Improve privacy for Blinded Message Paths using Dummy Hops

fuzz/src/chanmon_consistency.rs

@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ impl NodeSigner for KeyProvider {
 		Ok(SharedSecret::new(other_key, &node_secret))
 	}
 
-	fn get_inbound_payment_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey {
+	fn get_expanded_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey {
 		#[rustfmt::skip]
 		let random_bytes = [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, self.node_secret[31]];
 		ExpandedKey::new(random_bytes)

fuzz/src/full_stack.rs

@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ use bitcoin::secp256k1::{self, Message, PublicKey, Scalar, Secp256k1, SecretKey}
 
 use lightning::util::dyn_signer::DynSigner;
 
-use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::cmp;
+use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ impl NodeSigner for KeyProvider {
 		Ok(SharedSecret::new(other_key, &node_secret))
 	}
 
-	fn get_inbound_payment_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey {
+	fn get_expanded_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey {
 		self.inbound_payment_key
 	}
 

fuzz/src/onion_message.rs

@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ impl NodeSigner for KeyProvider {
 		Ok(SharedSecret::new(other_key, &node_secret))
 	}
 
-	fn get_inbound_payment_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey {
+	fn get_expanded_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey {
 		unreachable!()
 	}
 

lightning/src/blinded_path/message.rs

@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ use crate::types::payment::PaymentHash;
 use crate::util::scid_utils;
 use crate::util::ser::{FixedLengthReader, LengthReadableArgs, Readable, Writeable, Writer};
 
-use core::mem;
 use core::ops::Deref;
 use core::time::Duration;
+use core::{cmp, mem};
 
 /// A blinded path to be used for sending or receiving a message, hiding the identity of the
 /// recipient.
@@ -74,6 +74,29 @@ impl BlindedMessagePath {
 		local_node_receive_key: ReceiveAuthKey, context: MessageContext, entropy_source: ES,
 		secp_ctx: &Secp256k1<T>,
 	) -> Result<Self, ()>
+	where
+		ES::Target: EntropySource,
+	{
+		BlindedMessagePath::new_with_dummy_hops(
+			intermediate_nodes,
+			recipient_node_id,
+			0,
+			local_node_receive_key,
+			context,
+			entropy_source,
+			secp_ctx,
+		)
+	}
+
+	/// Same as [`BlindedMessagePath::new`], but allows specifying a number of dummy hops.
+	///
+	/// Note:
+	/// At most [`MAX_DUMMY_HOPS_COUNT`] dummy hops can be added to the blinded path.
+	pub fn new_with_dummy_hops<ES: Deref, T: secp256k1::Signing + secp256k1::Verification>(
+		intermediate_nodes: &[MessageForwardNode], recipient_node_id: PublicKey,
+		dummy_hop_count: usize, local_node_receive_key: ReceiveAuthKey, context: MessageContext,
+		entropy_source: ES, secp_ctx: &Secp256k1<T>,
+	) -> Result<Self, ()>
 	where
 		ES::Target: EntropySource,
 	{
@@ -91,6 +114,7 @@ impl BlindedMessagePath {
 				secp_ctx,
 				intermediate_nodes,
 				recipient_node_id,
+				dummy_hop_count,
 				context,
 				&blinding_secret,
 				local_node_receive_key,
@@ -266,6 +290,23 @@ pub(crate) struct ForwardTlvs {
 	pub(crate) next_blinding_override: Option<PublicKey>,
 }
 
+/// Represents the dummy TLV encoded immediately before the actual [`ReceiveTlvs`] in a blinded path.
+/// These TLVs are intended for the final node and are recursively authenticated until the real
+/// [`ReceiveTlvs`] is reached.
+///
+/// Their purpose is to arbitrarily extend the path length, obscuring the receiver's position in the
+/// route and thereby enhancing privacy.
+pub(crate) struct DummyTlv;
+
+impl Writeable for DummyTlv {
+	fn write<W: Writer>(&self, writer: &mut W) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
+		encode_tlv_stream!(writer, {
+			(65539, (), required),
+		});
+		Ok(())
+	}
+}
+
 /// Similar to [`ForwardTlvs`], but these TLVs are for the final node.
 pub(crate) struct ReceiveTlvs {
 	/// If `context` is `Some`, it is used to identify the blinded path that this onion message is
@@ -618,15 +659,24 @@ impl_writeable_tlv_based!(DNSResolverContext, {
 /// to pad message blinded path's [`BlindedHop`]
 pub(crate) const MESSAGE_PADDING_ROUND_OFF: usize = 100;
 
+/// The maximum number of dummy hops that can be added to a blinded path.
+/// This is to prevent paths from becoming too long and potentially causing
+/// issues with message processing or routing.
+pub const MAX_DUMMY_HOPS_COUNT: usize = 10;
+
 /// Construct blinded onion message hops for the given `intermediate_nodes` and `recipient_node_id`.
 pub(super) fn blinded_hops<T: secp256k1::Signing + secp256k1::Verification>(
 	secp_ctx: &Secp256k1<T>, intermediate_nodes: &[MessageForwardNode],
-	recipient_node_id: PublicKey, context: MessageContext, session_priv: &SecretKey,
-	local_node_receive_key: ReceiveAuthKey,
+	recipient_node_id: PublicKey, dummy_hop_count: usize, context: MessageContext,
+	session_priv: &SecretKey, local_node_receive_key: ReceiveAuthKey,
 ) -> Result<Vec<BlindedHop>, secp256k1::Error> {
+	let dummy_count = cmp::min(dummy_hop_count, MAX_DUMMY_HOPS_COUNT);
 	let pks = intermediate_nodes
 		.iter()
 		.map(|node| (node.node_id, None))
+		.chain(
+			core::iter::repeat((recipient_node_id, Some(local_node_receive_key))).take(dummy_count),
+		)
 		.chain(core::iter::once((recipient_node_id, Some(local_node_receive_key))));
 	let is_compact = intermediate_nodes.iter().any(|node| node.short_channel_id.is_some());
 
@@ -641,6 +691,7 @@ pub(super) fn blinded_hops<T: secp256k1::Signing + secp256k1::Verification>(
 		.map(|next_hop| {
 			ControlTlvs::Forward(ForwardTlvs { next_hop, next_blinding_override: None })
 		})
+		.chain((0..dummy_count).map(|_| ControlTlvs::Dummy))
 		.chain(core::iter::once(ControlTlvs::Receive(ReceiveTlvs { context: Some(context) })));
 
 	if is_compact {

lightning/src/blinded_path/utils.rs

@@ -276,16 +276,43 @@ impl<T: Writeable> Writeable for BlindedPathWithPadding<T> {
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
-/// Checks if all the packets in the blinded path are properly padded.
+/// Verifies whether all hops in the blinded path follow the expected padding scheme.
+///
+/// In the padded encoding scheme, each hop's encrypted payload is expected to be of the form:
+/// `n * padding_round_off + extra`, where:
+/// - `padding_round_off` is the fixed block size to which unencrypted payloads are padded.
+/// - `n` is a positive integer (n ≥ 1).
+/// - `extra` is the fixed overhead added during encryption (assumed uniform across hops).
+///
+/// This function infers the `extra` from the first hop, and checks that all other hops conform
+/// to the same pattern.
+///
+/// # Returns
+/// - `true` if all hop payloads are padded correctly.
+/// - `false` if padding is incorrectly applied or intentionally absent (e.g., in compact paths).
 pub fn is_padded(hops: &[BlindedHop], padding_round_off: usize) -> bool {
 	let first_hop = hops.first().expect("BlindedPath must have at least one hop");
-	let first_payload_size = first_hop.encrypted_payload.len();
-
-	// The unencrypted payload data is padded before getting encrypted.
-	// Assuming the first payload is padded properly, get the extra data length.
-	let extra_length = first_payload_size % padding_round_off;
-	hops.iter().all(|hop| {
-		// Check that every packet is padded to the round off length subtracting the extra length.
-		(hop.encrypted_payload.len() - extra_length) % padding_round_off == 0
-	})
+	let first_len = first_hop.encrypted_payload.len();
+
+	// Early rejection: if the first hop is too small, it can't be correctly padded.
+	if first_len <= padding_round_off {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	let extra = first_len % padding_round_off;
+
+	// Helper to check if a hop follows the padding pattern
+	let is_hop_padded = |hop: &BlindedHop| {
+		let len = hop.encrypted_payload.len();
+		len > extra && (len - extra) % padding_round_off == 0
+	};
+
+	// All hops must follow the same padding structure AND
+	// all hops except the final one must have the same length as the first
+	// to ensure proper masking.
+	hops.iter().all(is_hop_padded)
+		&& hops
+			.iter()
+			.take(hops.len().saturating_sub(1))
+			.all(|hop| hop.encrypted_payload.len() == first_len)
 }

lightning/src/ln/async_payments_tests.rs

@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ fn create_static_invoice_builder<'a>(
 
 	let created_at = recipient.node.duration_since_epoch();
 	let payment_secret = inbound_payment::create_for_spontaneous_payment(
-		&recipient.keys_manager.get_inbound_payment_key(),
+		&recipient.keys_manager.get_expanded_key(),
 		amount_msat,
 		relative_expiry_secs,
 		created_at.as_secs(),
@@ -982,7 +982,7 @@ fn amount_doesnt_match_invreq() {
 			valid_invreq = Some(invoice_request.clone());
 			*invoice_request = offer
 				.request_invoice(
-					&nodes[0].keys_manager.get_inbound_payment_key(),
+					&nodes[0].keys_manager.get_expanded_key(),
 					Nonce::from_entropy_source(nodes[0].keys_manager),
 					&secp_ctx,
 					payment_id,

lightning/src/ln/blinded_payment_tests.rs

@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ pub fn blinded_payment_path(
 	};
 
 	let nonce = Nonce([42u8; 16]);
-	let expanded_key = keys_manager.get_inbound_payment_key();
+	let expanded_key = keys_manager.get_expanded_key();
 	let payee_tlvs = payee_tlvs.authenticate(nonce, &expanded_key);
 
 	let mut secp_ctx = Secp256k1::new();
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ fn do_one_hop_blinded_path(success: bool) {
 		payment_context: PaymentContext::Bolt12Refund(Bolt12RefundContext {}),
 	};
 	let nonce = Nonce([42u8; 16]);
-	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[1].keys_manager.get_inbound_payment_key();
+	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[1].keys_manager.get_expanded_key();
 	let payee_tlvs = payee_tlvs.authenticate(nonce, &expanded_key);
 
 	let mut secp_ctx = Secp256k1::new();
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ fn mpp_to_one_hop_blinded_path() {
 		payment_context: PaymentContext::Bolt12Refund(Bolt12RefundContext {}),
 	};
 	let nonce = Nonce([42u8; 16]);
-	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[3].keys_manager.get_inbound_payment_key();
+	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[3].keys_manager.get_expanded_key();
 	let payee_tlvs = payee_tlvs.authenticate(nonce, &expanded_key);
 	let blinded_path = BlindedPaymentPath::new(
 		&[], nodes[3].node.get_our_node_id(), payee_tlvs, u64::MAX, TEST_FINAL_CLTV as u16,
@@ -1336,7 +1336,7 @@ fn custom_tlvs_to_blinded_path() {
 		payment_context: PaymentContext::Bolt12Refund(Bolt12RefundContext {}),
 	};
 	let nonce = Nonce([42u8; 16]);
-	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[1].keys_manager.get_inbound_payment_key();
+	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[1].keys_manager.get_expanded_key();
 	let payee_tlvs = payee_tlvs.authenticate(nonce, &expanded_key);
 	let mut secp_ctx = Secp256k1::new();
 	let blinded_path = BlindedPaymentPath::new(
@@ -1390,7 +1390,7 @@ fn fails_receive_tlvs_authentication() {
 		payment_context: PaymentContext::Bolt12Refund(Bolt12RefundContext {}),
 	};
 	let nonce = Nonce([42u8; 16]);
-	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[1].keys_manager.get_inbound_payment_key();
+	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[1].keys_manager.get_expanded_key();
 	let payee_tlvs = payee_tlvs.authenticate(nonce, &expanded_key);
 
 	let mut secp_ctx = Secp256k1::new();
@@ -1622,7 +1622,7 @@ fn route_blinding_spec_test_vector() {
 			}
 			Ok(SharedSecret::new(other_key, &node_secret))
 		}
-		fn get_inbound_payment_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey { unreachable!() }
+		fn get_expanded_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey { unreachable!() }
 		fn get_node_id(&self, _recipient: Recipient) -> Result<PublicKey, ()> { unreachable!() }
 		fn sign_invoice(
 			&self, _invoice: &RawBolt11Invoice, _recipient: Recipient,
@@ -1935,7 +1935,7 @@ fn test_trampoline_inbound_payment_decoding() {
 			}
 			Ok(SharedSecret::new(other_key, &node_secret))
 		}
-		fn get_inbound_payment_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey { unreachable!() }
+		fn get_expanded_key(&self) -> ExpandedKey { unreachable!() }
 		fn get_node_id(&self, _recipient: Recipient) -> Result<PublicKey, ()> { unreachable!() }
 		fn sign_invoice(
 			&self, _invoice: &RawBolt11Invoice, _recipient: Recipient,
@@ -2023,7 +2023,7 @@ fn do_test_trampoline_single_hop_receive(success: bool) {
 		};
 
 		let nonce = Nonce([42u8; 16]);
-		let expanded_key = nodes[2].keys_manager.get_inbound_payment_key();
+		let expanded_key = nodes[2].keys_manager.get_expanded_key();
 		let payee_tlvs = payee_tlvs.authenticate(nonce, &expanded_key);
 		let carol_unblinded_tlvs = payee_tlvs.encode();
 

lightning/src/ln/channelmanager.rs

@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ pub enum PendingHTLCRouting {
 		requires_blinded_error: bool,
 		/// Set if we are receiving a keysend to a blinded path, meaning we created the
 		/// [`PaymentSecret`] and should verify it using our
-		/// [`NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key`].
+		/// [`NodeSigner::get_expanded_key`].
 		has_recipient_created_payment_secret: bool,
 		/// The [`InvoiceRequest`] associated with the [`Offer`] corresponding to this payment.
 		invoice_request: Option<InvoiceRequest>,
@@ -3732,7 +3732,7 @@ where
 		let mut secp_ctx = Secp256k1::new();
 		secp_ctx.seeded_randomize(&entropy_source.get_secure_random_bytes());
 
-		let expanded_inbound_key = node_signer.get_inbound_payment_key();
+		let expanded_inbound_key = node_signer.get_expanded_key();
 		let our_network_pubkey = node_signer.get_node_id(Recipient::Node).unwrap();
 
 		let flow = OffersMessageFlow::new(
@@ -16697,7 +16697,7 @@ where
 			}
 		}
 
-		let expanded_inbound_key = args.node_signer.get_inbound_payment_key();
+		let expanded_inbound_key = args.node_signer.get_expanded_key();
 
 		let mut claimable_payments = hash_map_with_capacity(claimable_htlcs_list.len());
 		if let Some(purposes) = claimable_htlc_purposes {

lightning/src/ln/inbound_payment.rs

@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ const AMT_MSAT_LEN: usize = 8;
 // retrieve said payment type bits.
 const METHOD_TYPE_OFFSET: usize = 5;
 
-/// A set of keys that were HKDF-expanded. Returned by [`NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key`].
+/// A set of keys that were HKDF-expanded. Returned by [`NodeSigner::get_expanded_key`].
 ///
-/// [`NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key`]: crate::sign::NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key
+/// [`NodeSigner::get_expanded_key`]: crate::sign::NodeSigner::get_expanded_key
 #[derive(Hash, Copy, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Debug)]
 pub struct ExpandedKey {
 	/// The key used to encrypt the bytes containing the payment metadata (i.e. the amount and
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ fn min_final_cltv_expiry_delta_from_metadata(bytes: [u8; METADATA_LEN]) -> u16 {
 /// `ChannelManager` is required. Useful for generating invoices for [phantom node payments] without
 /// a `ChannelManager`.
 ///
-/// `keys` is generated by calling [`NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key`]. It is recommended to
+/// `keys` is generated by calling [`NodeSigner::get_expanded_key`]. It is recommended to
 /// cache this value and not regenerate it for each new inbound payment.
 ///
 /// `current_time` is a Unix timestamp representing the current time.
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ fn min_final_cltv_expiry_delta_from_metadata(bytes: [u8; METADATA_LEN]) -> u16 {
 /// on versions of LDK prior to 0.0.114.
 ///
 /// [phantom node payments]: crate::sign::PhantomKeysManager
-/// [`NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key`]: crate::sign::NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key
+/// [`NodeSigner::get_expanded_key`]: crate::sign::NodeSigner::get_expanded_key
 pub fn create<ES: Deref>(
 	keys: &ExpandedKey, min_value_msat: Option<u64>, invoice_expiry_delta_secs: u32,
 	entropy_source: &ES, current_time: u64, min_final_cltv_expiry_delta: Option<u16>,
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ fn construct_payment_secret(
 /// For payments including a custom `min_final_cltv_expiry_delta`, the metadata is constructed as:
 ///   payment method (3 bits) || payment amount (8 bytes - 3 bits) || min_final_cltv_expiry_delta (2 bytes) || expiry (6 bytes)
 ///
-/// In both cases the result is then encrypted using a key derived from [`NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key`].
+/// In both cases the result is then encrypted using a key derived from [`NodeSigner::get_expanded_key`].
 ///
 /// Then on payment receipt, we verify in this method that the payment preimage and payment secret
 /// match what was constructed.
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ fn construct_payment_secret(
 ///
 /// See [`ExpandedKey`] docs for more info on the individual keys used.
 ///
-/// [`NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key`]: crate::sign::NodeSigner::get_inbound_payment_key
+/// [`NodeSigner::get_expanded_key`]: crate::sign::NodeSigner::get_expanded_key
 /// [`create_inbound_payment`]: crate::ln::channelmanager::ChannelManager::create_inbound_payment
 /// [`create_inbound_payment_for_hash`]: crate::ln::channelmanager::ChannelManager::create_inbound_payment_for_hash
 pub(super) fn verify<L: Deref>(

lightning/src/ln/invoice_utils.rs

@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ where
 		},
 	};
 
-	let keys = node_signer.get_inbound_payment_key();
+	let keys = node_signer.get_expanded_key();
 	let (payment_hash, payment_secret) = if let Some(payment_hash) = payment_hash {
 		let payment_secret = create_from_hash(
 			&keys,

lightning/src/ln/max_payment_path_len_tests.rs

@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ fn one_hop_blinded_path_with_custom_tlv() {
 		payment_context: PaymentContext::Bolt12Refund(Bolt12RefundContext {}),
 	};
 	let nonce = Nonce([42u8; 16]);
-	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[2].keys_manager.get_inbound_payment_key();
+	let expanded_key = chanmon_cfgs[2].keys_manager.get_expanded_key();
 	let payee_tlvs = payee_tlvs.authenticate(nonce, &expanded_key);
 	let mut secp_ctx = Secp256k1::new();
 	let blinded_path = BlindedPaymentPath::new(