }
+      if (debugEnabled) {
+        console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL subscribeMany", {
+          relaysInput: relays,
+          uniqUrls,
+          filtersCount: filters.length,
+          requestsCount: request.length
+        });
+      }
       return this.subscribeMap(request, params);
     }
     subscribeMap(requests, params) {
@@ -3391,14 +3436,31 @@ var NostrTools = (() => {
         _knownIds.add(id);
         return have;
       };
+      const debugEnabled = typeof window !== "undefined" && !!window.__SIMPLE_POOL_DEBUG__;
       const allOpened = Promise.all(
         requests.map(async ({ url, filter }, i2) => {
+          if (debugEnabled) {
+            console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL subscribeMap request", {
+              index: i2,
+              url,
+              filterKinds: filter?.kinds,
+              hasAuthorFilter: !!filter?.authors,
+              hasPTagFilter: !!filter?.["#p"]
+            });
+          }
           let relay;
           try {
             relay = await this.ensureRelay(url, {
               connectionTimeout: params.maxWait ? Math.max(params.maxWait * 0.8, params.maxWait - 1e3) : void 0
             });
           } catch (err) {
+            if (debugEnabled) {
+              console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL subscribeMap ensureRelay FAILED", {
+                index: i2,
+                url,
+                error: err?.message || String(err)
+              });
+            }
             handleClose(i2, err?.message || String(err));
             return;
           }
@@ -3480,18 +3542,50 @@ var NostrTools = (() => {
       return events[0] || null;
     }
     publish(relays, event, options) {
-      return relays.map(normalizeURL).map(async (url, i2, arr) => {
+      const debugEnabled = typeof window !== "undefined" && !!window.__SIMPLE_POOL_DEBUG__;
+      const normalizedRelays = relays.map(normalizeURL);
+      if (debugEnabled) {
+        console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL publish START", {
+          relaysInput: relays,
+          normalizedRelays,
+          eventKind: event?.kind,
+          eventId: event?.id
+        });
+      }
+      return normalizedRelays.map(async (url, i2, arr) => {
         if (arr.indexOf(url) !== i2) {
+          if (debugEnabled) {
+            console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL publish duplicate URL", { url, index: i2 });
+          }
           return Promise.reject("duplicate url");
         }
         let r = await this.ensureRelay(url);
+        if (debugEnabled) {
+          console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL publish ensured relay", {
+            url,
+            relayConnected: r?.connected,
+            relayMapKeys: Array.from(this.relays.keys())
+          });
+        }
         return r.publish(event).catch(async (err) => {
+          if (debugEnabled) {
+            console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL publish ERROR", {
+              url,
+              error: err?.message || String(err)
+            });
+          }
           if (err instanceof Error && err.message.startsWith("auth-required: ") && options?.onauth) {
             await r.auth(options.onauth);
             return r.publish(event);
           }
           throw err;
         }).then((reason) => {
+          if (debugEnabled) {
+            console.log("🔎 SIMPLE_POOL publish SUCCESS", {
+              url,
+              reason
+            });
+          }
           if (this.trackRelays) {
             let set = this.seenOn.get(event.id);
             if (!set) {

build_static.sh

@@ -77,6 +77,11 @@ case "$ARCH" in
         ;;
 esac
 
+# Append _debug suffix to output name for debug builds so production binary is never overwritten
+if [ "$DEBUG_BUILD" = true ]; then
+    OUTPUT_NAME="${OUTPUT_NAME}_debug"
+fi
+
 echo "Building for platform: $PLATFORM"
 echo "Output binary: $OUTPUT_NAME"
 echo ""

config.csv

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+key,value,data_type,description,category,requires_restart,created_at,updated_at

deploy_lt_debug.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# C-Relay Debug Binary Deployment Script
+# Deploys build/c_relay_static_x86_64_debug to server for CPU profiling
+#
+# Usage:
+#   ./deploy_lt_debug.sh           -- deploy debug binary and restart
+#   ./deploy_lt_debug.sh --profile -- deploy, then run perf and fetch results
+#
+# After deploying, profile with:
+#   sudo perf record -g -p $(pgrep c_relay) -- sleep 30
+#   sudo perf report --stdio --sort=symbol --no-children -n 2>/dev/null | head -80
+#
+# Restore production binary:
+#   ./deploy_lt.sh
+
+set -e
+
+LOCAL_DEBUG_BINARY="build/c_relay_static_x86_64_debug"
+REMOTE_BINARY_PATH="/usr/local/bin/c_relay/c_relay"
+REMOTE_PROD_BACKUP="/usr/local/bin/c_relay/c_relay.production"
+SERVICE_NAME="c-relay"
+REMOTE_HOST="ubuntu@laantungir.com"
+
+# Check debug binary exists
+if [ ! -f "$LOCAL_DEBUG_BINARY" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: Debug binary not found: $LOCAL_DEBUG_BINARY"
+    echo ""
+    echo "Build it first with:"
+    echo "  ./build_static.sh --debug"
+    echo ""
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "=========================================="
+echo "C-Relay Debug Deployment"
+echo "=========================================="
+echo "Binary: $LOCAL_DEBUG_BINARY ($(du -h "$LOCAL_DEBUG_BINARY" | cut -f1))"
+echo "Target: $REMOTE_HOST:$REMOTE_BINARY_PATH"
+echo ""
+echo "WARNING: Debug binary has symbols and is larger than production."
+echo "         It is safe to run but should not be left deployed long-term."
+echo ""
+
+# Backup production binary (only if not already backed up)
+echo "Backing up production binary..."
+ssh "$REMOTE_HOST" "
+    if [ ! -f '$REMOTE_PROD_BACKUP' ]; then
+        sudo cp '$REMOTE_BINARY_PATH' '$REMOTE_PROD_BACKUP'
+        echo 'Production binary backed up to $REMOTE_PROD_BACKUP'
+    else
+        echo 'Production backup already exists, skipping'
+    fi
+"
+
+# Upload debug binary
+echo "Uploading debug binary..."
+scp "$LOCAL_DEBUG_BINARY" "$REMOTE_HOST:/tmp/c_relay_debug.tmp"
+
+# Install debug binary
+echo "Installing debug binary..."
+ssh "$REMOTE_HOST" "
+    sudo mv '/tmp/c_relay_debug.tmp' '$REMOTE_BINARY_PATH'
+    sudo chown c-relay:c-relay '$REMOTE_BINARY_PATH'
+    sudo chmod +x '$REMOTE_BINARY_PATH'
+"
+
+# Restart service
+echo "Restarting c-relay service..."
+ssh "$REMOTE_HOST" "sudo systemctl daemon-reload && sudo systemctl restart '$SERVICE_NAME'"
+
+echo ""
+echo "✓ Debug binary deployed and service restarted"
+echo ""
+
+# If --profile flag, run perf automatically
+if [ "$1" = "--profile" ]; then
+    echo "=========================================="
+    echo "Running perf profile (30 seconds)..."
+    echo "=========================================="
+    echo ""
+    
+    # Wait for relay to start
+    sleep 3
+    
+    ssh "$REMOTE_HOST" "
+        PID=\$(pgrep c_relay)
+        if [ -z \"\$PID\" ]; then
+            echo 'ERROR: c_relay not running'
+            exit 1
+        fi
+        echo \"Profiling PID \$PID for 30 seconds...\"
+        sudo perf record -g -p \$PID -- sleep 30
+        echo ''
+        echo '=== TOP FUNCTIONS BY CPU ==='
+        sudo perf report --stdio --sort=symbol --no-children -n 2>/dev/null | head -60
+    "
+else
+    echo "=========================================="
+    echo "Next Steps: Profile the relay"
+    echo "=========================================="
+    echo ""
+    echo "SSH to server and run:"
+    echo "  sudo perf record -g -p \$(pgrep c_relay) -- sleep 30"
+    echo "  sudo perf report --stdio --sort=symbol --no-children -n 2>/dev/null | head -60"
+    echo ""
+    echo "Or run with --profile to do it automatically:"
+    echo "  ./deploy_lt_debug.sh --profile"
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "=========================================="
+echo "Restore Production Binary When Done"
+echo "=========================================="
+echo ""
+echo "Run this to restore the production binary:"
+echo "  ./deploy_lt.sh"
+echo ""
+echo "Or manually on the server:"
+echo "  sudo cp '$REMOTE_PROD_BACKUP' '$REMOTE_BINARY_PATH'"
+echo "  sudo systemctl restart $SERVICE_NAME"
+echo ""

plans/idle_connection_ban_plan.md

@@ -0,0 +1,585 @@
+# Plan: Ban Idle and Early-Disconnect Connections
+
+## Problem Statement
+
+The relay needs to defend against spam connections that:
+1. Connect via WebSocket and sit idle doing nothing (the original problem)
+2. Connect and immediately disconnect without subscribing or posting (the new requirement)
+
+Both patterns indicate bot/scanner behavior that should result in IP bans.
+
+## Goal
+
+Implement a system that:
+- Bans IPs that connect but never send a REQ or EVENT (regardless of how the connection ends)
+- Works **independent of NIP-42 authentication** (no auth required)
+- Allows legitimate users to connect and use the relay normally
+- Uses existing IP ban infrastructure
+
+## Architecture Overview
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart TD
+    A[Client connects] --> B{IP banned?}
+    B -->|Yes| C[Reject immediately]
+    B -->|No| D[Set idle timeout timer]
+    D --> E{Client sends REQ or EVENT?}
+    E -->|Yes| F[Mark session ACTIVE<br>Cancel idle timer]
+    E -->|No| G{Connection closes?}
+    G --> H{Session was ACTIVE?}
+    H -->|Yes| I[Clean close - no ban]
+    H -->|No| J["ip_ban_record_failure()<br>→ may trigger ban"]
+    F --> K[Normal operation]
+    K --> L[Connection closes]
+    L --> I
+```
+
+## Key Insight
+
+The distinction between "idle timeout" and "early disconnect" is minimal:
+- **Idle timeout**: Connection closed by server because client never became ACTIVE
+- **Early disconnect**: Connection closed by client because client never became ACTIVE
+
+Both result in the same check: `if (!session_was_active) ban_ip()`
+
+## Implementation Plan
+
+### 1. Add Session Activity Tracking
+
+**File: `src/websockets.h`**
+
+Add to `struct per_session_data`:
+
+```c
+// Session activity tracking for idle connection banning
+int session_active;           // 1 if client sent REQ or EVENT, 0 otherwise
+int idle_timeout_sec;         // Timeout value for this session (copied from config)
+```
+
+### 2. Set Idle Timeout on All Connections
+
+**File: `src/websockets.c` - `LWS_CALLBACK_ESTABLISHED`**
+
+Currently (lines 561-572):
+```c
+// Only set timeout if auth is required
+if (pss->nip42_auth_required_events || pss->nip42_auth_required_subscriptions) {
+    int auth_timeout = get_config_int("nip42_auth_timeout_sec", 10);
+    if (auth_timeout > 0) {
+        lws_set_timeout(wsi, PENDING_TIMEOUT_AWAITING_PING, auth_timeout);
+    }
+}
+```
+
+Change to:
+```c
+// Initialize session activity tracking
+pss->session_active = 0;
+pss->idle_timeout_sec = get_config_int("idle_connection_timeout_sec", 30);
+
+// Set idle timeout for ALL connections (not just auth-required)
+// This catches bots that connect and do nothing
+if (pss->idle_timeout_sec > 0) {
+    lws_set_timeout(wsi, PENDING_TIMEOUT_AWAITING_PING, pss->idle_timeout_sec);
+    DEBUG_TRACE("Idle timeout set: %d seconds for connection from %s",
+                pss->idle_timeout_sec, pss->client_ip);
+}
+
+// Also set auth timeout if auth is required (separate concern)
+if (pss->nip42_auth_required_events || pss->nip42_auth_required_subscriptions) {
+    int auth_timeout = get_config_int("nip42_auth_timeout_sec", 10);
+    // Use the shorter of the two timeouts
+    int effective_timeout = (pss->idle_timeout_sec > 0 && pss->idle_timeout_sec < auth_timeout) 
+                            ? pss->idle_timeout_sec 
+                            : auth_timeout;
+    if (effective_timeout > 0) {
+        lws_set_timeout(wsi, PENDING_TIMEOUT_AWAITING_PING, effective_timeout);
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### 3. Mark Session as Active on Valid Activity
+
+**File: `src/websockets.c` - `LWS_CALLBACK_RECEIVE`**
+
+When processing REQ message (around line 1030):
+```c
+// Before handling REQ, mark session as active
+pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+pss->session_active = 1;
+pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+
+// Cancel idle timeout - this is legitimate usage
+lws_set_timeout(wsi, NO_PENDING_TIMEOUT, 0);
+```
+
+When processing EVENT message (around line 1380):
+```c
+// Before handling EVENT, mark session as active
+pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+pss->session_active = 1;
+pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+
+// Cancel idle timeout - this is legitimate usage
+lws_set_timeout(wsi, NO_PENDING_TIMEOUT, 0);
+```
+
+**Note**: We should also consider AUTH as "activity" since the client is engaging with the protocol:
+```c
+// In handle_nip42_auth_signed_event (nip042.c)
+// After successful auth, also mark session active
+pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+pss->session_active = 1;
+pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+```
+
+### 3.5. Separate Rate Limiting for Idle Connections
+
+Per user feedback, idle/early-disconnect failures have **separate rate limiting** from auth failures. This requires:
+
+**New Config Keys:**
+
+| Config Key | Type | Default | Range | Description |
+|------------|------|---------|-------|-------------|
+| `idle_ban_threshold` | int | 3 | 1-100 | Idle failures before ban |
+| `idle_ban_window_sec` | int | 60 | 10-3600 | Window for counting idle failures |
+| `idle_ban_duration_sec` | int | 300 | 60-86400 | Initial idle ban duration |
+
+**Add to `ip_ban_entry_t` in `src/ip_ban.c`:**
+
+```c
+typedef struct {
+    int state;
+    char ip[46];
+    
+    // Auth failure tracking (existing)
+    int failure_count;
+    time_t first_failure;
+    time_t banned_until;
+    int ban_count;
+    
+    // NEW: Idle failure tracking (separate)
+    int idle_failure_count;
+    time_t idle_first_failure;
+    time_t idle_banned_until;
+    int idle_ban_count;
+    
+    // Other existing fields...
+    int has_authed_successfully;
+    time_t last_success_at;
+    int total_connections;
+    int total_failures;
+    int total_successes;
+    time_t first_seen;
+} ip_ban_entry_t;
+```
+
+**New function in `src/ip_ban.c`:**
+
+```c
+// Record an idle/early-disconnect failure for an IP
+void ip_ban_record_idle_failure(const char* ip) {
+    if (!ip || !g_initialized) return;
+    if (!get_config_bool("idle_ban_enabled", 1)) return;
+
+    int threshold = get_config_int("idle_ban_threshold", 3);
+    int window_sec = get_config_int("idle_ban_window_sec", 60);
+    int ban_duration = get_config_int("idle_ban_duration_sec", 300);
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    ip_ban_entry_t* entry = get_or_create_entry(ip);
+    if (!entry) {
+        pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+
+    // Reset window if expired
+    if (entry->idle_first_failure > 0 && (now - entry->idle_first_failure) > window_sec) {
+        entry->idle_failure_count = 0;
+        entry->idle_first_failure = now;
+    }
+    if (entry->idle_first_failure == 0) {
+        entry->idle_first_failure = now;
+    }
+
+    entry->idle_failure_count++;
+    entry->total_failures++;
+
+    DEBUG_TRACE("IP %s idle failure count: %d/%d", ip, entry->idle_failure_count, threshold);
+
+    if (entry->idle_failure_count >= threshold) {
+        int duration = ban_duration;
+        for (int i = 0; i < entry->idle_ban_count && duration < 86400; i++) {
+            duration *= 2;
+        }
+        if (duration > 86400) duration = 86400;
+
+        entry->idle_banned_until = now + duration;
+        entry->idle_ban_count++;
+        entry->idle_failure_count = 0;
+        entry->idle_first_failure = 0;
+
+        DEBUG_WARN("IP %s banned for %d seconds (idle ban #%d) after %d idle failures",
+                   ip, duration, entry->idle_ban_count, threshold);
+    }
+
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+}
+```
+
+**Update `ip_ban_is_banned()` to check BOTH ban types:**
+
+```c
+int ip_ban_is_banned(const char* ip) {
+    if (!ip || !g_initialized) return 0;
+    
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    int idx = find_slot(ip);
+    if (idx < 0 || g_ban_table[idx].state == IP_BAN_EMPTY) {
+        pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    ip_ban_entry_t* entry = &g_ban_table[idx];
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+    int banned = 0;
+
+    // Check auth ban (if enabled)
+    if (get_config_bool("auth_fail_ban_enabled", 1) &&
+        entry->banned_until > 0 && now < entry->banned_until) {
+        banned = 1;
+    }
+    
+    // Check idle ban (if enabled)
+    if (get_config_bool("idle_ban_enabled", 1) &&
+        entry->idle_banned_until > 0 && now < entry->idle_banned_until) {
+        banned = 1;
+    }
+    
+    // Clear expired bans
+    if (!banned) {
+        if (entry->banned_until > 0 && now >= entry->banned_until) {
+            entry->banned_until = 0;
+            entry->failure_count = 0;
+            entry->first_failure = 0;
+        }
+        if (entry->idle_banned_until > 0 && now >= entry->idle_banned_until) {
+            entry->idle_banned_until = 0;
+            entry->idle_failure_count = 0;
+            entry->idle_first_failure = 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    return banned;
+}
+```
+
+**Update persistence:**
+- `ip_ban_load_from_db()`: Load idle_* fields from new columns
+- `ip_ban_save_to_db()`: Save idle_* fields to new columns
+- Add migration SQL to create new columns if they don't exist
+
+**Add to `src/ip_ban.h`:**
+
+```c
+// Record an idle/early-disconnect failure for an IP
+void ip_ban_record_idle_failure(const char* ip);
+```
+
+### 4. Record Failure on Inactive Connection Close
+
+**File: `src/websockets.c` - `LWS_CALLBACK_CLOSED`**
+
+Currently (lines 2121-2128):
+```c
+// Record auth failure if connection closed while unauthenticated and auth was required
+if (!pss->authenticated &&
+    (pss->nip42_auth_required_events || pss->nip42_auth_required_subscriptions) &&
+    pss->auth_challenge_sent &&
+    strlen(pss->client_ip) > 0) {
+    ip_ban_record_failure(pss->client_ip);
+}
+```
+
+Change to:
+```c
+// Record failure if connection closed without ever becoming active
+// This catches:
+// 1. Idle connections that timed out (never sent REQ/EVENT/AUTH)
+// 2. Early disconnects (client closed before sending REQ/EVENT/AUTH)
+if (!pss->session_active && strlen(pss->client_ip) > 0) {
+    // Use separate idle failure recording (has its own threshold/duration)
+    ip_ban_record_idle_failure(pss->client_ip);
+    DEBUG_LOG("Recording idle/early-disconnect failure for IP %s (connected %ld seconds)",
+              pss->client_ip,
+              time(NULL) - pss->connection_established);
+}
+// Legacy: record auth failure if auth was required but not completed
+else if (!pss->authenticated &&
+         (pss->nip42_auth_required_events || pss->nip42_auth_required_subscriptions) &&
+         pss->auth_challenge_sent &&
+         strlen(pss->client_ip) > 0) {
+    ip_ban_record_failure(pss->client_ip);
+}
+```
+
+### 5. Add Configuration Keys
+
+**File: `src/config.c` - Add validation for new keys**
+
+In the config validation section, add:
+
+```c
+// Idle connection ban settings
+if (strcmp(key, "idle_connection_timeout_sec") == 0) {
+    if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value)) {
+        snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid idle_connection_timeout_sec '%s' (must be positive integer)", value);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    int timeout = atoi(value);
+    if (timeout < 5 || timeout > 300) {
+        snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "idle_connection_timeout_sec must be between 5 and 300 seconds");
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_enabled") == 0) {
+    if (!is_valid_boolean(value)) {
+        snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid boolean value '%s' for idle_ban_enabled", value);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_threshold") == 0) {
+    if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value)) {
+        snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid idle_ban_threshold '%s' (must be positive integer)", value);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    int threshold = atoi(value);
+    if (threshold < 1 || threshold > 100) {
+        snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "idle_ban_threshold must be between 1 and 100");
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_window_sec") == 0) {
+    if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value)) {
+        snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid idle_ban_window_sec '%s' (must be positive integer)", value);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    int window = atoi(value);
+    if (window < 10 || window > 3600) {
+        snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "idle_ban_window_sec must be between 10 and 3600");
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_duration_sec") == 0) {
+    if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value)) {
+        snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid idle_ban_duration_sec '%s' (must be positive integer)", value);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    int duration = atoi(value);
+    if (duration < 60 || duration > 86400) {
+        snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "idle_ban_duration_sec must be between 60 and 86400");
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+```
+
+Also update the config introspection/documentation functions to describe these keys.
+
+### 6. Add API Documentation
+
+**File: `src/api.c` - Add to config metadata**
+
+```c
+{"idle_connection_timeout_sec", "int", 5, 300},
+{"idle_ban_enabled", "bool", 0, 1},
+{"idle_ban_threshold", "int", 1, 100},
+{"idle_ban_window_sec", "int", 10, 3600},
+{"idle_ban_duration_sec", "int", 60, 86400},
+```
+
+Add descriptions in the config query handler:
+```c
+} else if (strcmp(key, "idle_connection_timeout_sec") == 0) {
+    description = "Seconds before an idle connection (no REQ/EVENT) is closed and IP flagged. 0 to disable.";
+} else if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_enabled") == 0) {
+    description = "Whether to ban IPs that repeatedly connect without sending REQ or EVENT.";
+} else if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_threshold") == 0) {
+    description = "Number of idle/early-disconnect failures before banning an IP.";
+} else if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_window_sec") == 0) {
+    description = "Time window in seconds for counting idle failures.";
+} else if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_duration_sec") == 0) {
+    description = "Initial ban duration in seconds for idle failures (doubles each time).";
+}
+```
+
+### 7. Update ip_ban Persistence and Cleanup
+
+**File: `src/ip_ban.c` - Update `ip_ban_load_from_db()`**
+
+Add migration SQL to create new columns if they don't exist, then load them:
+```sql
+ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_failure_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_ban_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_banned_until INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_first_failure INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+```
+
+**File: `src/ip_ban.c` - Update `ip_ban_save_to_db()`**
+
+Add the idle_* fields to the INSERT/REPLACE statement.
+
+**File: `src/ip_ban.c` - Update `ip_ban_cleanup()`**
+
+Add cleanup logic for idle ban entries (same pattern as auth ban cleanup).
+
+**File: `src/ip_ban.c` - Update `ip_ban_log_stats()`**
+
+Add idle ban count to the periodic log summary:
+```c
+DEBUG_WARN("IP BAN SUMMARY: %d auth-banned, %d idle-banned, %d tracked, %d trusted",
+           auth_banned_count, idle_banned_count, tracked_count, trusted_count);
+```
+
+## Configuration Reference
+
+### Idle Connection Settings
+
+| Config Key | Type | Default | Range | Description |
+|------------|------|---------|-------|-------------|
+| `idle_connection_timeout_sec` | int | 30 | 5-300 | Seconds to wait for REQ/EVENT before closing connection. 0 = disable idle timeout. |
+| `idle_ban_enabled` | bool | true | true/false | Whether to ban IPs with repeated idle/early-disconnect failures. |
+| `idle_ban_threshold` | int | 3 | 1-100 | Idle failures before ban. |
+| `idle_ban_window_sec` | int | 60 | 10-3600 | Window for counting idle failures. |
+| `idle_ban_duration_sec` | int | 300 | 60-86400 | Initial idle ban duration. |
+
+### Auth Failure Settings (Existing)
+
+| Config Key | Type | Default | Range | Description |
+|------------|------|---------|-------|-------------|
+| `auth_fail_ban_enabled` | bool | true | true/false | Whether to ban IPs with failed auth. |
+| `auth_fail_ban_threshold` | int | 3 | 1-100 | Auth failures before ban. |
+| `auth_fail_window_sec` | int | 60 | 10-3600 | Window for counting auth failures. |
+| `auth_fail_ban_duration_sec` | int | 300 | 60-86400 | Initial auth ban duration. |
+
+## Behavior Matrix
+
+| Scenario | idle_timeout_sec | idle_ban_enabled | Result |
+|----------|------------------|------------------|--------|
+| Connect → do nothing → timeout | >0 | true | Connection closed, IP failure recorded, may be banned |
+| Connect → do nothing → timeout | >0 | false | Connection closed, no ban |
+| Connect → immediate disconnect | any | true | IP failure recorded, may be banned |
+| Connect → immediate disconnect | any | false | No ban |
+| Connect → send REQ | any | any | Session active, no ban |
+| Connect → send EVENT | any | any | Session active, no ban |
+| Connect → send AUTH (NIP-42) | any | any | Session active, no ban |
+
+## Testing Strategy
+
+1. **Idle timeout test**: Connect via wscat, wait 30 seconds, verify disconnect and ban table entry
+2. **Early disconnect test**: Connect via wscat, immediately Ctrl-C, verify ban table entry
+3. **Active session test**: Connect, send REQ, disconnect immediately, verify NO ban
+4. **Config disable test**: Set `idle_ban_enabled=false`, repeat test 1, verify no ban
+5. **Timeout config test**: Set `idle_connection_timeout_sec=5`, verify faster disconnect
+
+## Files to Modify
+
+| File | Change Type |
+|------|-------------|
+| `src/websockets.h` | Add `session_active` and `idle_timeout_sec` fields to `per_session_data` |
+| `src/websockets.c` ~565 | Set idle timeout on ALL connections in `LWS_CALLBACK_ESTABLISHED` |
+| `src/websockets.c` ~1030 | Mark `session_active=1` and cancel idle timer on REQ |
+| `src/websockets.c` ~1380 | Mark `session_active=1` and cancel idle timer on EVENT |
+| `src/websockets.c` ~2121 | Call `ip_ban_record_idle_failure()` for inactive sessions in `LWS_CALLBACK_CLOSED` |
+| `src/nip042.c` ~130 | Mark `session_active=1` on successful AUTH |
+| `src/ip_ban.h` | Add `ip_ban_record_idle_failure()` declaration |
+| `src/ip_ban.c` | Add idle_* fields to `ip_ban_entry_t`, new `ip_ban_record_idle_failure()` function, update `ip_ban_is_banned()` to check both ban types, update persistence and cleanup |
+| `src/config.c` ~987+ | Add validation for 5 new idle_* config keys |
+| `src/api.c` ~664 | Add config metadata entries for idle_* keys |
+
+## Deployment on Existing Server
+
+### Config Keys: No Manual SQL Required
+
+All config keys use [`get_config_int()`](src/config.c:300) and [`get_config_bool()`](src/config.c:313) which return **hardcoded defaults** when a key doesn't exist in the config table. The new code will work immediately with these defaults:
+
+- `idle_connection_timeout_sec` → defaults to 30
+- `idle_ban_enabled` → defaults to true
+- `idle_ban_threshold` → defaults to 3
+- `idle_ban_window_sec` → defaults to 60
+- `idle_ban_duration_sec` → defaults to 300
+
+If you want to **override** any defaults, you can insert them into the config table. From the same directory as the `.db` file:
+
+```bash
+# Find your database file
+DB_FILE=$(ls *.db | head -1)
+
+# Optional: Insert custom values (only if you want non-default settings)
+sqlite3 "$DB_FILE" "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO config (key, value) VALUES ('idle_connection_timeout_sec', '30');"
+sqlite3 "$DB_FILE" "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO config (key, value) VALUES ('idle_ban_enabled', 'true');"
+sqlite3 "$DB_FILE" "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO config (key, value) VALUES ('idle_ban_threshold', '3');"
+sqlite3 "$DB_FILE" "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO config (key, value) VALUES ('idle_ban_window_sec', '60');"
+sqlite3 "$DB_FILE" "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO config (key, value) VALUES ('idle_ban_duration_sec', '300');"
+```
+
+Or change them via the admin API/web UI after deployment.
+
+### ip_bans Table: Automatic Migration
+
+The `ip_bans` table needs 4 new columns for idle tracking. The updated [`ip_ban_load_from_db()`](src/ip_ban.c:93) will run `ALTER TABLE` statements automatically on startup. These are safe because SQLite's `ALTER TABLE ADD COLUMN` is a no-op if the column already exists (we'll use error-tolerant execution).
+
+If you prefer to run the migration manually before deploying:
+
+```bash
+DB_FILE=$(ls *.db | head -1)
+
+sqlite3 "$DB_FILE" <<'SQL'
+ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_failure_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_ban_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_banned_until INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_first_failure INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
+SQL
+```
+
+**Note:** SQLite will error on `ALTER TABLE ADD COLUMN` if the column already exists, but the code will handle this gracefully (ignore the error). Running it manually is optional — the relay will do it on startup.
+
+### Deployment Steps
+
+1. Build and deploy with `deploy_lt.sh` as usual
+2. The relay starts, `ip_ban_load_from_db()` auto-migrates the `ip_bans` table
+3. Config keys use defaults immediately — no manual SQL needed
+4. Optionally tune settings via admin API or direct SQL
+
+## Backward Compatibility
+
+- Default `idle_connection_timeout_sec=30` provides immediate protection
+- Default `idle_ban_enabled=true` maintains current spam protection behavior
+- Setting `idle_connection_timeout_sec=0` restores old behavior (no idle timeout)
+- Setting `idle_ban_enabled=false` allows connections without banning (for debugging)
+- Existing auth-based banning continues to work independently with its own thresholds
+- Database migration adds new columns with defaults — existing ban data preserved
+
+## Summary
+
+This plan implements a unified "session activity" tracking system with **separate rate limiting** for idle vs auth failures:
+
+1. **Catches idle connections** via `lws_set_timeout()` on ALL connections (not just auth-required)
+2. **Catches early disconnects** via the same `!session_active` check on close
+3. **Respects legitimate users** who actually use the relay (REQ/EVENT/AUTH marks session active)
+4. **Separate idle ban tracking** — idle failures have their own threshold, window, and duration independent of auth failures
+5. **Extends existing ban infrastructure** — adds idle_* fields to `ip_ban_entry_t`, unified `ip_ban_is_banned()` checks both ban types
+6. **Fully configurable** — 5 new config keys for idle banning, all tunable via admin events
+
+The key insight is that there's no meaningful difference between "idle timeout" and "early disconnect" — both indicate a client that connected but never actually used the relay. The same `!session_active` check handles both cases, and the separate rate limiting ensures idle bots don't interfere with auth failure tracking for legitimate clients who fail NIP-42.

relay.pid

@@ -1 +1 @@
-1946657
+2946182

src/api.c

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ extern void log_query_execution(const char* query_type, const char* sub_id,
 #include <pthread.h>
 #include <libwebsockets.h>
 #include <cjson/cJSON.h>
+int get_active_connection_count(void);
 #include <sqlite3.h>
 #include <time.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
@@ -499,10 +500,10 @@ int generate_monitoring_event_for_type(const char* d_tag_value, cJSON* (*query_f
     // Use the library function to create and sign the event
     cJSON* signed_event = nostr_create_and_sign_event(
         24567,                              // kind (ephemeral)
-        cJSON_GetStringValue(cJSON_GetObjectItem(monitoring_event, "content")), // content
+        cJSON_GetStringValue(cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(monitoring_event, "content")), // content
         tags,                               // tags
         relay_privkey,                      // private key
-        (time_t)cJSON_GetNumberValue(cJSON_GetObjectItem(monitoring_event, "created_at")) // timestamp
+        (time_t)cJSON_GetNumberValue(cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(monitoring_event, "created_at")) // timestamp
     );
 
     if (!signed_event) {
@@ -671,6 +672,13 @@ static const config_definition_t known_configs[] = {
     {"nip42_time_tolerance", "int", 60, 3600},
     {"nip70_protected_events_enabled", "bool", 0, 1},
 
+    // Idle Connection Ban Settings
+    {"idle_connection_timeout_sec", "int", 0, 300},
+    {"idle_ban_enabled", "bool", 0, 1},
+    {"idle_ban_threshold", "int", 1, 100},
+    {"idle_ban_window_sec", "int", 10, 3600},
+    {"idle_ban_duration_sec", "int", 60, 86400},
+
     // Server Core Settings
     {"relay_port", "int", 1, 65535},
     {"max_connections", "int", 1, 10000},
@@ -922,10 +930,10 @@ int send_admin_response(const char* sender_pubkey, const char* response_content,
     // Use the library function to create and sign the event
     cJSON* signed_event = nostr_create_and_sign_event(
         23457,                              // kind
-        cJSON_GetStringValue(cJSON_GetObjectItem(response_event, "content")), // content
+        cJSON_GetStringValue(cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(response_event, "content")), // content
         tags,                               // tags
         relay_privkey,                      // private key
-        (time_t)cJSON_GetNumberValue(cJSON_GetObjectItem(response_event, "created_at")) // timestamp
+        (time_t)cJSON_GetNumberValue(cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(response_event, "created_at")) // timestamp
     );
 
     if (!signed_event) {
@@ -1169,7 +1177,7 @@ int handle_sql_query_unified(cJSON* event, const char* query, char* error_messag
     }
 
     // Get request event ID for response correlation
-    cJSON* request_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
+    cJSON* request_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
     if (!request_id_obj || !cJSON_IsString(request_id_obj)) {
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "Missing request event ID");
         return -1;
@@ -1188,7 +1196,7 @@ int handle_sql_query_unified(cJSON* event, const char* query, char* error_messag
     }
 
     // Get sender pubkey for response
-    cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     if (!sender_pubkey_obj || !cJSON_IsString(sender_pubkey_obj)) {
         free(result_json);
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "Missing sender pubkey");
@@ -1284,13 +1292,16 @@ cJSON* query_cpu_metrics(void) {
     pid_t pid = getpid();
     cJSON_AddNumberToObject(cpu_stats, "process_id", (double)pid);
 
-    // Get memory usage from /proc/self/status
+    // Get active WebSocket connection count
+    cJSON_AddNumberToObject(cpu_stats, "active_connections", (double)get_active_connection_count());
+
+    // Get memory usage from /proc/self/status and calculate MEM%
+    unsigned long rss_kb = 0;
     FILE* mem_stat = fopen("/proc/self/status", "r");
     if (mem_stat) {
         char line[256];
         while (fgets(line, sizeof(line), mem_stat)) {
             if (strncmp(line, "VmRSS:", 6) == 0) {
-                unsigned long rss_kb;
                 if (sscanf(line, "VmRSS: %lu kB", &rss_kb) == 1) {
                     double rss_mb = rss_kb / 1024.0;
                     cJSON_AddNumberToObject(cpu_stats, "memory_usage_mb", rss_mb);
@@ -1301,6 +1312,25 @@ cJSON* query_cpu_metrics(void) {
         fclose(mem_stat);
     }
 
+    // Get total system memory from /proc/meminfo for MEM%
+    if (rss_kb > 0) {
+        FILE* meminfo = fopen("/proc/meminfo", "r");
+        if (meminfo) {
+            char line[256];
+            while (fgets(line, sizeof(line), meminfo)) {
+                if (strncmp(line, "MemTotal:", 9) == 0) {
+                    unsigned long total_kb;
+                    if (sscanf(line, "MemTotal: %lu kB", &total_kb) == 1 && total_kb > 0) {
+                        double mem_pct = (rss_kb * 100.0) / total_kb;
+                        cJSON_AddNumberToObject(cpu_stats, "memory_percent", mem_pct);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            fclose(meminfo);
+        }
+    }
+
     return cpu_stats;
 }
 
@@ -1491,7 +1521,7 @@ int send_nip17_response(const char* sender_pubkey, const char* response_content,
     }
 
     // Fix the p tag in the gift wrap - library function may use wrong pubkey
-    cJSON* gift_wrap_tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(gift_wraps[0], "tags");
+    cJSON* gift_wrap_tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(gift_wraps[0], "tags");
     if (gift_wrap_tags && cJSON_IsArray(gift_wrap_tags)) {
         // Find and replace the p tag with the correct user pubkey
         cJSON* tag = NULL;
@@ -1627,13 +1657,13 @@ char* generate_stats_text(void) {
 
     if (stats_obj) {
         // Extract basic metrics
-        cJSON* total_events = cJSON_GetObjectItem(stats_obj, "total_events");
-        cJSON* db_size = cJSON_GetObjectItem(stats_obj, "database_size_bytes");
-        cJSON* oldest_event = cJSON_GetObjectItem(stats_obj, "database_created_at");
-        cJSON* newest_event = cJSON_GetObjectItem(stats_obj, "latest_event_at");
-        cJSON* time_stats = cJSON_GetObjectItem(stats_obj, "time_stats");
-        cJSON* event_kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItem(stats_obj, "event_kinds");
-        // cJSON* top_pubkeys = cJSON_GetObjectItem(stats_obj, "top_pubkeys");
+        cJSON* total_events = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(stats_obj, "total_events");
+        cJSON* db_size = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(stats_obj, "database_size_bytes");
+        cJSON* oldest_event = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(stats_obj, "database_created_at");
+        cJSON* newest_event = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(stats_obj, "latest_event_at");
+        cJSON* time_stats = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(stats_obj, "time_stats");
+        cJSON* event_kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(stats_obj, "event_kinds");
+        // cJSON* top_pubkeys = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(stats_obj, "top_pubkeys");
 
         long long total = total_events ? (long long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(total_events) : 0;
         long long db_bytes = db_size ? (long long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(db_size) : 0;
@@ -1661,9 +1691,9 @@ char* generate_stats_text(void) {
         // Extract time-based stats
         long long last_24h = 0, last_7d = 0, last_30d = 0;
         if (time_stats) {
-            cJSON* h24 = cJSON_GetObjectItem(time_stats, "last_24h");
-            cJSON* d7 = cJSON_GetObjectItem(time_stats, "last_7d");
-            cJSON* d30 = cJSON_GetObjectItem(time_stats, "last_30d");
+            cJSON* h24 = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(time_stats, "last_24h");
+            cJSON* d7 = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(time_stats, "last_7d");
+            cJSON* d30 = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(time_stats, "last_30d");
             last_24h = h24 ? (long long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(h24) : 0;
             last_7d = d7 ? (long long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(d7) : 0;
             last_30d = d30 ? (long long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(d30) : 0;
@@ -1695,9 +1725,9 @@ char* generate_stats_text(void) {
         if (event_kinds && cJSON_IsArray(event_kinds)) {
             cJSON* kind_item = NULL;
             cJSON_ArrayForEach(kind_item, event_kinds) {
-                cJSON* kind = cJSON_GetObjectItem(kind_item, "kind");
-                cJSON* count = cJSON_GetObjectItem(kind_item, "count");
-                cJSON* percentage = cJSON_GetObjectItem(kind_item, "percentage");
+                cJSON* kind = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(kind_item, "kind");
+                cJSON* count = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(kind_item, "count");
+                cJSON* percentage = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(kind_item, "percentage");
 
                 if (kind && count && percentage) {
                     // Format event kind (right-justified, minimum 5 chars wide with underscores)
@@ -1767,9 +1797,9 @@ char* generate_stats_text(void) {
         //     int rank = 1;
         //     cJSON* pubkey_item = NULL;
         //     cJSON_ArrayForEach(pubkey_item, top_pubkeys) {
-        //         cJSON* pubkey = cJSON_GetObjectItem(pubkey_item, "pubkey");
-        //         cJSON* event_count = cJSON_GetObjectItem(pubkey_item, "event_count");
-        //         cJSON* percentage = cJSON_GetObjectItem(pubkey_item, "percentage");
+        //         cJSON* pubkey = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(pubkey_item, "pubkey");
+        //         cJSON* event_count = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(pubkey_item, "event_count");
+        //         cJSON* percentage = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(pubkey_item, "percentage");
 
         //         if (pubkey && event_count && percentage) {
         //             const char* pubkey_str = cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey);
@@ -2222,6 +2252,16 @@ char* generate_config_change_confirmation(const char* key, const char* old_value
         description = "This sets the maximum subscriptions per client.";
     } else if (strcmp(key, "pow_min_difficulty") == 0) {
         description = "This sets the minimum proof-of-work difficulty required.";
+    } else if (strcmp(key, "idle_connection_timeout_sec") == 0) {
+        description = "Seconds before an idle connection (no REQ/EVENT) is closed and IP flagged. 0 to disable.";
+    } else if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_enabled") == 0) {
+        description = "Whether to ban IPs that repeatedly connect without sending REQ or EVENT.";
+    } else if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_threshold") == 0) {
+        description = "Number of idle/early-disconnect failures before banning an IP.";
+    } else if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_window_sec") == 0) {
+        description = "Time window in seconds for counting idle failures.";
+    } else if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_duration_sec") == 0) {
+        description = "Initial ban duration in seconds for idle failures (doubles each time).";
     } else if (strstr(key, "relay_") == key) {
         description = "This changes relay metadata information.";
     }
@@ -2457,7 +2497,7 @@ int handle_create_relay_event_command(cJSON* event, int kind, cJSON* event_data,
     }
 
     // Get request event ID for response correlation
-    cJSON* request_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
+    cJSON* request_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
     if (!request_id_obj || !cJSON_IsString(request_id_obj)) {
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "Missing request event ID");
         return -1;
@@ -2465,7 +2505,7 @@ int handle_create_relay_event_command(cJSON* event, int kind, cJSON* event_data,
     const char* request_id = cJSON_GetStringValue(request_id_obj);
 
     // Get sender pubkey for response
-    cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     if (!sender_pubkey_obj || !cJSON_IsString(sender_pubkey_obj)) {
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "Missing sender pubkey");
         return -1;
@@ -2614,7 +2654,7 @@ cJSON* create_relay_dm_list_event(cJSON* dm_relays) {
     }
 
     // Extract relays array
-    cJSON* relays_array = cJSON_GetObjectItem(dm_relays, "relays");
+    cJSON* relays_array = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(dm_relays, "relays");
     if (relays_array && cJSON_IsArray(relays_array)) {
         cJSON* relay_item = NULL;
         cJSON_ArrayForEach(relay_item, relays_array) {
@@ -2686,14 +2726,14 @@ cJSON* create_relay_list_event(cJSON* relays) {
     }
 
     // Extract relays array
-    cJSON* relays_array = cJSON_GetObjectItem(relays, "relays");
+    cJSON* relays_array = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(relays, "relays");
     if (relays_array && cJSON_IsArray(relays_array)) {
         cJSON* relay_item = NULL;
         cJSON_ArrayForEach(relay_item, relays_array) {
             if (cJSON_IsObject(relay_item)) {
-                cJSON* url = cJSON_GetObjectItem(relay_item, "url");
-                cJSON* read = cJSON_GetObjectItem(relay_item, "read");
-                cJSON* write = cJSON_GetObjectItem(relay_item, "write");
+                cJSON* url = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(relay_item, "url");
+                cJSON* read = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(relay_item, "read");
+                cJSON* write = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(relay_item, "write");
 
                 if (url && cJSON_IsString(url)) {
                     const char* relay_url = cJSON_GetStringValue(url);
@@ -2752,7 +2792,7 @@ int handle_monitoring_command(cJSON* event, const char* command, char* error_mes
     }
 
     // Get request event ID for response correlation
-    cJSON* request_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
+    cJSON* request_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
     if (!request_id_obj || !cJSON_IsString(request_id_obj)) {
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "Missing request event ID");
         return -1;
@@ -2760,7 +2800,7 @@ int handle_monitoring_command(cJSON* event, const char* command, char* error_mes
     const char* request_id = cJSON_GetStringValue(request_id_obj);
 
     // Get sender pubkey for response
-    cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     if (!sender_pubkey_obj || !cJSON_IsString(sender_pubkey_obj)) {
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "Missing sender pubkey");
         return -1;

src/config.c

@@ -227,13 +227,13 @@ int store_config_event_in_database(const cJSON* event) {
     }
     
     // Get event fields
-    cJSON* id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
-    cJSON* created_at_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "created_at");
-    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
-    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "content");
-    cJSON* sig_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "sig");
-    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* created_at_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "created_at");
+    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "content");
+    cJSON* sig_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "sig");
+    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     
     if (!id_obj || !pubkey_obj || !created_at_obj || !kind_obj || !content_obj || !sig_obj || !tags_obj) {
         return -1;
@@ -665,8 +665,8 @@ cJSON* create_default_config_event(const unsigned char* admin_privkey_bytes,
     }
     
     // Log success information
-    cJSON* id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     
     if (id_obj && pubkey_obj) {
         // printf("  Event ID: %s\n", cJSON_GetStringValue(id_obj));
@@ -951,6 +951,124 @@ static int validate_config_field(const char* key, const char* value, char* error
         }
         return 0;
     }
+
+    // Debug level (0-5)
+    if (strcmp(key, "debug_level") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value) && strcmp(value, "0") != 0) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid debug_level '%s' (must be 0-5)", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        int val = atoi(value);
+        if (val < 0 || val > 5) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "debug_level '%s' out of range (0-5)", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    // IP auth failure ban settings
+    if (strcmp(key, "auth_fail_ban_enabled") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_boolean(value)) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid boolean value '%s' for auth_fail_ban_enabled", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if (strcmp(key, "auth_fail_ban_threshold") == 0 ||
+        strcmp(key, "auth_fail_window_sec") == 0 ||
+        strcmp(key, "auth_fail_ban_duration_sec") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value)) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid value '%s' for %s (must be positive integer)", value, key);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    // Idle connection ban settings
+    if (strcmp(key, "idle_connection_timeout_sec") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value) && strcmp(value, "0") != 0) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid idle_connection_timeout_sec '%s' (must be non-negative integer)", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        int timeout = atoi(value);
+        if (timeout < 0 || timeout > 300) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "idle_connection_timeout_sec must be between 0 and 300 seconds");
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_enabled") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_boolean(value)) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid boolean value '%s' for idle_ban_enabled", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_threshold") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value)) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid idle_ban_threshold '%s' (must be positive integer)", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        int threshold = atoi(value);
+        if (threshold < 1 || threshold > 100) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "idle_ban_threshold must be between 1 and 100");
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_window_sec") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value)) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid idle_ban_window_sec '%s' (must be positive integer)", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        int window = atoi(value);
+        if (window < 10 || window > 3600) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "idle_ban_window_sec must be between 10 and 3600");
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(key, "idle_ban_duration_sec") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value)) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid idle_ban_duration_sec '%s' (must be positive integer)", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        int duration = atoi(value);
+        if (duration < 60 || duration > 86400) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "idle_ban_duration_sec must be between 60 and 86400");
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    // NIP-42 auth timeout
+    if (strcmp(key, "nip42_auth_timeout_sec") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value) && strcmp(value, "0") != 0) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid nip42_auth_timeout_sec '%s' (must be non-negative integer)", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    // SQLite performance tuning
+    if (strcmp(key, "sqlite_mmap_size") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value) && strcmp(value, "0") != 0) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid sqlite_mmap_size '%s' (must be non-negative integer bytes)", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if (strcmp(key, "sqlite_cache_size_kb") == 0) {
+        if (!is_valid_positive_integer(value)) {
+            snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "invalid sqlite_cache_size_kb '%s' (must be positive integer KB)", value);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        return 0;
+    }
     
     // Boolean fields
     if (strcmp(key, "auth_enabled") == 0 ||
@@ -1257,7 +1375,7 @@ static int validate_configuration_event_fields(const cJSON* event, char* error_m
     }
     
     
-    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags || !cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {
         snprintf(error_msg, error_size, "missing or invalid tags array");
         return -1;
@@ -1321,8 +1439,8 @@ int process_configuration_event(const cJSON* event) {
     }
 
     // Validate event structure
-    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     
     if (!kind_obj || cJSON_GetNumberValue(kind_obj) != 33334) {
         DEBUG_ERROR("Invalid event kind for configuration");
@@ -1396,7 +1514,7 @@ extern void init_relay_info(void);
 static const char* get_config_value_from_event(const cJSON* event, const char* key) {
     if (!event || !key) return NULL;
     
-    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags || !cJSON_IsArray(tags)) return NULL;
     
     cJSON* tag = NULL;
@@ -1719,7 +1837,9 @@ int populate_default_config_values(void) {
             strcmp(key, "default_limit") == 0 ||
             strcmp(key, "max_limit") == 0 ||
             strcmp(key, "nip42_challenge_expiration") == 0 ||
-            strcmp(key, "nip40_expiration_grace_period") == 0) {
+            strcmp(key, "nip40_expiration_grace_period") == 0 ||
+            strcmp(key, "sqlite_mmap_size") == 0 ||
+            strcmp(key, "sqlite_cache_size_kb") == 0) {
             data_type = "integer";
         } else if (strcmp(key, "auth_enabled") == 0 ||
                   strcmp(key, "nip40_expiration_enabled") == 0 ||
@@ -1939,7 +2059,7 @@ extern int is_authorized_admin_event(cJSON* event);
 
 // Process admin events (updated for Kind 23456)
 int process_admin_event_in_config(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_size, struct lws* wsi) {
-    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
     if (!kind_obj || !cJSON_IsNumber(kind_obj)) {
         DEBUG_ERROR("Missing or invalid kind in admin event");
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "invalid: missing or invalid kind");
@@ -1964,7 +2084,7 @@ int process_admin_event_in_config(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t erro
 int process_admin_config_event(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_size) {
 
     // Parse tags to find query commands according to API specification
-    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (tags_obj && cJSON_IsArray(tags_obj)) {
         cJSON* tag = NULL;
         cJSON_ArrayForEach(tag, tags_obj) {
@@ -2054,7 +2174,7 @@ int process_admin_config_event(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_s
 
 // Handle Kind 23456 auth rules management
 int process_admin_auth_event(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_size, struct lws* wsi) {
-    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
     int kind = kind_obj ? (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(kind_obj) : 0;
 
     // Extract and log additional event details for debugging
@@ -2429,7 +2549,7 @@ int wot_sync_from_admin_kind3(void) {
 const char* get_first_tag_name(cJSON* event) {
     if (!event) return NULL;
     
-    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags_obj || !cJSON_IsArray(tags_obj)) return NULL;
     
     cJSON* first_tag = cJSON_GetArrayItem(tags_obj, 0);
@@ -2447,7 +2567,7 @@ const char* get_first_tag_name(cJSON* event) {
 const char* get_tag_value(cJSON* event, const char* tag_name, int value_index) {
     if (!event || !tag_name) return NULL;
     
-    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags_obj || !cJSON_IsArray(tags_obj)) return NULL;
     
     cJSON* tag = NULL;
@@ -2557,8 +2677,8 @@ cJSON* create_admin_response_event(const char* encrypted_content, const char* re
     }
     
     // Log success information
-    cJSON* id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(response_event, "id");
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(response_event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(response_event, "id");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(response_event, "pubkey");
     
     if (id_obj && pubkey_obj) {
         // printf("  Event ID: %s\n", cJSON_GetStringValue(id_obj));
@@ -2671,7 +2791,7 @@ int send_admin_response_event(const cJSON* response_data, const char* recipient_
         return -1;
     }
     
-    cJSON* id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(response_event, "id");
+    cJSON* id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(response_event, "id");
     if (id_obj) {
         // printf("  Event ID: %s\n", cJSON_GetStringValue(id_obj));
     }
@@ -2765,7 +2885,7 @@ int handle_kind_23456_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_si
     }
 
     // Verify the event sender is the authorized admin
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     if (!pubkey_obj || !cJSON_IsString(pubkey_obj)) {
         DEBUG_ERROR("invalid: missing sender pubkey in event");
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "invalid: missing sender pubkey in event");
@@ -2790,7 +2910,7 @@ int handle_kind_23456_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_si
     }
 
     // Check if content is encrypted (NIP-44)
-    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "content");
+    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "content");
     if (!content_obj || !cJSON_IsString(content_obj)) {
         DEBUG_ERROR("invalid: missing or invalid content");
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "invalid: missing or invalid content");
@@ -2812,7 +2932,7 @@ int handle_kind_23456_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_si
         }
         
         // Get sender's pubkey from the event for NIP-44 decryption
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         if (!pubkey_obj || !cJSON_IsString(pubkey_obj)) {
             DEBUG_ERROR("invalid: missing sender pubkey in event");
             free(relay_privkey);
@@ -2943,7 +3063,7 @@ int handle_kind_23456_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_si
         }
 
         // Add existing tags
-        cJSON* existing_tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+        cJSON* existing_tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
         if (existing_tags && cJSON_IsArray(existing_tags)) {
             cJSON* tag = NULL;
             cJSON_ArrayForEach(tag, existing_tags) {
@@ -3131,7 +3251,7 @@ int handle_auth_query_unified(cJSON* event, const char* query_type, char* error_
     cJSON* response = build_query_response(mapped_query_type, results_array, rule_count);
     if (response) {
         // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
         
         if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3246,7 +3366,7 @@ int handle_config_query_unified(cJSON* event, const char* query_type, char* erro
     cJSON* response = build_query_response(mapped_query_type, results_array, config_count);
     if (response) {
         // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
         
         if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3342,7 +3462,7 @@ int handle_config_set_unified(cJSON* event, const char* config_key, const char*
     
     
     // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
     
     if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3406,7 +3526,7 @@ int handle_system_command_unified(cJSON* event, const char* command, char* error
         
         
         // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
         
         if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3483,7 +3603,7 @@ int handle_system_command_unified(cJSON* event, const char* command, char* error
         
         
         // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
         
         if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3544,7 +3664,7 @@ int handle_system_command_unified(cJSON* event, const char* command, char* error
         printf("Cache status: Not used (direct database queries)\n");
 
         // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
 
         if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3576,7 +3696,7 @@ int handle_system_command_unified(cJSON* event, const char* command, char* error
         printf("Sending acknowledgment and initiating shutdown...\n");
 
         // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
 
         if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3600,7 +3720,7 @@ int handle_system_command_unified(cJSON* event, const char* command, char* error
     }
     else if (strcmp(command, "wot_status") == 0) {
         // Get admin pubkey from event
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
         
         if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3658,7 +3778,7 @@ int handle_system_command_unified(cJSON* event, const char* command, char* error
     }
     else if (strcmp(command, "wot_sync") == 0) {
         // Get admin pubkey from event
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
         
         if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3720,7 +3840,7 @@ int handle_system_command_unified(cJSON* event, const char* command, char* error
 int handle_auth_rule_modification_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_size, struct lws* wsi) {
     // Suppress unused parameter warning
     (void)wsi;
-    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags_obj || !cJSON_IsArray(tags_obj)) {
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "invalid: auth rule event must have tags");
         return -1;
@@ -3803,7 +3923,7 @@ int handle_auth_rule_modification_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, siz
         printf("Processed %d auth rule modifications\n", rules_processed);
         
         // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
         
         if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -3933,7 +4053,7 @@ int handle_stats_query_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_s
 
 
     // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
 
     if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -4001,7 +4121,7 @@ int handle_config_update_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error
     
     // Extract config objects array from synthetic tags created by NIP-44 decryption
     // The decryption process creates synthetic tags like: ["config_update", [config_objects]]
-    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags_obj || !cJSON_IsArray(tags_obj)) {
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "invalid: config update event must have tags");
         return -1;
@@ -4082,10 +4202,10 @@ int handle_config_update_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error
         }
         
         // Extract required fields from config object
-        cJSON* key_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(config_obj, "key");
-        cJSON* value_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(config_obj, "value");
-        cJSON* data_type_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(config_obj, "data_type");
-        cJSON* category_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(config_obj, "category");
+        cJSON* key_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(config_obj, "key");
+        cJSON* value_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(config_obj, "value");
+        cJSON* data_type_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(config_obj, "data_type");
+        cJSON* category_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(config_obj, "category");
         
         if (!key_obj || !cJSON_IsString(key_obj) ||
             !value_obj || !cJSON_IsString(value_obj)) {
@@ -4282,7 +4402,7 @@ int handle_config_update_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error
         cJSON_AddItemToObject(error_response, "data", processed_configs);
         
         // Get admin pubkey from event for error response
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
         
         if (admin_pubkey) {
@@ -4310,7 +4430,7 @@ int handle_config_update_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error
         cJSON_AddItemToObject(error_response, "data", processed_configs);
         
         // Get admin pubkey from event for error response
-        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
         
         if (admin_pubkey) {
@@ -4339,7 +4459,7 @@ int handle_config_update_unified(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error
     
     
     // Get admin pubkey from event for response
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     const char* admin_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
     
     if (!admin_pubkey) {
@@ -4499,7 +4619,9 @@ int populate_all_config_values_atomic(const char* admin_pubkey, const char* rela
             strcmp(key, "default_limit") == 0 ||
             strcmp(key, "max_limit") == 0 ||
             strcmp(key, "nip42_challenge_expiration") == 0 ||
-            strcmp(key, "nip40_expiration_grace_period") == 0) {
+            strcmp(key, "nip40_expiration_grace_period") == 0 ||
+            strcmp(key, "sqlite_mmap_size") == 0 ||
+            strcmp(key, "sqlite_cache_size_kb") == 0) {
             data_type = "integer";
         } else if (strcmp(key, "auth_enabled") == 0 ||
                    strcmp(key, "nip40_expiration_enabled") == 0 ||
@@ -4743,7 +4865,7 @@ int populate_config_table_from_event(const cJSON* event) {
     
     DEBUG_INFO("Populating config table from configuration event...");
     
-    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags || !cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {
         DEBUG_ERROR("Configuration event missing tags array");
         return -1;
@@ -4892,13 +5014,13 @@ int process_startup_config_event(const cJSON* event) {
     
     
     // Validate event structure first
-    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
     if (!kind_obj || cJSON_GetNumberValue(kind_obj) != 33334) {
         DEBUG_ERROR("Invalid event kind for startup configuration");
         return -1;
     }
     
-    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags_obj || !cJSON_IsArray(tags_obj)) {
         DEBUG_ERROR("Startup configuration event missing tags");
         return -1;
@@ -5094,7 +5216,7 @@ int req_filter_requests_config_events(const cJSON* filter) {
         return 0;
     }
     
-    cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "kinds");
+    cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "kinds");
     if (!kinds || !cJSON_IsArray(kinds)) {
         return 0;
     }

src/default_config_event.h

@@ -83,6 +83,38 @@ static const struct {
     // IP-based rate limiting or access control (which would require firewall protection anyway)
     {"trust_proxy_headers", "true"},
 
+    // Debug Level (0=none, 1=errors, 2=warnings, 3=info, 4=debug, 5=trace)
+    // Can be changed at runtime without restart via config_set admin command
+    {"debug_level", "3"},
+
+    // IP Auth Failure Ban Settings
+    // Ban IPs that repeatedly fail NIP-42 authentication
+    {"auth_fail_ban_enabled", "true"},
+    {"auth_fail_ban_threshold", "3"},      // failures before ban
+    {"auth_fail_window_sec", "60"},        // window to count failures in
+    {"auth_fail_ban_duration_sec", "300"}, // initial ban duration (doubles each time, max 24h)
+
+    // NIP-42 Authentication Timeout
+    // Seconds after connection before unauthenticated clients are disconnected (0 = disabled)
+    // Prevents unauthenticated connections from accumulating under heavy load
+    {"nip42_auth_timeout_sec", "10"},
+
+    // Idle Connection Ban Settings
+    // Ban IPs that connect but never send REQ or EVENT (idle or early disconnect)
+    {"idle_connection_timeout_sec", "0"},   // Seconds before idle connection is closed (0 = disabled)
+    {"idle_ban_enabled", "false"},          // Whether to ban IPs with idle failures
+    {"idle_ban_threshold", "1"},            // Idle failures before ban (1 = ban on first offense)
+    {"idle_ban_window_sec", "30"},          // Window to count idle failures in
+    {"idle_ban_duration_sec", "300"},       // Initial ban duration (doubles each time, max 24h)
+
+    // SQLite Performance Tuning
+    // mmap_size: bytes of database file to memory-map (0 = disabled, 268435456 = 256MB recommended)
+    // Eliminates pread64 syscall overhead for database reads — significant CPU savings under load
+    {"sqlite_mmap_size", "268435456"},
+    // cache_size_kb: SQLite page cache size in KB (negative = KB, positive = pages of 4KB each)
+    // Default 2000KB is too small for a busy relay; 65536KB (64MB) keeps hot data in memory
+    {"sqlite_cache_size_kb", "65536"},
+
     // NIP-59 Gift Wrap Timestamp Configuration
     {"nip59_timestamp_max_delay_sec", "0"},
 

src/dm_admin.c

@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ int process_dm_admin_command(cJSON* command_array, cJSON* event, char* error_mes
     cJSON_AddItemToArray(synthetic_tags, command_tag);
 
     // Add existing event tags
-    cJSON* existing_tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* existing_tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (existing_tags && cJSON_IsArray(existing_tags)) {
         cJSON* tag = NULL;
         cJSON_ArrayForEach(tag, existing_tags) {
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ cJSON* process_nip17_admin_message(cJSON* gift_wrap_event, char* error_message,
     // Only create a generic response for other command types that don't handle their own responses
     if (result == 0) {
         // Extract content to check if it's a plain text command
-        cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(inner_dm, "content");
+        cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(inner_dm, "content");
         if (content_obj && cJSON_IsString(content_obj)) {
             const char* dm_content = cJSON_GetStringValue(content_obj);
             
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ cJSON* process_nip17_admin_message(cJSON* gift_wrap_event, char* error_message,
         return NULL;
 
         // Get sender pubkey for response from the decrypted DM event
-        cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(inner_dm, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(inner_dm, "pubkey");
         if (sender_pubkey_obj && cJSON_IsString(sender_pubkey_obj)) {
             const char* sender_pubkey = cJSON_GetStringValue(sender_pubkey_obj);
 
@@ -439,13 +439,13 @@ int is_nip17_gift_wrap_for_relay(cJSON* event) {
     }
 
     // Check kind
-    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
     if (!kind_obj || !cJSON_IsNumber(kind_obj) || (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(kind_obj) != 1059) {
         return 0;
     }
 
     // Check tags for "p" tag with relay pubkey
-    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags || !cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {
         return 0;
     }
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ int process_nip17_admin_command(cJSON* dm_event, char* error_message, size_t err
     DEBUG_INFO("DM_ADMIN: Processing NIP-17 admin command from decrypted DM");
 
     // Extract content from DM
-    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(dm_event, "content");
+    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(dm_event, "content");
     if (!content_obj || !cJSON_IsString(content_obj)) {
         DEBUG_INFO("DM_ADMIN: DM missing content field");
         strncpy(error_message, "NIP-17: DM missing content", error_size - 1);
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ int process_nip17_admin_command(cJSON* dm_event, char* error_message, size_t err
     DEBUG_INFO("DM_ADMIN: Extracted DM content: %.100s%s", dm_content, strlen(dm_content) > 100 ? "..." : "");
 
     // Check if sender is admin before processing any commands
-    cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(dm_event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(dm_event, "pubkey");
     if (!sender_pubkey_obj || !cJSON_IsString(sender_pubkey_obj)) {
         DEBUG_INFO("DM_ADMIN: DM missing sender pubkey - treating as user DM");
         return 0; // Not an error, just treat as user DM
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ int process_nip17_admin_command(cJSON* dm_event, char* error_message, size_t err
         if (cJSON_IsString(first_item) && strcmp(cJSON_GetStringValue(first_item), "stats") == 0) {
             DEBUG_INFO("DM_ADMIN: Processing JSON stats command");
             // Get sender pubkey for response
-            cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(dm_event, "pubkey");
+            cJSON* sender_pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(dm_event, "pubkey");
             if (!sender_pubkey_obj || !cJSON_IsString(sender_pubkey_obj)) {
                 cJSON_Delete(command_array);
                 DEBUG_INFO("DM_ADMIN: DM missing sender pubkey for stats command");
@@ -846,13 +846,13 @@ int process_nip17_admin_command(cJSON* dm_event, char* error_message, size_t err
     cJSON_AddStringToObject(synthetic_event, "content", dm_content);
 
     // Copy pubkey from DM
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(dm_event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(dm_event, "pubkey");
     if (pubkey_obj && cJSON_IsString(pubkey_obj)) {
         cJSON_AddStringToObject(synthetic_event, "pubkey", cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj));
     }
 
     // Copy tags from DM
-    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(dm_event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(dm_event, "tags");
     if (tags) {
         cJSON_AddItemToObject(synthetic_event, "tags", cJSON_Duplicate(tags, 1));
     }

src/ip_ban.c

@@ -0,0 +1,575 @@
+#define _GNU_SOURCE
+#include "ip_ban.h"
+#include "debug.h"
+#include "config.h"
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <pthread.h>
+
+// ============================================================
+// IP Auth Failure Ban System
+//
+// Fixed-size open-addressing hash table. No malloc after init.
+// Thread-safe via a single mutex (low contention — only called
+// at connection open/close, not in the hot event path).
+//
+// State is persisted to the ip_bans SQLite table every 5 minutes
+// and loaded at startup so bans survive relay restarts.
+// ============================================================
+
+#define IP_BAN_EMPTY    0
+#define IP_BAN_ACTIVE   1
+
+typedef struct {
+    int state;                      // IP_BAN_EMPTY or IP_BAN_ACTIVE
+    char ip[46];                    // IPv4 or IPv6 string
+    
+    // Auth failure tracking (existing)
+    int failure_count;              // failures in current window
+    time_t first_failure;           // start of current failure window
+    time_t banned_until;            // 0 = not banned
+    int ban_count;                  // escalation level (for exponential backoff)
+    
+    // NEW: Idle failure tracking (separate)
+    int idle_failure_count;
+    time_t idle_first_failure;
+    time_t idle_banned_until;
+    int idle_ban_count;
+    
+    // Other existing fields
+    int has_authed_successfully;    // 1 if this IP has ever authenticated
+    time_t last_success_at;         // timestamp of last successful auth
+    int total_connections;          // lifetime connection count
+    int total_failures;             // lifetime auth failure count
+    int total_successes;            // lifetime successful auth count
+    time_t first_seen;              // when this IP was first seen
+} ip_ban_entry_t;
+
+static ip_ban_entry_t g_ban_table[IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE];
+static pthread_mutex_t g_ban_mutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
+static int g_initialized = 0;
+
+// Simple FNV-1a hash for IP strings
+static unsigned int ip_hash(const char* ip) {
+    unsigned int hash = 2166136261u;
+    while (*ip) {
+        hash ^= (unsigned char)*ip++;
+        hash *= 16777619u;
+    }
+    return hash % IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE;
+}
+
+// Find slot for IP (open addressing with linear probing)
+static int find_slot(const char* ip) {
+    unsigned int start = ip_hash(ip);
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE; i++) {
+        unsigned int idx = (start + i) % IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE;
+        if (g_ban_table[idx].state == IP_BAN_EMPTY) {
+            return (int)idx;
+        }
+        if (strcmp(g_ban_table[idx].ip, ip) == 0) {
+            return (int)idx;
+        }
+    }
+    return -1;
+}
+
+// Get or create an entry for an IP. Returns NULL if table is full.
+// Caller must hold g_ban_mutex.
+static ip_ban_entry_t* get_or_create_entry(const char* ip) {
+    int idx = find_slot(ip);
+    if (idx < 0) {
+        DEBUG_WARN("IP ban table full, cannot track %s", ip);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    ip_ban_entry_t* entry = &g_ban_table[idx];
+    if (entry->state == IP_BAN_EMPTY) {
+        entry->state = IP_BAN_ACTIVE;
+        strncpy(entry->ip, ip, sizeof(entry->ip) - 1);
+        entry->ip[sizeof(entry->ip) - 1] = '\0';
+        entry->first_seen = time(NULL);
+    }
+    return entry;
+}
+
+void ip_ban_init(void) {
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    memset(g_ban_table, 0, sizeof(g_ban_table));
+    g_initialized = 1;
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    DEBUG_LOG("IP ban table initialized (%d slots)", IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE);
+}
+
+void ip_ban_load_from_db(sqlite3* db) {
+    if (!db || !g_initialized) return;
+
+    // Create table if it doesn't exist (handles existing databases)
+    const char* create_sql =
+        "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS ip_bans ("
+        "  ip TEXT PRIMARY KEY,"
+        "  failure_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  ban_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  banned_until INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  first_failure INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  has_authed_successfully INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  last_success_at INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  total_connections INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  total_failures INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  total_successes INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  first_seen INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,"
+        "  updated_at INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT (strftime('%s', 'now'))"
+        ");";
+    char* err = NULL;
+    if (sqlite3_exec(db, create_sql, NULL, NULL, &err) != SQLITE_OK) {
+        DEBUG_ERROR("Failed to create ip_bans table: %s", err ? err : "unknown");
+        if (err) sqlite3_free(err);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // Migration: Add idle_* columns if they don't exist (ignore errors if already exists)
+    sqlite3_exec(db, "ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_failure_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0", NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    sqlite3_exec(db, "ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_ban_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0", NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    sqlite3_exec(db, "ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_banned_until INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0", NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    sqlite3_exec(db, "ALTER TABLE ip_bans ADD COLUMN idle_first_failure INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0", NULL, NULL, NULL);
+
+    const char* sql =
+        "SELECT ip, failure_count, ban_count, banned_until, first_failure,"
+        "       has_authed_successfully, last_success_at, total_connections,"
+        "       total_failures, total_successes, first_seen,"
+        "       idle_failure_count, idle_ban_count, idle_banned_until, idle_first_failure"
+        " FROM ip_bans";
+
+    sqlite3_stmt* stmt;
+    if (sqlite3_prepare_v2(db, sql, -1, &stmt, NULL) != SQLITE_OK) {
+        DEBUG_ERROR("Failed to prepare ip_bans load query");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    int loaded = 0;
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    while (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) {
+        const char* ip = (const char*)sqlite3_column_text(stmt, 0);
+        if (!ip) continue;
+
+        int idx = find_slot(ip);
+        if (idx < 0) continue;
+
+        ip_ban_entry_t* entry = &g_ban_table[idx];
+        entry->state = IP_BAN_ACTIVE;
+        strncpy(entry->ip, ip, sizeof(entry->ip) - 1);
+        entry->ip[sizeof(entry->ip) - 1] = '\0';
+        entry->failure_count          = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 1);
+        entry->ban_count              = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 2);
+        entry->banned_until           = (time_t)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 3);
+        entry->first_failure          = (time_t)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 4);
+        entry->has_authed_successfully = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 5);
+        entry->last_success_at        = (time_t)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 6);
+        entry->total_connections      = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 7);
+        entry->total_failures         = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 8);
+        entry->total_successes        = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 9);
+        entry->first_seen             = (time_t)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 10);
+        // Load idle tracking fields (default to 0 if columns don't exist yet)
+        entry->idle_failure_count     = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 11);
+        entry->idle_ban_count         = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 12);
+        entry->idle_banned_until      = (time_t)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 13);
+        entry->idle_first_failure     = (time_t)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 14);
+        loaded++;
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
+
+    // Count how many are still actively banned
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+    int still_banned = 0;
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    for (int i = 0; i < IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE; i++) {
+        if (g_ban_table[i].state == IP_BAN_ACTIVE &&
+            g_ban_table[i].banned_until > now) {
+            still_banned++;
+        }
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+
+    DEBUG_WARN("IP ban table loaded: %d IPs restored (%d still banned)", loaded, still_banned);
+}
+
+void ip_ban_save_to_db(sqlite3* db) {
+    if (!db || !g_initialized) return;
+
+    const char* upsert_sql =
+        "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO ip_bans"
+        " (ip, failure_count, ban_count, banned_until, first_failure,"
+        "  has_authed_successfully, last_success_at, total_connections,"
+        "  total_failures, total_successes, first_seen, updated_at,"
+        "  idle_failure_count, idle_ban_count, idle_banned_until, idle_first_failure)"
+        " VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, strftime('%s', 'now'), ?, ?, ?, ?)";
+
+    sqlite3_stmt* stmt;
+    if (sqlite3_prepare_v2(db, upsert_sql, -1, &stmt, NULL) != SQLITE_OK) {
+        DEBUG_ERROR("Failed to prepare ip_bans save query");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    sqlite3_exec(db, "BEGIN TRANSACTION", NULL, NULL, NULL);
+
+    int saved = 0;
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    for (int i = 0; i < IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE; i++) {
+        ip_ban_entry_t* entry = &g_ban_table[i];
+        if (entry->state != IP_BAN_ACTIVE) continue;
+
+        sqlite3_reset(stmt);
+        sqlite3_bind_text(stmt, 1, entry->ip, -1, SQLITE_STATIC);
+        sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 2, entry->failure_count);
+        sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 3, entry->ban_count);
+        sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 4, (sqlite3_int64)entry->banned_until);
+        sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 5, (sqlite3_int64)entry->first_failure);
+        sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 6, entry->has_authed_successfully);
+        sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 7, (sqlite3_int64)entry->last_success_at);
+        sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 8, entry->total_connections);
+        sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 9, entry->total_failures);
+        sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 10, entry->total_successes);
+        sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 11, (sqlite3_int64)entry->first_seen);
+        // Idle tracking fields
+        sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 12, entry->idle_failure_count);
+        sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 13, entry->idle_ban_count);
+        sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 14, (sqlite3_int64)entry->idle_banned_until);
+        sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 15, (sqlite3_int64)entry->idle_first_failure);
+
+        if (sqlite3_step(stmt) != SQLITE_DONE) {
+            DEBUG_WARN("Failed to save ip_ban entry for %s", entry->ip);
+        } else {
+            saved++;
+        }
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+
+    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
+    sqlite3_exec(db, "COMMIT", NULL, NULL, NULL);
+
+    DEBUG_TRACE("IP ban table saved: %d entries written to DB", saved);
+}
+
+// Check if an IP is in the idle_ban_whitelist config (comma-separated list)
+static int ip_is_whitelisted(const char* ip) {
+    const char* whitelist = get_config_value("idle_ban_whitelist");
+    if (!whitelist || whitelist[0] == '\0') return 0;
+
+    // Make a mutable copy to tokenize
+    char buf[1024];
+    strncpy(buf, whitelist, sizeof(buf) - 1);
+    buf[sizeof(buf) - 1] = '\0';
+
+    char* token = strtok(buf, ",");
+    while (token) {
+        // Trim leading/trailing spaces
+        while (*token == ' ') token++;
+        char* end = token + strlen(token) - 1;
+        while (end > token && *end == ' ') { *end = '\0'; end--; }
+        if (strcmp(token, ip) == 0) return 1;
+        token = strtok(NULL, ",");
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int ip_ban_is_banned(const char* ip) {
+    if (!ip || !g_initialized) return 0;
+
+    // Whitelisted IPs are never banned
+    if (ip_is_whitelisted(ip)) return 0;
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    int idx = find_slot(ip);
+    if (idx < 0 || g_ban_table[idx].state == IP_BAN_EMPTY) {
+        pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    ip_ban_entry_t* entry = &g_ban_table[idx];
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+    int banned = 0;
+
+    // Check auth ban (if enabled)
+    if (get_config_bool("auth_fail_ban_enabled", 1) &&
+        entry->banned_until > 0 && now < entry->banned_until) {
+        banned = 1;
+    }
+
+    // Check idle ban (if enabled)
+    if (get_config_bool("idle_ban_enabled", 1) &&
+        entry->idle_banned_until > 0 && now < entry->idle_banned_until) {
+        banned = 1;
+    }
+
+    // Clear expired bans
+    if (!banned) {
+        if (entry->banned_until > 0 && now >= entry->banned_until) {
+            entry->banned_until = 0;
+            entry->failure_count = 0;
+            entry->first_failure = 0;
+        }
+        if (entry->idle_banned_until > 0 && now >= entry->idle_banned_until) {
+            entry->idle_banned_until = 0;
+            entry->idle_failure_count = 0;
+            entry->idle_first_failure = 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    return banned;
+}
+
+void ip_ban_record_connection(const char* ip) {
+    if (!ip || !g_initialized) return;
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    ip_ban_entry_t* entry = get_or_create_entry(ip);
+    if (entry) {
+        entry->total_connections++;
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+}
+
+void ip_ban_record_failure(const char* ip) {
+    if (!ip || !g_initialized) return;
+    if (!get_config_bool("auth_fail_ban_enabled", 1)) return;
+
+    int threshold = get_config_int("auth_fail_ban_threshold", 3);
+    int window_sec = get_config_int("auth_fail_window_sec", 60);
+    int ban_duration = get_config_int("auth_fail_ban_duration_sec", 300);
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    ip_ban_entry_t* entry = get_or_create_entry(ip);
+    if (!entry) {
+        pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+
+    // Reset window if expired
+    if (entry->first_failure > 0 && (now - entry->first_failure) > window_sec) {
+        entry->failure_count = 0;
+        entry->first_failure = now;
+    }
+    if (entry->first_failure == 0) {
+        entry->first_failure = now;
+    }
+
+    entry->failure_count++;
+    entry->total_failures++;
+
+    DEBUG_TRACE("IP %s auth failure count: %d/%d", ip, entry->failure_count, threshold);
+
+    if (entry->failure_count >= threshold) {
+        int duration = ban_duration;
+        for (int i = 0; i < entry->ban_count && duration < 86400; i++) {
+            duration *= 2;
+        }
+        if (duration > 86400) duration = 86400;
+
+        entry->banned_until = now + duration;
+        entry->ban_count++;
+        entry->failure_count = 0;
+        entry->first_failure = 0;
+
+        DEBUG_WARN("IP %s banned for %d seconds (ban #%d) after %d auth failures",
+                   ip, duration, entry->ban_count, threshold);
+    }
+
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+}
+
+// Record an idle/early-disconnect failure for an IP
+void ip_ban_record_idle_failure(const char* ip) {
+    if (!ip || !g_initialized) return;
+    if (!get_config_bool("idle_ban_enabled", 1)) return;
+    if (ip_is_whitelisted(ip)) return;  // Never record idle failures for whitelisted IPs
+
+    int threshold = get_config_int("idle_ban_threshold", 1);
+    int window_sec = get_config_int("idle_ban_window_sec", 30);
+    int ban_duration = get_config_int("idle_ban_duration_sec", 300);
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    ip_ban_entry_t* entry = get_or_create_entry(ip);
+    if (!entry) {
+        pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+
+    // Reset window if expired
+    if (entry->idle_first_failure > 0 && (now - entry->idle_first_failure) > window_sec) {
+        entry->idle_failure_count = 0;
+        entry->idle_first_failure = now;
+    }
+    if (entry->idle_first_failure == 0) {
+        entry->idle_first_failure = now;
+    }
+
+    entry->idle_failure_count++;
+    entry->total_failures++;
+
+    DEBUG_TRACE("IP %s idle failure count: %d/%d", ip, entry->idle_failure_count, threshold);
+
+    if (entry->idle_failure_count >= threshold) {
+        int duration = ban_duration;
+        for (int i = 0; i < entry->idle_ban_count && duration < 86400; i++) {
+            duration *= 2;
+        }
+        if (duration > 86400) duration = 86400;
+
+        entry->idle_banned_until = now + duration;
+        entry->idle_ban_count++;
+        entry->idle_failure_count = 0;
+        entry->idle_first_failure = 0;
+
+        DEBUG_WARN("IP %s banned for %d seconds (idle ban #%d) after %d idle failures",
+                   ip, duration, entry->idle_ban_count, threshold);
+    }
+
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+}
+
+void ip_ban_record_success(const char* ip) {
+    if (!ip || !g_initialized) return;
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    ip_ban_entry_t* entry = get_or_create_entry(ip);
+    if (entry) {
+        entry->failure_count = 0;
+        entry->first_failure = 0;
+        entry->has_authed_successfully = 1;
+        entry->last_success_at = time(NULL);
+        entry->total_successes++;
+        DEBUG_TRACE("IP %s authenticated successfully — failure count cleared", ip);
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+}
+
+void ip_ban_cleanup(void) {
+    if (!g_initialized) return;
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+    int window_sec = get_config_int("auth_fail_window_sec", 60);
+    int idle_window_sec = get_config_int("idle_ban_window_sec", 60);
+    int cleaned = 0;
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE; i++) {
+        if (g_ban_table[i].state != IP_BAN_ACTIVE) continue;
+        ip_ban_entry_t* entry = &g_ban_table[i];
+
+        // Check auth failure window expiration
+        int auth_ban_expired = (entry->banned_until == 0 || now >= entry->banned_until);
+        int auth_window_expired = (entry->first_failure == 0 || (now - entry->first_failure) > window_sec * 10);
+
+        // Check idle failure window expiration
+        int idle_ban_expired = (entry->idle_banned_until == 0 || now >= entry->idle_banned_until);
+        int idle_window_expired = (entry->idle_first_failure == 0 || (now - entry->idle_first_failure) > idle_window_sec * 10);
+
+        if (auth_ban_expired && auth_window_expired && entry->failure_count == 0 &&
+            idle_ban_expired && idle_window_expired && entry->idle_failure_count == 0) {
+            int retain_sec = 86400; // 24 hours
+            int last_auth_ban_expired_long_ago = (entry->banned_until == 0 ||
+                                                   (now - entry->banned_until) > retain_sec);
+            int last_idle_ban_expired_long_ago = (entry->idle_banned_until == 0 ||
+                                                   (now - entry->idle_banned_until) > retain_sec);
+
+            if (last_auth_ban_expired_long_ago && last_idle_ban_expired_long_ago &&
+                !entry->has_authed_successfully &&
+                entry->ban_count == 0 && entry->idle_ban_count == 0 &&
+                entry->total_connections <= 1) {
+                // Fully clean — never banned, never authenticated, only seen once
+                memset(entry, 0, sizeof(ip_ban_entry_t));
+                cleaned++;
+            } else {
+                // Keep entry permanently — preserve ban_count for escalation.
+                // An IP that has been banned before will always get at least a 24-hour ban
+                // if it fails auth again, regardless of how long it has been away.
+                entry->failure_count = 0;
+                entry->first_failure = 0;
+                entry->idle_failure_count = 0;
+                entry->idle_first_failure = 0;
+                if (last_auth_ban_expired_long_ago) {
+                    entry->banned_until = 0;
+                    // ban_count intentionally NOT reset — permanent escalation
+                }
+                if (last_idle_ban_expired_long_ago) {
+                    entry->idle_banned_until = 0;
+                    // idle_ban_count intentionally NOT reset — permanent escalation
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (cleaned > 0) {
+        DEBUG_TRACE("IP ban cleanup: freed %d stale entries", cleaned);
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+}
+
+int ip_ban_get_banned_count(void) {
+    if (!g_initialized) return 0;
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+    int count = 0;
+    for (int i = 0; i < IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE; i++) {
+        if (g_ban_table[i].state != IP_BAN_ACTIVE) continue;
+        // Count if either auth banned or idle banned
+        if (g_ban_table[i].banned_until > now ||
+            g_ban_table[i].idle_banned_until > now) {
+            count++;
+        }
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    return count;
+}
+
+int ip_ban_get_tracked_count(void) {
+    if (!g_initialized) return 0;
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    int count = 0;
+    for (int i = 0; i < IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE; i++) {
+        if (g_ban_table[i].state == IP_BAN_ACTIVE) count++;
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    return count;
+}
+
+void ip_ban_log_stats(sqlite3* db) {
+    if (!g_initialized) return;
+
+    static time_t last_log = 0;
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+
+    if (now - last_log < 300) return;
+    last_log = now;
+
+    // Save to DB every 5 minutes
+    if (db) {
+        ip_ban_save_to_db(db);
+    }
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_ban_mutex);
+    int auth_banned_count = 0;
+    int idle_banned_count = 0;
+    int tracked_count = 0;
+    int trusted_count = 0;
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE; i++) {
+        if (g_ban_table[i].state != IP_BAN_ACTIVE) continue;
+        tracked_count++;
+        if (g_ban_table[i].banned_until > now) auth_banned_count++;
+        if (g_ban_table[i].idle_banned_until > now) idle_banned_count++;
+        if (g_ban_table[i].has_authed_successfully) trusted_count++;
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_ban_mutex);
+
+    int total_banned = auth_banned_count + idle_banned_count;
+    if (total_banned > 0 || tracked_count > 0) {
+        DEBUG_WARN("IP BAN SUMMARY: %d auth-banned, %d idle-banned, %d tracked, %d trusted (ever authed)",
+                   auth_banned_count, idle_banned_count, tracked_count, trusted_count);
+    }
+}

src/ip_ban.h

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#ifndef IP_BAN_H
+#define IP_BAN_H
+
+// IP Auth Failure Ban System
+//
+// Tracks auth failures per IP address and temporarily bans IPs that repeatedly
+// fail NIP-42 authentication. Uses an in-memory fixed-size hash table — no
+// database writes on the hot path. State is persisted to the ip_bans table
+// every 5 minutes and loaded at startup.
+//
+// Config keys (all read from the config table at runtime):
+//   auth_fail_ban_enabled      bool  default: true   (0 = disabled)
+//   auth_fail_ban_threshold    int   default: 3       (failures before ban)
+//   auth_fail_window_sec       int   default: 60      (window to count failures)
+//   auth_fail_ban_duration_sec int   default: 300     (initial ban duration, doubles each time)
+
+#include <time.h>
+#include <sqlite3.h>
+
+// Maximum number of IPs tracked simultaneously (fixed-size, no malloc)
+#define IP_BAN_TABLE_SIZE 4096
+
+// Initialize the IP ban table (call once at startup, before loading from DB)
+void ip_ban_init(void);
+
+// Load ban state from the ip_bans database table.
+// Call after ip_ban_init() and after the database is open.
+void ip_ban_load_from_db(sqlite3* db);
+
+// Save current ban state to the ip_bans database table.
+// Called every 5 minutes from the maintenance timer.
+void ip_ban_save_to_db(sqlite3* db);
+
+// Check if an IP is currently banned.
+// Returns 1 if banned (connection should be rejected), 0 if allowed.
+int ip_ban_is_banned(const char* ip);
+
+// Record an auth failure for an IP.
+// Called when a connection is closed due to auth timeout.
+// May trigger a ban if the threshold is exceeded.
+void ip_ban_record_failure(const char* ip);
+
+// Record an idle/early-disconnect failure for an IP.
+// Called when a connection closes without ever sending REQ or EVENT.
+// May trigger a ban if the threshold is exceeded.
+void ip_ban_record_idle_failure(const char* ip);
+
+// Record a successful auth for an IP.
+// Sets has_authed_successfully=1 and clears failure count.
+void ip_ban_record_success(const char* ip);
+
+// Record a new connection from an IP (increment total_connections).
+void ip_ban_record_connection(const char* ip);
+
+// Periodic cleanup: expire old entries (call from the connection age checker).
+void ip_ban_cleanup(void);
+
+// Emit a periodic WARN-level log summary of banned IPs (every 5 minutes).
+// Also saves state to DB.
+void ip_ban_log_stats(sqlite3* db);
+
+// Get stats for logging/monitoring
+int ip_ban_get_banned_count(void);
+int ip_ban_get_tracked_count(void);
+
+#endif // IP_BAN_H

src/main.c

@@ -162,6 +162,10 @@ int handle_nip11_http_request(struct lws* wsi, const char* accept_header);
 // Forward declaration for WebSocket relay server
 int start_websocket_relay(int port_override, int strict_port);
 
+// Forward declarations for IP ban system
+void ip_ban_init(void);
+void ip_ban_load_from_db(sqlite3* db);
+
 
 // Forward declarations for NIP-13 PoW handling (now in nip013.c)
 void init_pow_config();
@@ -566,6 +570,40 @@ int init_database(const char* database_path_override) {
         DEBUG_LOG("SQLite WAL mode enabled");
     }
 
+    // Apply SQLite performance tuning PRAGMAs from config
+    // mmap_size: memory-map the database file to eliminate pread64 syscall overhead
+    // Default 256MB covers most relay databases; set to 0 to disable
+    long mmap_size = get_config_int("sqlite_mmap_size", 268435456);
+    if (mmap_size > 0) {
+        char mmap_pragma[64];
+        snprintf(mmap_pragma, sizeof(mmap_pragma), "PRAGMA mmap_size=%ld;", mmap_size);
+        char* mmap_error = NULL;
+        rc = sqlite3_exec(g_db, mmap_pragma, NULL, NULL, &mmap_error);
+        if (rc != SQLITE_OK) {
+            DEBUG_WARN("Failed to set mmap_size: %s", mmap_error ? mmap_error : "unknown");
+            if (mmap_error) sqlite3_free(mmap_error);
+        } else {
+            DEBUG_LOG("SQLite mmap_size set to %ld bytes", mmap_size);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // cache_size_kb: page cache size in KB (negative value = KB, positive = number of 4KB pages)
+    // Default 64MB keeps hot event data in memory and reduces repeated disk reads
+    int cache_size_kb = get_config_int("sqlite_cache_size_kb", 65536);
+    if (cache_size_kb != 0) {
+        char cache_pragma[64];
+        // Use negative value so SQLite interprets it as KB rather than page count
+        snprintf(cache_pragma, sizeof(cache_pragma), "PRAGMA cache_size=-%d;", cache_size_kb > 0 ? cache_size_kb : -cache_size_kb);
+        char* cache_error = NULL;
+        rc = sqlite3_exec(g_db, cache_pragma, NULL, NULL, &cache_error);
+        if (rc != SQLITE_OK) {
+            DEBUG_WARN("Failed to set cache_size: %s", cache_error ? cache_error : "unknown");
+            if (cache_error) sqlite3_free(cache_error);
+        } else {
+            DEBUG_LOG("SQLite cache_size set to %d KB", cache_size_kb);
+        }
+    }
+
     DEBUG_TRACE("Exiting init_database() - success");
     return 0;
 }
@@ -705,13 +743,13 @@ int store_event(cJSON* event) {
     }
     
     // Extract event fields
-    cJSON* id = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
-    cJSON* pubkey = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
-    cJSON* created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "created_at");
-    cJSON* kind = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
-    cJSON* content = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "content");
-    cJSON* sig = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "sig");
-    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* id = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
+    cJSON* pubkey = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "created_at");
+    cJSON* kind = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* content = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "content");
+    cJSON* sig = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "sig");
+    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     
     if (!id || !pubkey || !created_at || !kind || !content || !sig) {
         DEBUG_ERROR("Invalid event - missing required fields");
@@ -829,8 +867,8 @@ int store_event(cJSON* event) {
     store_event_tags(cJSON_GetStringValue(id), tags);
 
     // Check if this is a kind 3 event from the admin — trigger WoT sync
-    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     if (kind_obj && pubkey_obj && cJSON_GetNumberValue(kind_obj) == 3) {
         int wot_level = get_config_int("wot_enabled", 0);
         if (wot_level > 0) {
@@ -847,6 +885,22 @@ int store_event(cJSON* event) {
     return 0;
 }
 
+// Fast duplicate check: returns 1 if event ID already exists in DB, 0 if not.
+// Uses the primary key index — single B-tree lookup, ~10μs.
+// Call this BEFORE signature verification to skip expensive crypto on duplicates.
+int event_id_exists_in_db(const char* event_id) {
+    if (!g_db || !event_id || strlen(event_id) != 64) return 0;
+
+    sqlite3_stmt* stmt;
+    const char* sql = "SELECT 1 FROM events WHERE id=? LIMIT 1";
+    if (sqlite3_prepare_v2(g_db, sql, -1, &stmt, NULL) != SQLITE_OK) return 0;
+
+    sqlite3_bind_text(stmt, 1, event_id, 64, SQLITE_STATIC);
+    int exists = (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) ? 1 : 0;
+    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
+    return exists;
+}
+
 // Populate event_tags from existing events (run once at startup)
 int populate_event_tags_from_existing(void) {
     if (!g_db) return -1;
@@ -971,7 +1025,7 @@ static int is_only_kind_99999_request(cJSON* filters) {
             return 0;
         }
         
-        cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "kinds");
+        cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "kinds");
         if (!kinds || !cJSON_IsArray(kinds)) {
             // Filter has no kinds or kinds is not an array - not a pure 99999 request
             return 0;
@@ -1206,6 +1260,13 @@ int handle_req_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, stru
             continue;
         }
 
+        // NIP-01: limit:0 means return zero stored events — skip SQL entirely, just send EOSE
+        cJSON* limit_check = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "limit");
+        if (limit_check && cJSON_IsNumber(limit_check) && (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(limit_check) == 0) {
+            DEBUG_LOG("Filter has limit:0 — skipping query, sending EOSE immediately (NIP-01 compliance)");
+            continue;
+        }
+
         // Reset bind params for this filter
         free_bind_params(bind_params, bind_param_count);
         bind_params = NULL;
@@ -1222,7 +1283,7 @@ int handle_req_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, stru
         // after retrieving events to ensure compatibility with all SQLite versions
         
         // Handle kinds filter
-        cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "kinds");
+        cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "kinds");
         if (kinds && cJSON_IsArray(kinds)) {
             int kind_count = cJSON_GetArraySize(kinds);
             if (kind_count > 0) {
@@ -1250,7 +1311,7 @@ int handle_req_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, stru
         }
         
         // Handle authors filter
-        cJSON* authors = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "authors");
+        cJSON* authors = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "authors");
         if (authors && cJSON_IsArray(authors)) {
             int author_count = 0;
             // Count valid authors
@@ -1290,7 +1351,7 @@ int handle_req_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, stru
         }
 
         // Handle ids filter
-        cJSON* ids = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "ids");
+        cJSON* ids = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "ids");
         if (ids && cJSON_IsArray(ids)) {
             int id_count = 0;
             // Count valid ids
@@ -1380,7 +1441,7 @@ int handle_req_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, stru
         }
 
         // Handle search filter (NIP-50)
-        cJSON* search = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "search");
+        cJSON* search = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "search");
         if (search && cJSON_IsString(search)) {
             const char* search_term = cJSON_GetStringValue(search);
             if (search_term && strlen(search_term) > 0) {
@@ -1408,7 +1469,7 @@ int handle_req_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, stru
         }
 
         // Handle since filter
-        cJSON* since = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "since");
+        cJSON* since = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "since");
         if (since && cJSON_IsNumber(since)) {
             snprintf(sql_ptr, remaining, " AND created_at >= %ld", (long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(since));
             sql_ptr += strlen(sql_ptr);
@@ -1416,7 +1477,7 @@ int handle_req_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, stru
         }
         
         // Handle until filter
-        cJSON* until = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "until");
+        cJSON* until = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "until");
         if (until && cJSON_IsNumber(until)) {
             snprintf(sql_ptr, remaining, " AND created_at <= %ld", (long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(until));
             sql_ptr += strlen(sql_ptr);
@@ -1429,7 +1490,7 @@ int handle_req_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, stru
         remaining = sizeof(sql) - strlen(sql);
         
         // Handle limit filter
-        cJSON* limit = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "limit");
+        cJSON* limit = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "limit");
         if (limit && cJSON_IsNumber(limit)) {
             int limit_val = (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(limit);
             if (limit_val > 0 && limit_val <= 5000) {
@@ -1518,21 +1579,24 @@ int handle_req_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, stru
                 }
             }
             
-            // Build EVENT message using string concatenation (much faster than cJSON operations)
+            // Build EVENT message using zero-copy path: allocate with LWS_PRE prefix,
+            // write directly, transfer ownership to queue — no memcpy.
             // Format: ["EVENT","<sub_id>",<event_json>]
             size_t sub_id_len = strlen(sub_id);
             size_t event_json_len = strlen(event_json_str);
-            size_t msg_len = 10 + sub_id_len + 3 + event_json_len + 1; // ["EVENT",""] + sub_id + "," + event_json + ]
-            
-            char* msg_str = malloc(msg_len + 1);
-            if (msg_str) {
-                snprintf(msg_str, msg_len + 1, "[\"EVENT\",\"%s\",%s]", sub_id, event_json_str);
-                
-                // Use proper message queue system instead of direct lws_write
-                if (queue_message(wsi, pss, msg_str, strlen(msg_str), LWS_WRITE_TEXT) != 0) {
+            size_t msg_len = 10 + sub_id_len + 3 + event_json_len + 1;
+
+            unsigned char* buf = malloc(LWS_PRE + msg_len + 1);
+            if (buf) {
+                char* msg_ptr = (char*)(buf + LWS_PRE);
+                snprintf(msg_ptr, msg_len + 1, "[\"EVENT\",\"%s\",%s]", sub_id, event_json_str);
+                size_t actual_len = strlen(msg_ptr);
+
+                // queue_message_take_ownership takes buf ownership — no memcpy, no free needed here
+                if (queue_message_take_ownership(wsi, pss, buf, actual_len, LWS_WRITE_TEXT) != 0) {
                     DEBUG_ERROR("Failed to queue EVENT message for sub=%s", sub_id);
+                    // buf already freed by queue_message_take_ownership on failure
                 }
-                free(msg_str);
             }
 
             cJSON_Delete(event);
@@ -1572,7 +1636,7 @@ int is_authorized_admin_event(cJSON* event, char* error_buffer, size_t error_buf
 
 
     // Step 1: Verify event kind is admin type
-    cJSON *kind_json = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
+    cJSON *kind_json = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
     if (!kind_json || !cJSON_IsNumber(kind_json)) {
         snprintf(error_buffer, error_buffer_size, "Missing or invalid event kind");
         return -1;
@@ -1585,7 +1649,7 @@ int is_authorized_admin_event(cJSON* event, char* error_buffer, size_t error_buf
     }
 
     // Step 2: Check if event targets this relay (look for 'p' tag with our relay pubkey)
-    cJSON *tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON *tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     if (!tags || !cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {
         // No tags array - treat as regular event for different relay
         snprintf(error_buffer, error_buffer_size, "Admin event not targeting this relay (no tags)");
@@ -1620,7 +1684,7 @@ int is_authorized_admin_event(cJSON* event, char* error_buffer, size_t error_buf
     }
 
     // Step 3: Verify admin signature authorization
-    cJSON *pubkey_json = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON *pubkey_json = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
     if (!pubkey_json || !cJSON_IsString(pubkey_json)) {
         DEBUG_WARN("Unauthorized admin event attempt: missing or invalid pubkey");
         snprintf(error_buffer, error_buffer_size, "Unauthorized admin event attempt: missing pubkey");
@@ -2112,6 +2176,10 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
     // Cleanup orphaned subscriptions from previous runs
     cleanup_all_subscriptions_on_startup();
     
+    // Initialize IP ban table and load persisted state from database
+    ip_ban_init();
+    ip_ban_load_from_db(g_db);
+
     // Start WebSocket Nostr relay server (port from CLI override or configuration)
     int result = start_websocket_relay(cli_options.port_override, cli_options.strict_port);  // Use CLI port override if specified, otherwise config
     

src/main.h

@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 // Using CRELAY_ prefix to avoid conflicts with nostr_core_lib VERSION macros
 #define CRELAY_VERSION_MAJOR 1
 #define CRELAY_VERSION_MINOR 2
-#define CRELAY_VERSION_PATCH 6
-#define CRELAY_VERSION "v1.2.6"
+#define CRELAY_VERSION_PATCH 51
+#define CRELAY_VERSION "v1.2.51"
 
 // Relay metadata (authoritative source for NIP-11 information)
 #define RELAY_NAME "C-Relay"

src/nip009.c

@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ int handle_deletion_request(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_size
     }
     
     // Extract event details
-    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
-    cJSON* created_at_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "created_at");
-    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
-    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "content");
-    cJSON* event_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
+    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* created_at_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "created_at");
+    cJSON* tags_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "content");
+    cJSON* event_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
     
     if (!kind_obj || !pubkey_obj || !created_at_obj || !tags_obj || !event_id_obj) {
         snprintf(error_message, error_size, "invalid: incomplete deletion request");

src/nip011.c

@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ cJSON* generate_relay_info_json() {
     int default_limit = get_config_int("default_limit", 500);
     int min_pow_difficulty = get_config_int("pow_min_difficulty", 0);
     int admin_enabled = get_config_bool("admin_enabled", 0);
+    int wot_enabled = get_config_int("wot_enabled", 0);
+    int auth_enabled = get_config_bool("auth_enabled", 0);
 
     // Add basic relay information
     if (relay_name && strlen(relay_name) > 0) {
@@ -209,6 +211,9 @@ cJSON* generate_relay_info_json() {
     }
 
     // Add server limitations
+    // restricted_writes is true when WoT or auth is enabled (only trusted pubkeys can write)
+    int restricted_writes = (wot_enabled > 0 || auth_enabled) ? 1 : 0;
+
     cJSON* limitation = cJSON_CreateObject();
     if (limitation) {
         cJSON_AddNumberToObject(limitation, "max_message_length", max_message_length);
@@ -218,15 +223,31 @@ cJSON* generate_relay_info_json() {
         cJSON_AddNumberToObject(limitation, "max_event_tags", max_event_tags);
         cJSON_AddNumberToObject(limitation, "max_content_length", max_content_length);
         cJSON_AddNumberToObject(limitation, "min_pow_difficulty", min_pow_difficulty);
-        cJSON_AddBoolToObject(limitation, "auth_required", admin_enabled ? cJSON_True : cJSON_False);
+        cJSON_AddBoolToObject(limitation, "auth_required", auth_enabled ? cJSON_True : cJSON_False);
         cJSON_AddBoolToObject(limitation, "payment_required", cJSON_False);
-        cJSON_AddBoolToObject(limitation, "restricted_writes", cJSON_False);
+        cJSON_AddBoolToObject(limitation, "restricted_writes", restricted_writes ? cJSON_True : cJSON_False);
         cJSON_AddNumberToObject(limitation, "created_at_lower_limit", 0);
         cJSON_AddNumberToObject(limitation, "created_at_upper_limit", 2147483647);
         cJSON_AddNumberToObject(limitation, "default_limit", default_limit);
         cJSON_AddItemToObject(info, "limitation", limitation);
     }
 
+    // Add Web of Trust information when enabled
+    // This informs clients that the relay operates on a trust network
+    if (wot_enabled > 0) {
+        cJSON* wot_info = cJSON_CreateObject();
+        if (wot_info) {
+            cJSON_AddNumberToObject(wot_info, "level", wot_enabled);
+            const char* level_desc = (wot_enabled == 1)
+                ? "write-only: only followed pubkeys can publish events"
+                : "full: only followed pubkeys can publish and subscribe";
+            cJSON_AddStringToObject(wot_info, "description", level_desc);
+            cJSON_AddStringToObject(wot_info, "policy",
+                "Events from pubkeys not in the relay operator's Web of Trust are rejected.");
+            cJSON_AddItemToObject(info, "web_of_trust", wot_info);
+        }
+    }
+
     // Add retention policies (empty array for now)
     cJSON* retention = cJSON_CreateArray();
     if (retention) {

src/nip013.c

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ int validate_event_pow(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_size) {
     // If min_pow_difficulty is 0, only validate events that have nonce tags
     // This allows events without PoW when difficulty requirement is 0
     if (min_pow_difficulty == 0) {
-        cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+        cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
         int has_nonce_tag = 0;
 
         if (tags && cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {

src/nip040.c

@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ int is_event_expired(cJSON* event, time_t current_time) {
         return 0; // Invalid event, not expired
     }
 
-    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
     long expiration_ts = extract_expiration_timestamp(tags);
 
     if (expiration_ts == 0) {
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ int validate_event_expiration(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_si
     time_t current_time = time(NULL);
     if (is_event_expired(event, current_time)) {
         if (g_expiration_config.strict_mode) {
-            cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+            cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
             long expiration_ts = extract_expiration_timestamp(tags);
 
             snprintf(error_message, error_size,

src/nip042.c

@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <time.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
 #include "websockets.h"
+#include "ip_ban.h"
 
 
 // Forward declaration for notice message function
@@ -93,13 +95,22 @@ void handle_nip42_auth_signed_event(struct lws* wsi, struct per_session_data* ps
     
     // Verify authentication using existing request_validator function
     // Note: nostr_nip42_verify_auth_event doesn't extract pubkey, we need to do that separately
+    char relay_url[RELAY_URL_MAX_LENGTH];
+    const char* configured_relay_url = get_config_value("relay_url");
+    if (configured_relay_url && configured_relay_url[0] != '\0') {
+        snprintf(relay_url, sizeof(relay_url), "%s", configured_relay_url);
+    } else {
+        int relay_port = (g_relay_port > 0) ? g_relay_port : get_config_int("relay_port", DEFAULT_PORT);
+        snprintf(relay_url, sizeof(relay_url), "ws://127.0.0.1:%d", relay_port);
+    }
+
     int result = nostr_nip42_verify_auth_event(auth_event, challenge_copy,
-                                               "ws://localhost:8888", 600); // 10 minutes tolerance
+                                               relay_url, 600); // 10 minutes tolerance
     
     char authenticated_pubkey[65] = {0};
     if (result == 0) {
         // Extract pubkey from the auth event
-        cJSON* pubkey_json = cJSON_GetObjectItem(auth_event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* pubkey_json = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(auth_event, "pubkey");
         if (pubkey_json && cJSON_IsString(pubkey_json)) {
             const char* pubkey_str = cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_json);
             if (pubkey_str && strlen(pubkey_str) == 64) {
@@ -125,8 +136,16 @@ void handle_nip42_auth_signed_event(struct lws* wsi, struct per_session_data* ps
         memset(pss->active_challenge, 0, sizeof(pss->active_challenge));
         pss->challenge_expires = 0;
         pss->auth_challenge_sent = 0;
+        // Mark session as active - client sent AUTH
+        pss->session_active = 1;
         pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
-        
+
+        // Cancel the auth timeout — client has authenticated, keep connection open
+        lws_set_timeout(wsi, NO_PENDING_TIMEOUT, 0);
+
+        // Record successful auth for this IP — marks it as trusted
+        ip_ban_record_success(pss->client_ip);
+
         send_notice_message(wsi, pss, "NIP-42 authentication successful");
     } else {
         // Authentication failed

src/request_validator.c

@@ -252,13 +252,13 @@ int nostr_validate_unified_request(const char* json_string, size_t json_length)
   }
 
   // 4. Validate basic event structure
-  cJSON *id = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
-  cJSON *pubkey = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
-  cJSON *created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "created_at");
-  cJSON *kind = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
-  cJSON *tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
-  cJSON *content = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "content");
-  cJSON *sig = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "sig");
+  cJSON *id = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
+  cJSON *pubkey = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
+  cJSON *created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "created_at");
+  cJSON *kind = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
+  cJSON *tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
+  cJSON *content = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "content");
+  cJSON *sig = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "sig");
 
   if (!id || !cJSON_IsString(id) ||
       !pubkey || !cJSON_IsString(pubkey) ||
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ int nostr_validate_unified_request(const char* json_string, size_t json_length)
   // Always check expiration tags if present (following NIP-40 specification)
 
   cJSON *expiration_tag = NULL;
-  cJSON *tags_array = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+  cJSON *tags_array = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
 
   if (tags_array && cJSON_IsArray(tags_array)) {
     cJSON *tag = NULL;
@@ -818,7 +818,7 @@ int nostr_nip42_verify_auth_event(cJSON *event, const char *challenge_id,
   }
   
   // Check if event has the required tags for NIP-42
-  cJSON *tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+  cJSON *tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
   if (!tags || !cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {
     return NOSTR_ERROR_NIP42_AUTH_EVENT_INVALID;
   }
@@ -896,7 +896,7 @@ int nostr_nip42_verify_auth_event(cJSON *event, const char *challenge_id,
   }
   
   // Check created_at timestamp for reasonable bounds
-  cJSON *created_at_json = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "created_at");
+  cJSON *created_at_json = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "created_at");
   if (created_at_json && cJSON_IsNumber(created_at_json)) {
     time_t created_at = (time_t)cJSON_GetNumberValue(created_at_json);
     if (abs((int)(now - created_at)) > time_tolerance_seconds) {

src/subscriptions.c

@@ -192,32 +192,32 @@ subscription_filter_t* create_subscription_filter(cJSON* filter_json) {
     }
     
     // Copy filter criteria
-    cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "kinds");
+    cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "kinds");
     if (kinds && cJSON_IsArray(kinds)) {
         filter->kinds = cJSON_Duplicate(kinds, 1);
     }
     
-    cJSON* authors = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "authors");
+    cJSON* authors = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "authors");
     if (authors && cJSON_IsArray(authors)) {
         filter->authors = cJSON_Duplicate(authors, 1);
     }
     
-    cJSON* ids = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "ids");
+    cJSON* ids = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "ids");
     if (ids && cJSON_IsArray(ids)) {
         filter->ids = cJSON_Duplicate(ids, 1);
     }
     
-    cJSON* since = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "since");
+    cJSON* since = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "since");
     if (since && cJSON_IsNumber(since)) {
         filter->since = (long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(since);
     }
     
-    cJSON* until = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "until");
+    cJSON* until = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "until");
     if (until && cJSON_IsNumber(until)) {
         filter->until = (long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(until);
     }
     
-    cJSON* limit = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "limit");
+    cJSON* limit = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "limit");
     if (limit && cJSON_IsNumber(limit)) {
         filter->limit = (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(limit);
     }
@@ -532,9 +532,9 @@ int event_matches_filter(cJSON* event, subscription_filter_t* filter) {
     }
 
     // Debug: Log event details being tested
-    cJSON* event_kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
-    cJSON* event_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
-    cJSON* event_created_at_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "created_at");
+    cJSON* event_kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* event_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
+    cJSON* event_created_at_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "created_at");
 
     DEBUG_TRACE("FILTER_MATCH: Testing event kind=%d id=%.8s created_at=%ld",
         event_kind_obj ? (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(event_kind_obj) : -1,
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ int event_matches_filter(cJSON* event, subscription_filter_t* filter) {
     if (filter->kinds && cJSON_IsArray(filter->kinds)) {
         DEBUG_TRACE("FILTER_MATCH: Checking kinds filter with %d kinds", cJSON_GetArraySize(filter->kinds));
 
-        cJSON* event_kind = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
+        cJSON* event_kind = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
         if (!event_kind || !cJSON_IsNumber(event_kind)) {
             DEBUG_WARN("FILTER_MATCH: Event has no valid kind field");
             return 0;
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ int event_matches_filter(cJSON* event, subscription_filter_t* filter) {
     
     // Check authors filter
     if (filter->authors && cJSON_IsArray(filter->authors)) {
-        cJSON* event_pubkey = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+        cJSON* event_pubkey = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
         if (!event_pubkey || !cJSON_IsString(event_pubkey)) {
             return 0;
         }
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ int event_matches_filter(cJSON* event, subscription_filter_t* filter) {
     
     // Check IDs filter
     if (filter->ids && cJSON_IsArray(filter->ids)) {
-        cJSON* event_id = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
+        cJSON* event_id = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
         if (!event_id || !cJSON_IsString(event_id)) {
             return 0;
         }
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ int event_matches_filter(cJSON* event, subscription_filter_t* filter) {
     
     // Check since filter
     if (filter->since > 0) {
-        cJSON* event_created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "created_at");
+        cJSON* event_created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "created_at");
         if (!event_created_at || !cJSON_IsNumber(event_created_at)) {
             DEBUG_WARN("FILTER_MATCH: Event has no valid created_at field");
             return 0;
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ int event_matches_filter(cJSON* event, subscription_filter_t* filter) {
     
     // Check until filter
     if (filter->until > 0) {
-        cJSON* event_created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "created_at");
+        cJSON* event_created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "created_at");
         if (!event_created_at || !cJSON_IsNumber(event_created_at)) {
             return 0;
         }
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ int event_matches_filter(cJSON* event, subscription_filter_t* filter) {
     
     // Check tag filters (e.g., #e, #p tags)
     if (filter->tag_filters && cJSON_IsObject(filter->tag_filters)) {
-        cJSON* event_tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+        cJSON* event_tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
         if (!event_tags || !cJSON_IsArray(event_tags)) {
             return 0; // Event has no tags but filter requires tags
         }
@@ -777,9 +777,9 @@ int broadcast_event_to_subscriptions(cJSON* event) {
     int broadcasts = 0;
 
     // Log event details
-    cJSON* event_kind = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
-    cJSON* event_id = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
-    cJSON* event_created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "created_at");
+    cJSON* event_kind = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
+    cJSON* event_id = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
+    cJSON* event_created_at = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "created_at");
 
     DEBUG_TRACE("BROADCAST: Event kind=%d id=%.8s created_at=%ld",
         event_kind ? (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(event_kind) : -1,
@@ -876,12 +876,11 @@ int broadcast_event_to_subscriptions(cJSON* event) {
         // Serialize event once per subscription using pre-serialized event_json if available,
         // otherwise fall back to cJSON serialization.
         // Format: ["EVENT","<sub_id>",<event_json>]
-        cJSON* event_id_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
         const char* event_json_str = NULL;
         char* event_json_allocated = NULL;
 
         // Try to get pre-serialized event_json field first (fast path)
-        cJSON* event_json_field = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "event_json");
+        cJSON* event_json_field = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "event_json");
         if (event_json_field && cJSON_IsString(event_json_field)) {
             event_json_str = cJSON_GetStringValue(event_json_field);
         } else {
@@ -895,16 +894,19 @@ int broadcast_event_to_subscriptions(cJSON* event) {
             size_t event_json_len = strlen(event_json_str);
             // ["EVENT","<sub_id>",<event_json>]
             size_t msg_len = 10 + sub_id_len + 3 + event_json_len + 1;
-            char* msg_str = malloc(msg_len + 1);
-            if (msg_str) {
-                snprintf(msg_str, msg_len + 1, "[\"EVENT\",\"%s\",%s]", current_temp->id, event_json_str);
-                size_t actual_len = strlen(msg_str);
+
+            // Zero-copy: allocate with LWS_PRE prefix, write directly, transfer ownership to queue
+            unsigned char* buf = malloc(LWS_PRE + msg_len + 1);
+            if (buf) {
+                char* msg_ptr = (char*)(buf + LWS_PRE);
+                snprintf(msg_ptr, msg_len + 1, "[\"EVENT\",\"%s\",%s]", current_temp->id, event_json_str);
+                size_t actual_len = strlen(msg_ptr);
 
                 DEBUG_TRACE("WS_FRAME_SEND: type=EVENT sub=%s len=%zu", current_temp->id, actual_len);
 
-                // Queue message for proper libwebsockets pattern
                 struct per_session_data* pss = (struct per_session_data*)lws_wsi_user(current_temp->wsi);
-                if (queue_message(current_temp->wsi, pss, msg_str, actual_len, LWS_WRITE_TEXT) == 0) {
+                // queue_message_take_ownership takes buf ownership — no memcpy, no free needed here
+                if (queue_message_take_ownership(current_temp->wsi, pss, buf, actual_len, LWS_WRITE_TEXT) == 0) {
                     broadcasts++;
 
                     // Update events sent counter for this subscription
@@ -922,8 +924,8 @@ int broadcast_event_to_subscriptions(cJSON* event) {
                     pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_subscription_manager.subscriptions_lock);
                 } else {
                     DEBUG_ERROR("Failed to queue EVENT message for sub=%s", current_temp->id);
+                    // buf already freed by queue_message_take_ownership on failure
                 }
-                free(msg_str);
             }
         }
         if (event_json_allocated) {
@@ -1473,7 +1475,7 @@ int validate_filter_values(cJSON* filter_json, char* error_message, size_t error
     int has_kind_99999 = 0;  // Track if we encounter kind 99999 (NDK ping)
 
     // Validate kinds array
-    cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "kinds");
+    cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "kinds");
     if (kinds) {
         if (!cJSON_IsArray(kinds)) {
             snprintf(error_message, error_size, "kinds must be an array");
@@ -1516,7 +1518,7 @@ int validate_filter_values(cJSON* filter_json, char* error_message, size_t error
     }
 
     // Validate authors array
-    cJSON* authors = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "authors");
+    cJSON* authors = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "authors");
     if (authors) {
         if (!cJSON_IsArray(authors)) {
             snprintf(error_message, error_size, "authors must be an array");
@@ -1556,7 +1558,7 @@ int validate_filter_values(cJSON* filter_json, char* error_message, size_t error
     }
 
     // Validate ids array
-    cJSON* ids = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "ids");
+    cJSON* ids = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "ids");
     if (ids) {
         if (!cJSON_IsArray(ids)) {
             snprintf(error_message, error_size, "ids must be an array");
@@ -1598,7 +1600,7 @@ int validate_filter_values(cJSON* filter_json, char* error_message, size_t error
     // Validate since/until timestamps
     long since_val = 0, until_val = 0;
 
-    cJSON* since = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "since");
+    cJSON* since = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "since");
     if (since) {
         if (!cJSON_IsNumber(since)) {
             snprintf(error_message, error_size, "since must be a number");
@@ -1607,7 +1609,7 @@ int validate_filter_values(cJSON* filter_json, char* error_message, size_t error
         since_val = (long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(since);
     }
 
-    cJSON* until = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "until");
+    cJSON* until = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "until");
     if (until) {
         if (!cJSON_IsNumber(until)) {
             snprintf(error_message, error_size, "until must be a number");
@@ -1621,7 +1623,7 @@ int validate_filter_values(cJSON* filter_json, char* error_message, size_t error
     }
 
     // Validate limit
-    cJSON* limit = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "limit");
+    cJSON* limit = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "limit");
     if (limit) {
         if (!cJSON_IsNumber(limit)) {
             snprintf(error_message, error_size, "limit must be a number");
@@ -1635,7 +1637,7 @@ int validate_filter_values(cJSON* filter_json, char* error_message, size_t error
     }
 
     // Validate search term
-    cJSON* search = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter_json, "search");
+    cJSON* search = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter_json, "search");
     if (search) {
         if (!cJSON_IsString(search)) {
             snprintf(error_message, error_size, "search must be a string");

src/websockets.c

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "embedded_web_content.h"  // Embedded web content
 #include "api.h"  // API for embedded files
 #include "dm_admin.h"  // DM admin functions including NIP-17
+#include "ip_ban.h"  // IP auth failure ban system
 
 // Forward declarations for logging functions
 
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ int remove_subscription_from_manager(const char* sub_id, struct lws* wsi);
 // Forward declarations for event handling
 int handle_event_message(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_size);
 int nostr_validate_unified_request(const char* json_string, size_t json_length);
+int event_id_exists_in_db(const char* event_id);
 
 // Forward declarations for admin event processing
 int process_admin_event_in_config(cJSON* event, char* error_message, size_t error_size, struct lws* wsi);
@@ -114,6 +116,86 @@ extern struct lws_context *ws_context;
 // Global subscription manager
 struct subscription_manager g_subscription_manager;
 
+// Actual relay port bound by libwebsockets at runtime (after fallback/retry logic)
+int g_relay_port = DEFAULT_PORT;
+
+// Global connection list for idle connection tracking
+// Tracks ALL WebSocket connections (not just subscribed ones)
+// so the periodic timer can find and close idle connections
+#define MAX_TRACKED_CONNECTIONS 4096
+
+typedef struct {
+    struct lws* wsi;
+    struct per_session_data* pss;
+} tracked_connection_t;
+
+static tracked_connection_t g_connections[MAX_TRACKED_CONNECTIONS];
+static int g_connection_count = 0;
+static pthread_mutex_t g_connections_lock = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
+
+int get_active_connection_count(void) { return g_connection_count; }
+
+static void connection_list_add(struct lws* wsi, struct per_session_data* pss) {
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_connections_lock);
+    for (int i = 0; i < MAX_TRACKED_CONNECTIONS; i++) {
+        if (g_connections[i].wsi == NULL) {
+            g_connections[i].wsi = wsi;
+            g_connections[i].pss = pss;
+            g_connection_count++;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_connections_lock);
+}
+
+static void connection_list_remove(struct lws* wsi) {
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_connections_lock);
+    for (int i = 0; i < MAX_TRACKED_CONNECTIONS; i++) {
+        if (g_connections[i].wsi == wsi) {
+            g_connections[i].wsi = NULL;
+            g_connections[i].pss = NULL;
+            g_connection_count--;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_connections_lock);
+}
+
+// Check all tracked connections for idle timeout and close them
+// Called from the periodic maintenance timer (every 60 seconds)
+static void check_idle_connections(int idle_timeout_sec) {
+    if (idle_timeout_sec <= 0) return;
+
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+
+    // Collect WSIs to close outside the lock to avoid deadlock
+    struct lws* to_close[MAX_TRACKED_CONNECTIONS];
+    int close_count = 0;
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&g_connections_lock);
+    for (int i = 0; i < MAX_TRACKED_CONNECTIONS; i++) {
+        if (g_connections[i].wsi == NULL || g_connections[i].pss == NULL) continue;
+        struct per_session_data* pss = g_connections[i].pss;
+        if (pss->session_active) continue; // Already active — skip
+        if (pss->connection_established <= 0) continue;
+        time_t age = now - pss->connection_established;
+        if (age >= idle_timeout_sec) {
+            to_close[close_count++] = g_connections[i].wsi;
+        }
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_connections_lock);
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < close_count; i++) {
+        // Get pss again safely — it may have been freed if connection closed between lock release and here
+        struct per_session_data* pss = (struct per_session_data*)lws_wsi_user(to_close[i]);
+        if (!pss) continue;
+        DEBUG_LOG("Closing idle connection from %s (no REQ/EVENT after %d seconds)",
+                  pss->client_ip, idle_timeout_sec);
+        lws_close_reason(to_close[i], LWS_CLOSE_STATUS_POLICY_VIOLATION,
+                         (unsigned char*)"Idle connection timeout", 23);
+    }
+}
+
 
 
 // Message queue functions for proper libwebsockets pattern
@@ -194,6 +276,66 @@ int queue_message(struct lws* wsi, struct per_session_data* pss, const char* mes
     return 0;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Zero-copy variant of queue_message. The caller allocates a buffer of
+ * (LWS_PRE + length) bytes, writes the message at (buf + LWS_PRE), then
+ * passes ownership to the queue. The queue will free buf when done.
+ * No memcpy is performed — eliminates one copy per queued message.
+ *
+ * @param wsi WebSocket instance
+ * @param pss Per-session data containing message queue
+ * @param buf Pre-allocated buffer of size (LWS_PRE + length); ownership transferred
+ * @param length Length of message (NOT including LWS_PRE)
+ * @param type LWS_WRITE_* type
+ * @return 0 on success, -1 on error (buf is freed on error)
+ */
+int queue_message_take_ownership(struct lws* wsi, struct per_session_data* pss, unsigned char* buf, size_t length, enum lws_write_protocol type) {
+    if (!wsi || !pss || !buf || length == 0) {
+        DEBUG_ERROR("queue_message_take_ownership: invalid parameters");
+        free(buf);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    // Drop message if queue is full
+    if (pss->message_queue_count >= MAX_MESSAGE_QUEUE_SIZE) {
+        DEBUG_WARN("queue_message_take_ownership: queue full (%d), dropping message",
+                   pss->message_queue_count);
+        free(buf);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    struct message_queue_node* node = malloc(sizeof(struct message_queue_node));
+    if (!node) {
+        DEBUG_ERROR("queue_message_take_ownership: failed to allocate queue node");
+        free(buf);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    node->data = buf;       // buf already has LWS_PRE prefix — no copy needed
+    node->length = length;
+    node->type = type;
+    node->next = NULL;
+
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+    if (!pss->message_queue_head) {
+        pss->message_queue_head = node;
+        pss->message_queue_tail = node;
+    } else {
+        pss->message_queue_tail->next = node;
+        pss->message_queue_tail = node;
+    }
+    pss->message_queue_count++;
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+
+    if (!pss->writeable_requested) {
+        pss->writeable_requested = 1;
+        lws_callback_on_writable(wsi);
+    }
+
+    DEBUG_TRACE("Queued message (zero-copy): len=%zu, queue_count=%d", length, pss->message_queue_count);
+    return 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * Process message queue when the socket becomes writeable.
  * This function is called from LWS_CALLBACK_SERVER_WRITEABLE.
@@ -268,6 +410,12 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
     switch (reason) {
         case LWS_CALLBACK_HTTP:
             // Handle HTTP requests
+            // Mark session as active so HTTP requests don't trigger idle ban
+            if (pss) {
+                pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+                pss->session_active = 1;
+                pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+            }
             {
                 char *requested_uri = (char *)in;
 
@@ -321,6 +469,12 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                         int is_nip11_request = (strstr(accept_header, "application/nostr+json") != NULL);
 
                         if (is_nip11_request) {
+                            // Mark session as active so HTTP requests don't trigger idle ban
+                            if (pss) {
+                                pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+                                pss->session_active = 1;
+                                pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+                            }
                             // Handle NIP-11 request
                             if (handle_nip11_http_request(wsi, accept_header) == 0) {
                                 return 0; // Successfully handled
@@ -484,6 +638,50 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
             memset(pss->active_challenge, 0, sizeof(pss->active_challenge));
             pss->challenge_created = 0;
             pss->challenge_expires = 0;
+
+            // Mark as WebSocket connection (not HTTP)
+            pss->is_websocket = 1;
+
+            // Register in global connection list for idle tracking
+            connection_list_add(wsi, pss);
+
+            // Record connection for stats tracking
+            ip_ban_record_connection(pss->client_ip);
+
+            // Check IP ban using the resolved client IP (which may be from X-Forwarded-For).
+            // This must happen AFTER pss->client_ip is populated so the same IP string
+            // is used for both ban recording (at CLOSED) and ban checking (here).
+            if (ip_ban_is_banned(pss->client_ip)) {
+                DEBUG_LOG("Rejecting banned IP %s at connection establishment", pss->client_ip);
+                return -1;  // Close connection immediately — no challenge, no processing
+            }
+
+            // Initialize session activity tracking
+            pss->session_active = 0;
+            pss->idle_timeout_sec = get_config_int("idle_connection_timeout_sec", 30);
+
+            // Set idle timeout for ALL connections (not just auth-required)
+            // This catches bots that connect and do nothing
+            if (pss->idle_timeout_sec > 0) {
+                lws_set_timeout(wsi, PENDING_TIMEOUT_AWAITING_PING, pss->idle_timeout_sec);
+                DEBUG_TRACE("Idle timeout set: %d seconds for connection from %s",
+                            pss->idle_timeout_sec, pss->client_ip);
+            }
+
+            // Also set auth timeout if auth is required (separate concern)
+            if (pss->nip42_auth_required_events || pss->nip42_auth_required_subscriptions) {
+                int auth_timeout = get_config_int("nip42_auth_timeout_sec", 10);
+                // Use the shorter of the two timeouts
+                int effective_timeout = (pss->idle_timeout_sec > 0 && pss->idle_timeout_sec < auth_timeout)
+                                        ? pss->idle_timeout_sec
+                                        : auth_timeout;
+                if (effective_timeout > 0) {
+                    lws_set_timeout(wsi, PENDING_TIMEOUT_AWAITING_PING, effective_timeout);
+                    DEBUG_TRACE("Auth timeout set: %d seconds for unauthenticated connection from %s",
+                                effective_timeout, pss->client_ip);
+                }
+            }
+
             DEBUG_TRACE("WebSocket connection initialization complete");
             break;
             
@@ -580,6 +778,14 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                 const char* msg_type = cJSON_GetStringValue(type);
 
                                 if (strcmp(msg_type, "EVENT") == 0) {
+                                    // Mark session as active - client sent EVENT
+                                    pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+                                    pss->session_active = 1;
+                                    pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+
+                                    // Cancel idle timeout - this is legitimate usage
+                                    lws_set_timeout(wsi, NO_PENDING_TIMEOUT, 0);
+
                                     // Handle EVENT message
                                     cJSON* event = cJSON_GetArrayItem(json, 1);
                                     if (event && cJSON_IsObject(event)) {
@@ -609,6 +815,27 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                             return 0;
                                         }
 
+                                        // Early duplicate check: skip expensive crypto for events already in DB.
+                                        // The event id is a 64-char hex string — look it up via primary key index (~10μs).
+                                        // This must happen AFTER we have the id string but BEFORE signature verification.
+                                        cJSON* id_obj_dup = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
+                                        if (id_obj_dup && cJSON_IsString(id_obj_dup)) {
+                                            const char* event_id_str = cJSON_GetStringValue(id_obj_dup);
+                                            if (event_id_str && event_id_exists_in_db(event_id_str)) {
+                                                // Already have this event — send OK true and skip crypto
+                                                DEBUG_TRACE("Duplicate event %s — skipping signature verification", event_id_str);
+                                                char ok_msg[128];
+                                                snprintf(ok_msg, sizeof(ok_msg),
+                                                    "[\"OK\",\"%s\",true,\"duplicate: already have this event\"]",
+                                                    event_id_str);
+                                                size_t ok_len = strlen(ok_msg);
+                                                queue_message(wsi, pss, ok_msg, ok_len, LWS_WRITE_TEXT);
+                                                free(event_json_str);
+                                                cJSON_Delete(json);
+                                                return 0;
+                                            }
+                                        }
+
                                         // Call unified validator with JSON string
                                         size_t event_json_len = strlen(event_json_str);
                                         int validation_result = nostr_validate_unified_request(event_json_str, event_json_len);
@@ -654,7 +881,7 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                         if (result == 0) {
                                             // Check if event has protected tag ["-"]
                                             int is_protected_event = 0;
-                                            cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+                                            cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
                                             if (tags && cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {
                                                 cJSON* tag = NULL;
                                                 cJSON_ArrayForEach(tag, tags) {
@@ -681,7 +908,7 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                                     DEBUG_WARN("Protected event rejected: protected events not enabled");
                                                 } else {
                                                     // Protected events enabled - check authentication
-                                                    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+                                                    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
                                                     const char* event_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
 
                                                     if (!pss || !pss->authenticated ||
@@ -698,7 +925,7 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
 
                                         // Check for admin events (kind 23456) and intercept them
                                         if (result == 0) {
-                                            cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
+                                            cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
                                             if (kind_obj && cJSON_IsNumber(kind_obj)) {
                                                 int event_kind = (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(kind_obj);
 
@@ -890,7 +1117,7 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                         }
 
                                         // Send OK response
-                                        cJSON* event_id = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
+                                        cJSON* event_id = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
                                         if (event_id && cJSON_IsString(event_id)) {
                                             cJSON* response = cJSON_CreateArray();
                                             cJSON_AddItemToArray(response, cJSON_CreateString("OK"));
@@ -929,6 +1156,21 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                         } else {
                                             send_notice_message(wsi, pss, "NIP-42 authentication required for subscriptions");
                                             DEBUG_WARN("REQ rejected: NIP-42 authentication required");
+
+                                            // Auth timeout: close connection if challenge was sent but client
+                                            // hasn't authenticated within nip42_auth_timeout_sec seconds
+                                            int auth_timeout = get_config_int("nip42_auth_timeout_sec", 10);
+                                            if (auth_timeout > 0 && pss->connection_established > 0) {
+                                                time_t connection_age = time(NULL) - pss->connection_established;
+                                                if (connection_age >= auth_timeout) {
+                                                    DEBUG_LOG("Closing unauthenticated connection from %s after %ld seconds (timeout=%d)",
+                                                              pss->client_ip, connection_age, auth_timeout);
+                                                    lws_close_reason(wsi, LWS_CLOSE_STATUS_POLICY_VIOLATION,
+                                                                     (unsigned char*)"Authentication timeout", 22);
+                                                    cJSON_Delete(json);
+                                                    return -1;
+                                                }
+                                            }
                                         }
                                         cJSON_Delete(json);
                                         // Note: complete_message points to reassembly_buffer, which is managed separately
@@ -949,7 +1191,15 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                             return 0;
                                         }
                                     }
-    
+
+                                    // Mark session as active - client sent REQ
+                                    pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+                                    pss->session_active = 1;
+                                    pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+
+                                    // Cancel idle timeout - this is legitimate usage
+                                    lws_set_timeout(wsi, NO_PENDING_TIMEOUT, 0);
+
                                     DEBUG_TRACE("REQ message passed authentication check");
 
                                     // Handle REQ message
@@ -1247,15 +1497,23 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                             const char* msg_type = cJSON_GetStringValue(type);
 
                             if (strcmp(msg_type, "EVENT") == 0) {
+                                // Mark session as active - client sent EVENT
+                                pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+                                pss->session_active = 1;
+                                pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+
+                                // Cancel idle timeout - this is legitimate usage
+                                lws_set_timeout(wsi, NO_PENDING_TIMEOUT, 0);
+
                                 // Extract event for kind-specific NIP-42 authentication check
                                 cJSON* event_obj = cJSON_GetArrayItem(json, 1);
                                 if (event_obj && cJSON_IsObject(event_obj)) {
                                     // Extract event kind for kind-specific NIP-42 authentication check
-                                    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event_obj, "kind");
+                                    cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event_obj, "kind");
                                     int event_kind = kind_obj && cJSON_IsNumber(kind_obj) ? (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(kind_obj) : -1;
 
                                     // Extract pubkey for debugging
-                                    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event_obj, "pubkey");
+                                    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event_obj, "pubkey");
                                     const char* event_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : "unknown";
 
                                     // Check if NIP-42 authentication is required for this event kind or globally
@@ -1264,7 +1522,7 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                     // Special case: allow kind 14 DMs addressed to relay to bypass auth (admin commands)
                                     int bypass_auth = 0;
                                     if (event_kind == 14 && event_obj && cJSON_IsObject(event_obj)) {
-                                        cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event_obj, "tags");
+                                        cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event_obj, "tags");
                                         if (tags && cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {
                                             const char* relay_pubkey = get_config_value("relay_pubkey");
                                             if (relay_pubkey) {
@@ -1344,6 +1602,25 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                         return 0;
                                     }
                                     
+                                    // Early duplicate check: skip expensive crypto for events already in DB.
+                                    cJSON* id_obj_dup2 = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
+                                    if (id_obj_dup2 && cJSON_IsString(id_obj_dup2)) {
+                                        const char* event_id_str2 = cJSON_GetStringValue(id_obj_dup2);
+                                        if (event_id_str2 && event_id_exists_in_db(event_id_str2)) {
+                                            DEBUG_TRACE("Duplicate event %s — skipping signature verification", event_id_str2);
+                                            char ok_msg2[128];
+                                            snprintf(ok_msg2, sizeof(ok_msg2),
+                                                "[\"OK\",\"%s\",true,\"duplicate: already have this event\"]",
+                                                event_id_str2);
+                                            size_t ok_len2 = strlen(ok_msg2);
+                                            queue_message(wsi, pss, ok_msg2, ok_len2, LWS_WRITE_TEXT);
+                                            free(event_json_str);
+                                            cJSON_Delete(json);
+                                            free(message);
+                                            return 0;
+                                        }
+                                    }
+
                                     // Call unified validator with JSON string
                                     size_t event_json_len = strlen(event_json_str);
                                     int validation_result = nostr_validate_unified_request(event_json_str, event_json_len);
@@ -1390,7 +1667,7 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                     if (result == 0) {
                                         // Check if event has protected tag ["-"]
                                         int is_protected_event = 0;
-                                        cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "tags");
+                                        cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "tags");
                                         if (tags && cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {
                                             cJSON* tag = NULL;
                                             cJSON_ArrayForEach(tag, tags) {
@@ -1417,7 +1694,7 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                                 DEBUG_WARN("Protected event rejected: protected events not enabled");
                                             } else {
                                                 // Protected events enabled - check authentication
-                                                cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "pubkey");
+                                                cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "pubkey");
                                                 const char* event_pubkey = pubkey_obj ? cJSON_GetStringValue(pubkey_obj) : NULL;
 
                                                 if (!pss || !pss->authenticated ||
@@ -1434,7 +1711,7 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
 
                                     // Check for admin events (kind 23456) and intercept them
                                     if (result == 0) {
-                                        cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "kind");
+                                        cJSON* kind_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "kind");
                                         if (kind_obj && cJSON_IsNumber(kind_obj)) {
                                             int event_kind = (int)cJSON_GetNumberValue(kind_obj);
 
@@ -1626,7 +1903,7 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                     }
                                     
                                     // Send OK response
-                                    cJSON* event_id = cJSON_GetObjectItem(event, "id");
+                                    cJSON* event_id = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(event, "id");
                                     if (event_id && cJSON_IsString(event_id)) {
                                         cJSON* response = cJSON_CreateArray();
                                         cJSON_AddItemToArray(response, cJSON_CreateString("OK"));
@@ -1667,6 +1944,22 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                                     } else {
                                         send_notice_message(wsi, pss, "NIP-42 authentication required for subscriptions");
                                         DEBUG_WARN("REQ rejected: NIP-42 authentication required");
+
+                                        // Auth timeout: close connection if challenge was sent but client
+                                        // hasn't authenticated within nip42_auth_timeout_sec seconds
+                                        int auth_timeout = get_config_int("nip42_auth_timeout_sec", 10);
+                                        if (auth_timeout > 0 && pss->connection_established > 0) {
+                                            time_t connection_age = time(NULL) - pss->connection_established;
+                                            if (connection_age >= auth_timeout) {
+                                                DEBUG_LOG("Closing unauthenticated connection from %s after %ld seconds (timeout=%d)",
+                                                          pss->client_ip, connection_age, auth_timeout);
+                                                lws_close_reason(wsi, LWS_CLOSE_STATUS_POLICY_VIOLATION,
+                                                                 (unsigned char*)"Authentication timeout", 22);
+                                                cJSON_Delete(json);
+                                                free(message);
+                                                return -1;
+                                            }
+                                        }
                                     }
                                     cJSON_Delete(json);
                                     free(message);
@@ -1679,9 +1972,17 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                             cJSON* sub_id = cJSON_GetArrayItem(json, 1);
 
                             if (sub_id && cJSON_IsString(sub_id)) {
-                                const char* subscription_id = cJSON_GetStringValue(sub_id);
+                            const char* subscription_id = cJSON_GetStringValue(sub_id);
 
-                                DEBUG_TRACE("Processing REQ message for subscription %s", subscription_id);
+                            // Mark session as active - client sent REQ
+                            pthread_mutex_lock(&pss->session_lock);
+                            pss->session_active = 1;
+                            pthread_mutex_unlock(&pss->session_lock);
+
+                            // Cancel idle timeout - this is legitimate usage
+                            lws_set_timeout(wsi, NO_PENDING_TIMEOUT, 0);
+
+                            DEBUG_TRACE("Processing REQ message for subscription %s", subscription_id);
 
                                 // Validate subscription ID before processing
                                 if (!subscription_id) {
@@ -1946,7 +2247,10 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
 
         case LWS_CALLBACK_CLOSED:
             DEBUG_TRACE("WebSocket connection closed");
-            
+
+            // Remove from global connection list (must happen before pss cleanup)
+            connection_list_remove(wsi);
+
             // Enhanced closure logging with detailed diagnostics
             if (pss) {
                 // Calculate connection duration
@@ -1959,6 +2263,26 @@ static int nostr_relay_callback(struct lws *wsi, enum lws_callback_reasons reaso
                 if (g_shutdown_flag || !g_server_running) {
                     reason = "server_shutdown";
                 }
+
+                // Record failure if connection closed without ever becoming active
+                // This catches:
+                // 1. Idle connections that timed out (never sent REQ/EVENT/AUTH)
+                // 2. Early disconnects (client closed before sending REQ/EVENT/AUTH)
+                // Only record for WebSocket connections, not HTTP requests (NIP-11, embedded files)
+                if (!pss->session_active && pss->is_websocket && strlen(pss->client_ip) > 0) {
+                    // Use separate idle failure recording (has its own threshold/duration)
+                    ip_ban_record_idle_failure(pss->client_ip);
+                    DEBUG_LOG("Recording idle/early-disconnect failure for IP %s (connected %ld seconds)",
+                              pss->client_ip,
+                              time(NULL) - pss->connection_established);
+                }
+                // Legacy: record auth failure if auth was required but not completed
+                else if (!pss->authenticated &&
+                         (pss->nip42_auth_required_events || pss->nip42_auth_required_subscriptions) &&
+                         pss->auth_challenge_sent &&
+                         strlen(pss->client_ip) > 0) {
+                    ip_ban_record_failure(pss->client_ip);
+                }
                 
                 // Format authentication status
                 char auth_status[80];
@@ -2125,6 +2449,11 @@ static void check_connection_age(int max_connection_seconds) {
     
     // Cleanup
     free(checked_wsis);
+
+    // Periodic IP ban maintenance: cleanup expired entries, log stats, save to DB
+    ip_ban_cleanup();
+    extern sqlite3* g_db;
+    ip_ban_log_stats(g_db);
 }
 
 // WebSocket protocol definition
@@ -2283,6 +2612,9 @@ int start_websocket_relay(int port_override, int strict_port) {
         return -1;
     }
 
+    // Persist the actual bound port for components that need the runtime relay URL
+    g_relay_port = actual_port;
+
     char startup_msg[256];
     if (actual_port != configured_port) {
         snprintf(startup_msg, sizeof(startup_msg),
@@ -2321,11 +2653,30 @@ int start_websocket_relay(int port_override, int strict_port) {
             }
         }
         
-        // Check connection age limits (every 60 seconds)
+        // Check connection age limits and run IP ban maintenance (every 60 seconds)
         int max_connection_seconds = get_config_int("max_connection_seconds", 86400);
-        if (max_connection_seconds > 0 && (current_time - last_connection_age_check >= 60)) {
+        if (current_time - last_connection_age_check >= 60) {
             last_connection_age_check = current_time;
-            check_connection_age(max_connection_seconds);
+
+            // Live debug level update: read from config table so it can be changed
+            // without restarting the relay (via config_set admin command or direct SQL)
+            int config_debug_level = get_config_int("debug_level", -1);
+            if (config_debug_level >= 0 && config_debug_level != g_debug_level) {
+                DEBUG_WARN("Debug level changed: %d -> %d", g_debug_level, config_debug_level);
+                g_debug_level = config_debug_level;
+            }
+            // Check and close idle connections (no REQ/EVENT sent within timeout)
+            int idle_timeout_sec = get_config_int("idle_connection_timeout_sec", 30);
+            check_idle_connections(idle_timeout_sec);
+
+            if (max_connection_seconds > 0) {
+                check_connection_age(max_connection_seconds);
+            } else {
+                // Even when connection age limit is disabled, run IP ban maintenance
+                ip_ban_cleanup();
+                extern sqlite3* g_db;
+                ip_ban_log_stats(g_db);
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -2344,7 +2695,7 @@ int process_dm_stats_command(cJSON* dm_event, char* error_message, size_t error_
     }
 
     // Check if DM is addressed to relay
-    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItem(dm_event, "tags");
+    cJSON* tags = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(dm_event, "tags");
     if (!tags || !cJSON_IsArray(tags)) {
         strncpy(error_message, "DM missing or invalid tags", error_size - 1);
         return -1;
@@ -2380,7 +2731,7 @@ int process_dm_stats_command(cJSON* dm_event, char* error_message, size_t error_
     }
 
     // Get sender pubkey
-    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(dm_event, "pubkey");
+    cJSON* pubkey_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(dm_event, "pubkey");
     if (!pubkey_obj || !cJSON_IsString(pubkey_obj)) {
         strncpy(error_message, "DM missing sender pubkey", error_size - 1);
         return -1;
@@ -2419,7 +2770,7 @@ int process_dm_stats_command(cJSON* dm_event, char* error_message, size_t error_
     }
 
     // Get encrypted content
-    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItem(dm_event, "content");
+    cJSON* content_obj = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(dm_event, "content");
     if (!content_obj || !cJSON_IsString(content_obj)) {
         strncpy(error_message, "DM missing content", error_size - 1);
         return -1;
@@ -2545,7 +2896,7 @@ int handle_count_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, st
         // after retrieving events to ensure compatibility with all SQLite versions
 
         // Handle kinds filter
-        cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "kinds");
+        cJSON* kinds = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "kinds");
         if (kinds && cJSON_IsArray(kinds)) {
             int kind_count = cJSON_GetArraySize(kinds);
             if (kind_count > 0) {
@@ -2573,7 +2924,7 @@ int handle_count_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, st
         }
 
         // Handle authors filter
-        cJSON* authors = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "authors");
+        cJSON* authors = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "authors");
         if (authors && cJSON_IsArray(authors)) {
             int author_count = 0;
             // Count valid authors
@@ -2617,7 +2968,7 @@ int handle_count_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, st
         }
 
         // Handle ids filter
-        cJSON* ids = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "ids");
+        cJSON* ids = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "ids");
         if (ids && cJSON_IsArray(ids)) {
             int id_count = 0;
             // Count valid ids
@@ -2719,7 +3070,7 @@ int handle_count_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, st
         }
 
         // Handle search filter (NIP-50)
-        cJSON* search = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "search");
+        cJSON* search = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "search");
         if (search && cJSON_IsString(search)) {
             const char* search_term = cJSON_GetStringValue(search);
             if (search_term && strlen(search_term) > 0) {
@@ -2747,7 +3098,7 @@ int handle_count_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, st
         }
 
         // Handle since filter
-        cJSON* since = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "since");
+        cJSON* since = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "since");
         if (since && cJSON_IsNumber(since)) {
             snprintf(sql_ptr, remaining, " AND created_at >= %ld", (long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(since));
             sql_ptr += strlen(sql_ptr);
@@ -2755,7 +3106,7 @@ int handle_count_message(const char* sub_id, cJSON* filters, struct lws *wsi, st
         }
 
         // Handle until filter
-        cJSON* until = cJSON_GetObjectItem(filter, "until");
+        cJSON* until = cJSON_GetObjectItemCaseSensitive(filter, "until");
         if (until && cJSON_IsNumber(until)) {
             snprintf(sql_ptr, remaining, " AND created_at <= %ld", (long)cJSON_GetNumberValue(until));
             sql_ptr += strlen(sql_ptr);

src/websockets.h

@@ -89,8 +89,19 @@ struct per_session_data {
     int db_queries_executed;                  // Total SELECT queries executed by this connection
     int db_rows_returned;                     // Total rows returned across all queries
     time_t query_tracking_start;              // When connection was established (for rate calculation)
+
+    // Session activity tracking for idle connection banning
+    int session_active;                       // 1 if client sent REQ or EVENT, 0 otherwise
+    int idle_timeout_sec;                     // Timeout value for this session (copied from config)
+    int is_websocket;                         // 1 if this is a WebSocket connection, 0 for HTTP
 };
 
+// Get current active WebSocket connection count
+int get_active_connection_count(void);
+
+// Actual relay port bound by libwebsockets at runtime (after fallback/retry logic)
+extern int g_relay_port;
+
 // NIP-11 HTTP session data structure for managing buffer lifetime
 struct nip11_session_data {
     int type; // 0 for NIP-11
@@ -107,6 +118,10 @@ int start_websocket_relay(int port_override, int strict_port);
 int queue_message(struct lws* wsi, struct per_session_data* pss, const char* message, size_t length, enum lws_write_protocol type);
 int process_message_queue(struct lws* wsi, struct per_session_data* pss);
 
+// Zero-copy variant: caller allocates (LWS_PRE + length) bytes, writes message at buf+LWS_PRE,
+// then passes ownership to the queue. The queue will free buf when done. No memcpy performed.
+int queue_message_take_ownership(struct lws* wsi, struct per_session_data* pss, unsigned char* buf, size_t length, enum lws_write_protocol type);
+
 // Auth rules checking function from request_validator.c
 int check_database_auth_rules(const char *pubkey, const char *operation, const char *resource_hash);
 

tests/kind4_disconnect_probe.mjs

@@ -0,0 +1,272 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import WebSocket from 'ws';
+import {
+  finalizeEvent,
+  generateSecretKey,
+  getPublicKey,
+  nip19,
+  nip42,
+} from 'nostr-tools';
+
+const RELAY_URL = process.env.RELAY_URL || 'ws://127.0.0.1:7777';
+const EVENT_COUNT = Number(process.env.EVENT_COUNT || 5);
+const DELAY_MS = Number(process.env.DELAY_MS || 2000);
+const RECIPIENT_PUBKEY_ENV = process.env.RECIPIENT_PUBKEY || '';
+const SECRET_INPUT = process.env.NOSTR_SECRET_KEY || '';
+const OVERALL_TIMEOUT_MS = Number(process.env.OVERALL_TIMEOUT_MS || 120000);
+
+function now() {
+  return new Date().toISOString();
+}
+
+function log(msg, extra = null) {
+  if (extra !== null) {
+    console.log(`[${now()}] ${msg}`, extra);
+  } else {
+    console.log(`[${now()}] ${msg}`);
+  }
+}
+
+function normalizeHexSecret(secretInput) {
+  if (!secretInput) return null;
+
+  const raw = secretInput.trim();
+  if (/^[0-9a-fA-F]{64}$/.test(raw)) {
+    return raw.toLowerCase();
+  }
+
+  if (raw.startsWith('nsec1')) {
+    const decoded = nip19.decode(raw);
+    if (decoded.type !== 'nsec') {
+      throw new Error('NOSTR_SECRET_KEY is nsec-like but did not decode as nsec');
+    }
+    if (typeof decoded.data === 'string') {
+      return decoded.data.toLowerCase();
+    }
+    if (decoded.data instanceof Uint8Array) {
+      return Buffer.from(decoded.data).toString('hex').toLowerCase();
+    }
+    throw new Error('Unsupported nsec decoded payload type');
+  }
+
+  throw new Error('NOSTR_SECRET_KEY must be 64-char hex or nsec1...');
+}
+
+const hexSecret = normalizeHexSecret(SECRET_INPUT) || Buffer.from(generateSecretKey()).toString('hex');
+const secretKey = Buffer.from(hexSecret, 'hex');
+const senderPubkey = getPublicKey(secretKey);
+const recipientPubkey = RECIPIENT_PUBKEY_ENV || senderPubkey;
+
+let ws;
+let currentChallenge = null;
+let authenticated = false;
+let authAttempts = 0;
+let sentAccepted = 0;
+let nextSeq = 1;
+let pendingEvent = null;
+let waitingForAuth = false;
+let finished = false;
+let overallTimer = null;
+
+function makeKind4Event(seq) {
+  const eventTemplate = {
+    kind: 4,
+    created_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
+    tags: [['p', recipientPubkey]],
+    content: `kind4 disconnect probe seq=${seq} ts=${Date.now()}`,
+    pubkey: senderPubkey,
+  };
+  return finalizeEvent(eventTemplate, secretKey);
+}
+
+function sendJson(arr) {
+  const payload = JSON.stringify(arr);
+  ws.send(payload);
+}
+
+function sendAuth(challenge) {
+  const authTemplate = nip42.makeAuthEvent(RELAY_URL, challenge);
+  const signedAuth = finalizeEvent(authTemplate, secretKey);
+  authAttempts += 1;
+  log(`Sending AUTH attempt #${authAttempts} with challenge ${challenge}`);
+  sendJson(['AUTH', signedAuth]);
+}
+
+function scheduleNext() {
+  if (nextSeq > EVENT_COUNT) {
+    log(`All ${EVENT_COUNT} kind-4 events were accepted without disconnect`);
+    cleanupAndExit(0);
+    return;
+  }
+  setTimeout(() => {
+    if (!finished) {
+      publishNext();
+    }
+  }, DELAY_MS);
+}
+
+function publishNext() {
+  if (waitingForAuth) {
+    log('Still waiting for auth completion, postponing publish');
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const ev = makeKind4Event(nextSeq);
+  pendingEvent = ev;
+  log(`Publishing kind-4 seq=${nextSeq} id=${ev.id.slice(0, 12)}...`);
+  sendJson(['EVENT', ev]);
+}
+
+function retryPendingAfterAuth() {
+  if (!pendingEvent) return;
+  waitingForAuth = false;
+  log(`Retrying pending kind-4 id=${pendingEvent.id.slice(0, 12)}... after auth`);
+  sendJson(['EVENT', pendingEvent]);
+}
+
+function handleAuthRequiredSignal(source, msg) {
+  waitingForAuth = true;
+  log(`Relay signaled auth-required via ${source}: ${msg}`);
+  if (currentChallenge) {
+    sendAuth(currentChallenge);
+  } else {
+    log('No AUTH challenge received yet; waiting for relay AUTH challenge message');
+  }
+}
+
+function cleanupAndExit(code) {
+  if (finished) return;
+  finished = true;
+  if (overallTimer) clearTimeout(overallTimer);
+
+  const summary = {
+    relay: RELAY_URL,
+    sentAccepted,
+    expected: EVENT_COUNT,
+    authAttempts,
+    authenticated,
+    senderPubkey,
+    recipientPubkey,
+  };
+
+  if (code === 0) {
+    log('PASS: Connection remained stable through repeated kind-4 publish cycle', summary);
+  } else {
+    log('FAIL: Relay disconnected or test did not complete successfully', summary);
+  }
+
+  try {
+    if (ws && ws.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+      ws.close();
+    }
+  } catch (_) {}
+
+  process.exit(code);
+}
+
+function main() {
+  log('Starting kind-4 disconnect probe', {
+    relay: RELAY_URL,
+    eventCount: EVENT_COUNT,
+    delayMs: DELAY_MS,
+    senderPubkey,
+    recipientPubkey,
+  });
+
+  ws = new WebSocket(RELAY_URL);
+
+  overallTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+    log(`Overall timeout reached (${OVERALL_TIMEOUT_MS}ms)`);
+    cleanupAndExit(1);
+  }, OVERALL_TIMEOUT_MS);
+
+  ws.on('open', () => {
+    log('WebSocket connected');
+    publishNext();
+  });
+
+  ws.on('message', (raw) => {
+    const text = raw.toString();
+    let msg;
+    try {
+      msg = JSON.parse(text);
+    } catch {
+      log(`Non-JSON relay message: ${text}`);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const t = msg?.[0];
+
+    if (t === 'AUTH') {
+      currentChallenge = msg?.[1] || null;
+      log(`Received AUTH challenge: ${currentChallenge}`);
+      if (currentChallenge) sendAuth(currentChallenge);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (t === 'NOTICE') {
+      const notice = String(msg?.[1] || '');
+      log(`NOTICE: ${notice}`);
+
+      if (notice.toLowerCase().includes('auth-required')) {
+        handleAuthRequiredSignal('NOTICE', notice);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (notice.toLowerCase().includes('authentication successful')) {
+        authenticated = true;
+        log('Relay confirmed NIP-42 authentication success');
+        retryPendingAfterAuth();
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (t === 'OK') {
+      const eventId = msg?.[1];
+      const ok = !!msg?.[2];
+      const reason = String(msg?.[3] || '');
+      log(`OK for ${String(eventId).slice(0, 12)}... accepted=${ok} reason=${reason}`);
+
+      if (!ok && reason.toLowerCase().includes('auth-required')) {
+        handleAuthRequiredSignal('OK', reason);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (pendingEvent && eventId === pendingEvent.id) {
+        if (ok) {
+          sentAccepted += 1;
+          nextSeq += 1;
+          pendingEvent = null;
+          waitingForAuth = false;
+          scheduleNext();
+        } else {
+          log(`Pending event rejected: ${reason}`);
+          cleanupAndExit(1);
+        }
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    log('Relay message', msg);
+  });
+
+  ws.on('close', (code, reasonBuf) => {
+    const reason = reasonBuf?.toString?.() || '';
+    log(`WebSocket closed code=${code} reason=${reason}`);
+    if (!finished) {
+      if (sentAccepted >= EVENT_COUNT) {
+        cleanupAndExit(0);
+      } else {
+        cleanupAndExit(1);
+      }
+    }
+  });
+
+  ws.on('error', (err) => {
+    log(`WebSocket error: ${err.message}`);
+    cleanupAndExit(1);
+  });
+}
+
+main();

tests/nip42_test.log

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+=== NIP-42 Authentication Test Started ===
+2026-02-24 09:45:30 - Starting NIP-42 authentication tests
+[INFO] === Starting NIP-42 Authentication Tests ===
+[INFO] Checking dependencies...
+[SUCCESS] Dependencies check complete
+[INFO] Test 1: Checking NIP-42 support in relay info
+[SUCCESS] NIP-42 is advertised in supported NIPs
+2026-02-24 09:45:30 - Supported NIPs: 1,2,4,9,11,12,13,15,16,20,22,33,40,42,50,70
+[INFO] Test 2: Testing AUTH challenge generation
+[WARNING] Could not extract admin private key from relay.log - using manual test approach
+[INFO] Manual test: Connect to relay and send an event without auth to trigger challenge
+[INFO] Test 3: Testing complete NIP-42 authentication flow
+[INFO] Generated test keypair: test_pubkey
+[INFO] Attempting to publish event without authentication...
+[INFO] Publishing test event to relay...
+2026-02-24 09:45:31 - Event publish result: connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":1,"id":"74a0b723797569b2483d47457d2f6e2378aed6ccd4cca0f553038e0431ade0e8","pubkey":"7a2f213c220c46a194c5730e5bb2fe9b27304f0c27226f380086d93ff10bf7da","created_at":1771940731,"tags":[],"content":"NIP-42 test event - should require auth","sig":"319466df2167cd7f33c83d41b09bdd06f23c961380fd205a0a5dc5a923f11e45b6d158d79e251239bef364430c5d45e6a9e43fe93fd629864a88de00e6766a44"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+[SUCCESS] Relay requested authentication as expected
+[INFO] Test 4: Testing WebSocket AUTH message handling
+[INFO] Testing WebSocket connection and AUTH message...
+[INFO] Sending test message via WebSocket...
+2026-02-24 09:45:31 - WebSocket response: 
+[INFO] No AUTH challenge in WebSocket response
+[INFO] Test 5: Testing NIP-42 configuration options
+[INFO] Retrieving current relay configuration...
+[WARNING] Could not retrieve configuration events
+[INFO] Test 6: Testing NIP-42 performance and stability
+[INFO] Testing multiple authentication attempts...
+2026-02-24 09:45:33 - Attempt 1: .264126491s - connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":1,"id":"9cb8f626ced97e8fc406bd2d2358074fe33542d983d11a7f039a26919ded6039","pubkey":"7c098dbaeeaca6fb27798625835dfc5c13fb31096eed76c6d77269a2a08cd22b","created_at":1771940733,"tags":[],"content":"Performance test event 1","sig":"87025c881004a7936589785bbba6171542135348e4f798c490c033eb462c9a0322882cfe1a2b742e3644b6c69ee4fee76feb3cffecd6d64c096fa8038bcd84c4"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+2026-02-24 09:45:33 - Attempt 2: .262980094s - connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":1,"id":"bb1b3da4cccbcdc6be73646e29ecf060b68d8cb9340f8b23da0f167ffac0831d","pubkey":"7c098dbaeeaca6fb27798625835dfc5c13fb31096eed76c6d77269a2a08cd22b","created_at":1771940733,"tags":[],"content":"Performance test event 2","sig":"1349f7af97edb9f507081782cfb2d055eb810ec96056b97692920060091ccf39b8d1ba8590d25e1b3c92f4b785f6362ac0d734373d29d4159e5778f8982b086f"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+2026-02-24 09:45:34 - Attempt 3: .296311100s - connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":1,"id":"3b171de7c00e918ad0bcbedea4c07c69f59a9d20c31b0de957488c919fa5c116","pubkey":"7c098dbaeeaca6fb27798625835dfc5c13fb31096eed76c6d77269a2a08cd22b","created_at":1771940734,"tags":[],"content":"Performance test event 3","sig":"a1699f12064d4da7ba15519eb7666cd2801f333ee837df70ce1298ac97477e900d095dce8fed0bade8f3e3e2e2b68e22800d10ba213a1de6cd1537112d6a6c2a"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+2026-02-24 09:45:35 - Attempt 4: .300140904s - connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":1,"id":"f3587b9955204284ec65f2b171d1fa3f330e0bbfc2d95fe7ad0550a63a6aabe6","pubkey":"7c098dbaeeaca6fb27798625835dfc5c13fb31096eed76c6d77269a2a08cd22b","created_at":1771940734,"tags":[],"content":"Performance test event 4","sig":"fb78cd3bce49097eea1c67c0a1ee92bf4cdf5bf6396ce20519481d0e4d09b03dca05c70da2ddf5ba51d23aa3253b21ec3b57bc41d000f274bb1123a4c3d64c45"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+2026-02-24 09:45:35 - Attempt 5: .373738147s - connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":1,"id":"e1fdf2d0579f0e2b446bdd9dbe5f5e53913b7d328d6f527ac7142636979c1ff2","pubkey":"7c098dbaeeaca6fb27798625835dfc5c13fb31096eed76c6d77269a2a08cd22b","created_at":1771940735,"tags":[],"content":"Performance test event 5","sig":"a11a11991434511737092d8cf2806a700a207c81c08e341f8d98c8b3369845df35adb9247ff094378e6712d68e5b2657d628e809b17bc9f838f6f5d9c21ce96c"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+[SUCCESS] Performance test completed: 5/5 successful responses
+[INFO] Test 7: Testing kind-specific NIP-42 authentication requirements
+[INFO] Generated test keypair for kind-specific tests: test_pubkey
+[INFO] Testing kind 1 event (regular note) - should work without authentication...
+2026-02-24 09:45:36 - Kind 1 event result: connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":1,"id":"85430aa1bb17e0aa7f5f05568448e35570a0d8446a79600f033e2683b17f8902","pubkey":"1cee941c80f1fa0037047151cf577503a1243cbef748f572b9fd6062a36807db","created_at":1771940736,"tags":[],"content":"Regular note - should not require auth","sig":"118a2dec1256aca39b22b9027c8f56e0b8f60bae1d95f38408ac9d9a6eb6590c48e4a37bf561e29f993b435ceecc1ff2218fcc9dec3e2dcf305cd456ac6a0ee4"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+[SUCCESS] Kind 1 event accepted without authentication (correct behavior)
+[INFO] Testing kind 4 event (direct message) - should require authentication...
+2026-02-24 09:45:47 - Kind 4 event result: connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":4,"id":"32f20767dd83d6f1ee5e70f72c33c7caa8a5a03acbfbb4de5899f6b27b850be4","pubkey":"1cee941c80f1fa0037047151cf577503a1243cbef748f572b9fd6062a36807db","created_at":1771940737,"tags":[["p,test_pubkey"]],"content":"This is a direct message - should require auth","sig":"cee96adf8c266120d98579734134cca652eeefa5f090d119b794a964bae4d2568e3aa39d648e5a897bb7f8d65be19f338291af3ffe87accdbf502f5eaae453ab"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... 
+[SUCCESS] Kind 4 event requested authentication (correct behavior for DMs)
+[INFO] Testing kind 14 event (chat message) - should require authentication...
+2026-02-24 09:45:57 - Kind 14 event result: connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":14,"id":"0a6d37f32fc10dae793b61d8f3afb9d28bdf12d59cf25d73eb90461d8efaa117","pubkey":"1cee941c80f1fa0037047151cf577503a1243cbef748f572b9fd6062a36807db","created_at":1771940747,"tags":[["p,test_pubkey"]],"content":"Chat message - should require auth","sig":"5337ded22499a8c361445d6c660f297e636cc5adf2735a85bb7d629e5771e0c47176b2afde02f4af9645198d441fb0aedd78931d0200d8b5ed8f721e6460d5c9"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... 
+[SUCCESS] Kind 14 event requested authentication (correct behavior for DMs)
+[INFO] Testing other event kinds - should work without authentication...
+2026-02-24 09:45:58 - Kind 0 event result: connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":0,"id":"5836e2da48eb458c8faca084afc3827ee6e481574d0295dc7bfdc50d9495891a","pubkey":"1cee941c80f1fa0037047151cf577503a1243cbef748f572b9fd6062a36807db","created_at":1771940757,"tags":[],"content":"Test event kind 0 - should not require auth","sig":"e454d5990a157b6211b655a9219ad494c58d49a59d61c4e1fb0aa91b96e5ff2368efc57e2acd0a24c7198b1181c37d0ab535f608289ec83afdc0b68e076def7c"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+[SUCCESS] Kind 0 event accepted without authentication (correct)
+2026-02-24 09:45:58 - Kind 3 event result: connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":3,"id":"d11a038044f9ea859338c6ab879c4628aece258f2cad0ed7ca88808b35ec899c","pubkey":"1cee941c80f1fa0037047151cf577503a1243cbef748f572b9fd6062a36807db","created_at":1771940758,"tags":[],"content":"Test event kind 3 - should not require auth","sig":"9fbf410cd609f9f7a6bf3118ecfe554776bb647d5ed988c0d4df06f83c1283c8baeaa0b62da900934cc8f617c73572fbce9f7232c77bb87942e4471228b06c73"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+[SUCCESS] Kind 3 event accepted without authentication (correct)
+2026-02-24 09:45:59 - Kind 7 event result: connecting to ws://localhost:8888... ok.
+{"kind":7,"id":"b819482f287f6370fac7804c2cdcdac8340eafd86799b24af0a11f74c6190fed","pubkey":"1cee941c80f1fa0037047151cf577503a1243cbef748f572b9fd6062a36807db","created_at":1771940758,"tags":[],"content":"Test event kind 7 - should not require auth","sig":"f197c7c072af111dd92220c489472473f5b4fb30e908501e4d2d0037f1a0064960550a4e51af4168572a192295d870f6a6c49473308a25dacbc0deb703003547"}
+publishing to ws://localhost:8888... success.
+[SUCCESS] Kind 7 event accepted without authentication (correct)
+[INFO] Kind-specific authentication test completed
+[INFO] === NIP-42 Test Results Summary ===
+[SUCCESS] Dependencies: PASS
+[SUCCESS] NIP-42 Support: PASS
+[SUCCESS] Auth Challenge: PASS
+[SUCCESS] Auth Flow: PASS
+[SUCCESS] WebSocket AUTH: PASS
+[SUCCESS] Configuration: PASS
+[SUCCESS] Performance: PASS
+[SUCCESS] Kind-Specific Auth: PASS
+[SUCCESS] All NIP-42 tests completed successfully!
+[SUCCESS] NIP-42 authentication implementation is working correctly
+[INFO] === NIP-42 Authentication Tests Complete ===