README and SPEC name every offence that has a client checked (closes #151)

The AbuseIPDB section of README.md listed only a broken rate limit or
byte limit, a ban rule match, and a refusal by a block rule or the Core
Rule Set. A client is checked once its history counts any offence, so it
now also names the error burst, a request for a trap path and a refusal
for a missing or wrong token, as "What it does so far" does. The
definition of an offence under "Bans" in SPEC.md now names a refusal for
a missing or wrong token too, as the code counts one.

Model: opus-5-5

Dockerfile

@@ -140,10 +140,14 @@ RUN mkdir /etc/sysusers.d \
 # apt also fetches the live archive's InRelease files, which change daily
 # and which the install does not use. The snapshot service is HTTPS only
 # and this image has no CA certificates yet, so this step uses the Go
-# image's.
+# image's. The snapshot service answers 503 at times; apt retries a
+# failed download, waiting twice as long before each retry, and this
+# step gives it five retries, about half a minute in all, where its
+# default of three gives up after seven seconds.
 RUN --mount=type=bind,from=builder,source=/etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt,target=/tmp/go-image-ca.crt \
     apt-get update --snapshot 20261001T000000Z \
         -o Acquire::https::CaInfo=/tmp/go-image-ca.crt \
+        -o Acquire::Retries=5 \
     && printf '%s\n' \
         '45f95ce276cdba3e41870516a130e03c58b8b7a79e9546b0efe9e526d255740c  snapshot.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_20261001T000000Z_dists_resolute_InRelease' \
         '802e675dd9de4c7f3916434a95e7c1d8eec0e82886622d7805ab19a2c6fe0365  snapshot.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_20261001T000000Z_dists_resolute-updates_InRelease' \
@@ -153,6 +157,7 @@ RUN --mount=type=bind,from=builder,source=/etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt,tar
     && DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get install --yes --no-install-recommends \
         --snapshot 20261001T000000Z \
         -o Acquire::https::CaInfo=/tmp/go-image-ca.crt \
+        -o Acquire::Retries=5 \
         ca-certificates nix-bin runit \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 

README.md

@@ -96,11 +96,14 @@ in `bin/state` unless `SWWAF_STATE_DIR` is set, and the default rule file of
 ## What it does so far
 
 - Passes each request to the app and the app's answer back unchanged: method,
-  path, query, headers, body and status. Bodies stream through in both
+  path, query, headers, body and status. The one exception is a path starting
-  directions and are never held whole in memory, but for the part of a request
+  with `//` that holds a character Go escapes, such as `|`: Go cannot send it as
-  body the Core Rule Set reads, at most `SWWAF_WAF_BODY_LIMIT` and one byte
+  it is, and the app receives it decoded and escaped again, `%2F` as `/`. Bodies
-  more, which is held until the app is sent it. A WebSocket, or any other
+  stream through in both directions and are never held whole in memory, but for
-  upgraded connection, passes through, and the timeouts do not cut it.
+  the part of a request body the Core Rule Set reads, at most
+  `SWWAF_WAF_BODY_LIMIT` and one byte more, which is held until the app is sent
+  it. A WebSocket, or any other upgraded connection, passes through, and the
+  timeouts do not cut it.
 - Works out the client's address. A TCP peer outside `SWWAF_TRUSTED_PROXIES` is
   the client, and the forwarded headers it sends are replaced, not passed on.
   For a peer inside it, `X-Forwarded-For` is read from the right, and the first
@@ -110,16 +113,16 @@ in `bin/state` unless `SWWAF_STATE_DIR` is set, and the default rule file of
   `X-Forwarded-Proto`, and `X-Forwarded-For` with the peer added at the end. It
   also gets the request's id in `X-Request-ID`, the same id as in the request's
   log line (see `request_id` in "Request log" below).
-- Enforces the timeouts and the size limits below. A limit passed before the
+- Enforces the timeouts and the size limits below. Once a request's line and
-  response has started gets `smallwebwaf`'s own answer: `408` for a client too
+  headers have been read, a limit passed before the response has started gets
-  slow to send its request, `413` for a request body that is too large, `504`
+  `smallwebwaf`'s own answer: `408` for a client too slow to send its body,
-  for an app too slow to answer, and `502` for a response that is too large or
+  `413` for a request body that is too large, `504` for an app too slow to
-  an app that cannot be reached. A request that announces a body over the limit
+  answer, and `502` for a response that is too large or an app that cannot be
-  is refused before anything reaches the app. While a request body is still on
+  reached. A request that announces a body over the limit is refused before
-  its way, a request timeout that runs out answers `408` if `smallwebwaf` was
+  anything reaches the app. While a request body is still on its way, a request
-  waiting for the client to send more, and `504` if it was waiting for the app
+  timeout that runs out answers `408` if `smallwebwaf` was waiting for the
-  to take what it had. Once the response has started, a limit can only cut the
+  client to send more, and `504` if it was waiting for the app to take what it
-  connection.
+  had. Once the response has started, a limit can only cut the connection.
 - Counts each client's requests over a minute, an hour and a day. A request that
   takes the client over one of the rate limits below is refused with
   `SWWAF_BAN_RESPONSE`, `403` by default, before anything reaches the app, and
@@ -1042,9 +1045,11 @@ less severe than `SWWAF_LOG_LEVEL` are not written.
 Go's HTTP server, on which `smallwebwaf` is built, reads a request's line and
 headers before `smallwebwaf` sees the request, and some requests end there,
 without a line in the log: headers over `SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_HEADER_MAX_BYTES`,
-which it answers `431`, headers slower than `SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT`,
+which it answers `431`, and requests it cannot read at all, which it answers
-whose connection it closes without an answer, and requests it cannot read at
+itself, mostly with `400`. A client too slow to send its request line and
-all, which it answers itself, mostly with `400`.
+headers within `SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT` gets either no answer or an error
+answer from the server, mostly `400 Bad Request`; either way the server closes
+its connection, nothing reaches the app, and no line is written in the log.
 
 ### Sending the log to a syslog server
 
@@ -1444,11 +1449,12 @@ whole service, its `asn`, for an AS number, its `name`, for a named netblock, or
 the `start` of a window in which it has requests or bytes; a list's `url`,
 `fetched` or `lines`, which is `[]` for an empty list; a verdict's `zone`,
 `client`, `listed`, which is `false` for a client the zone does not list, or
-`fetched`. So does a ban whose `cause` is not `limit`, `attack`, `admin` or
+`fetched`. So does a ban whose `expires` is not after its `start` or whose
-`crowdsec`, alerts waiting for a destination that is not `webhook`, `slack` or
+`cause` is not `limit`, `attack`, `admin` or `crowdsec`, alerts waiting for a
-`ntfy`, an anomaly counter whose `scope` is not `client`, `net`, `asn`, `total`
+destination that is not `webhook`, `slack` or `ntfy`, an anomaly counter whose
-or `watch`, and a copy of a list with a line that would make its fetch fail. An
+`scope` is not `client`, `net`, `asn`, `total` or `watch`, and a copy of a list
-answer's `asn` or `as_name` left out reads as empty.
+with a line that would make its fetch fail. An answer's `asn` or `as_name` left
+out reads as empty.
 
 While it runs, `smallwebwaf` watches `SWWAF_STATE_DIR` and takes in your edit of
 a state file as soon as you save it: what the file then holds replaces what
@@ -1458,14 +1464,15 @@ writes a file it takes in any edit made since, so your edit is not overwritten;
 a change `smallwebwaf` made after you opened the file, such as a new ban, is
 lost when you save over it. An edit that would stop the start, because it does
 not parse, has another `version`, leaves out a field an entry needs, gives a ban
-another `cause`, names another destination, gives an anomaly counter another
+an `expires` not after its `start` or another `cause`, names another
-`scope` or gives a list's copy a line that would make its fetch fail, does not
+destination, gives an anomaly counter another `scope` or gives a list's copy a
-stop the running `smallwebwaf`: it keeps what it holds, and at the file's next
+line that would make its fetch fail, does not stop the running `smallwebwaf`: it
-write renames your file to `<name>.bad`, such as `bans.json.bad`, writes the
+keeps what it holds, and at the file's next write renames your file to
-file again from memory, logs the file and where the error is, and raises a
+`<name>.bad`, such as `bans.json.bad`, writes the file again from memory, logs
-`file_error` alert for it. It waits for that write because an editor's file can
+the file and where the error is, and raises a `file_error` alert for it. It
-be read before the editor has finished writing it. Mend the `.bad` file and move
+waits for that write because an editor's file can be read before the editor has
-it back. A file you remove is written again at its next write.
+finished writing it. Mend the `.bad` file and move it back. A file you remove is
+written again at its next write.
 
 To ban a netblock, add an entry to `bans.json` with its `netblock`, its `start`
 and its `expires`, `null` for a ban that never ends; its `reason` and its
@@ -1954,8 +1961,14 @@ main "$@"
   without one, it still starts. At each start the `run` script of `smallwebwaf`
   gives that directory and every file in it to the `smallwebwaf` user, so a host
   directory mounted there needs no change of owner.
-- `docker stop` has runit stop both processes. `smallwebwaf` then stops taking
+- `docker stop` has runit stop both processes at once, each with SIGTERM.
-  requests and gives those in progress five seconds to finish.
+  `smallwebwaf` then stops taking requests and gives those in progress five
+  seconds to finish, which they can do only while the app still answers. An app
+  that exits at once on SIGTERM ends them: the client gets `502`, or a response
+  cut short if the app had already begun to answer. An app that should let them
+  finish keeps taking and answering requests, not only the ones it already has,
+  for the whole five seconds after SIGTERM, since `smallwebwaf` can still pass
+  it requests it took before then.
 
 A rule file is one rule per line: a name, what to match against, what to do, and
 a regex.
@@ -2147,13 +2160,14 @@ addresses sends, so that one client costs at most one check every
 `SWWAF_REPUTATION_CACHE_TTL`.
 
 Only a client whose history counts an offence is checked, so that the checks are
-spent on suspects: so far, one that has broken a rate limit or a byte limit,
+spent on suspects: so far, one that has broken a rate limit, a byte limit or the
-matched a ban rule, or had a request refused by a block rule or the Core Rule
+error burst, matched a ban rule, asked for a trap path, or had a request refused
-Set. A client dropped from the table of clients loses its history, and with it
+by a block rule, by the Core Rule Set or for a missing or wrong token. A client
-its offences. A client is checked in the background, at its first request after
+dropped from the table of clients loses its history, and with it its offences. A
-its offence that reaches the check: no request waits, a request refused under
+client is checked in the background, at its first request after its offence that
-its ban is not checked, and the request that has it checked, and any other from
+reaches the check: no request waits, a request refused under its ban is not
-it before the answer comes, goes on as from a client without a score.
+checked, and the request that has it checked, and any other from it before the
+answer comes, goes on as from a client without a score.
 
 A score at or over `SWWAF_ABUSEIPDB_MIN_SCORE`, 75 by default, is a hit, and
 `SWWAF_REPUTATION_ACTION` says what is done with its client, as for a DNSBL
@@ -2370,23 +2384,34 @@ so that they run in minimal containers.
   that the health check passes, that a request reaches the app through
   `smallwebwaf`, that a second request in a minute bans the client, that a probe
   for `/.env` bans another client, whose next request makes the ban permanent,
-  that `sv stop` and `docker stop` stop it in order, and that a new container on
+  that `sv stop` and `docker stop` stop it in order, that a new container on the
-  the same volume still refuses the banned client; then removes the containers,
+  same volume still refuses the banned client, that a container with its state
-  the volume and both images. It needs network access, for nixpkgs' binary
+  files on a new volume mounted at the directory `SWWAF_STATE_DIR_FILE` names
-  cache, and `script/check` does not run it; `make example-app` does.
+  becomes healthy, and that one whose `SWWAF_STATE_DIR` does not exist logs
+  `smallwebwaf`'s message about it; then removes the containers, the volumes and
+  both images. It needs network access, for nixpkgs' binary cache, and
+  `script/check` does not run it; `make example-app` does.
 - `script/gitea-requests`: builds the image and runs gitea 1.27.3 behind it,
   with every setting of `smallwebwaf` at its default but `SWWAF_UPSTREAM_URL`,
-  which names gitea's container. It sends through it the gitea requests that the
+  which names gitea's container. Of the requests that three of the notes
-  notes specific to gitea in [`SPEC.md`](SPEC.md) name for a file name in a
+  specific to gitea in [`SPEC.md`](SPEC.md) say are refused, it sends through
-  query parameter, for a path and for a container image push, and a short sample
+  it: for each file the note on a file name in a query parameter names, the
-  of gitea's ordinary use: signing in, pages of files and commits, a diff, the
+  API's list of its commits; for `Runtime.java` alone, the commit graph of that
-  API, a push, clone and fetch over HTTP, and two container image pushes. It
+  file, the hidden lines of its diff and the API's call for the contents of
-  prints a line for each request `smallwebwaf` logged, with what it did with it
+  files that names it; the sign-in page gitea sends a visitor to on the way to
-  and the ids of the Core Rule Set's rules that matched it, then removes the
+  the edit page of `document.write.js`; the pages of `java.lang.String.md`,
-  containers, the network and the images it made, but gitea's own image. It
+  `META-INF/services/org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory`, `process.env.d.ts`
-  needs network access, and a docker daemon that pushes to a registry on
+  and `.../notes.txt`; and one container image push that reuses a layer. It does
-  `localhost` over plain HTTP, as docker does by default; `script/check` does
+  not send the raw file, history, blame or edit page of those four files, the
-  not run it, and `make gitea-requests` does.
+  pages of the directories `META-INF/services` and `...`, or the push again. It
+  also sends a short sample of gitea's ordinary use: signing in, pages of files
+  and commits, a diff, the API, a push, clone and fetch over HTTP, and two
+  container image pushes. It prints a line for each request `smallwebwaf`
+  logged, with what it did with it and the ids of the Core Rule Set's rules that
+  matched it, then removes the containers, the network and the images it made,
+  but gitea's own image. It needs network access, and a docker daemon that
+  pushes to a registry on `localhost` over plain HTTP, as docker does by
+  default; `script/check` does not run it, and `make gitea-requests` does.
 
 ## TODO
 

SPEC.md

@@ -225,9 +225,9 @@ address or one /64, so a permanent ban does not reach neighbours who did
 nothing.
 
 An offence is a request `smallwebwaf` holds against the client: one that carries
-a clear sign of attack, breaks a limit, or is refused by a rule file or the Core
+a clear sign of attack, breaks a limit, or is refused by a rule file, by the
-Rule Set. Offences are counted by kind in the client's history. Two kinds lead
+Core Rule Set or for a missing or wrong token. Offences are counted by kind in
-to a ban, each by its own rule:
+the client's history. Two kinds lead to a ban, each by its own rule:
 
 - A clear sign of attack: a request that matches a rule file rule whose action
   is `ban`, or asks for a path in `SWWAF_TRAP_PATHS`. Examples are a probe for a
@@ -414,10 +414,10 @@ The settings, by group:
       to send its request line and headers, and then, from the end of the
       headers, its body.
     - `SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_HEADER_MAX_BYTES` (default `32K`): the largest
-      request line and headers a client may send. Over it, `smallwebwaf` answers
+      request line and headers a client may send. Over it, Go's HTTP server
-      `431` and closes the connection, and nothing reaches the app. It must be
+      answers `431` and closes the connection, and nothing reaches the app. It
-      more than `4K`, and cannot be `off`: Go's HTTP server always has such a
+      must be more than `4K`, and cannot be `off`: Go's HTTP server always has
-      limit, and reads 4 KiB past the one it is given before it refuses.
+      such a limit, and reads 4 KiB past the one it is given before it refuses.
     - `SWWAF_CLIENT_IDLE_TIMEOUT` (default `120s`): how long a kept-open
       connection may wait for its next request before `smallwebwaf` closes it.
       It is longer than the 90 seconds after which traefik, by default, closes a
@@ -435,12 +435,13 @@ The settings, by group:
       the client sends it and the app receives it.
     - `SWWAF_RESPONSE_MAX_BYTES` (default `5G`): the largest response body, as
       the app sends it and the client receives it.
-    - When a limit is passed before the response has started, `smallwebwaf`
+    - When a limit is passed after a request's line and headers have been read,
-      answers itself: `413` for a request body that is too large, `408` for a
+      but before the response has started, `smallwebwaf` answers itself: `413`
-      client that is too slow, `502` for a response that is too large, `504` for
+      for a request body that is too large, `408` for a client too slow to send
-      an app that is too slow. A request that announces a body larger than its
+      its body, `502` for a response that is too large, `504` for an app that is
-      limit is refused before anything reaches the app. Once the response has
+      too slow. A request that announces a body larger than its limit is refused
-      started it can only be cut off, and the connection is closed.
+      before anything reaches the app. Once the response has started it can only
+      be cut off, and the connection is closed.
     - Since a request body streams through, each side can hold up the other: a
       slow client slows the send to the app, and an app slow to take the body
       slows the client's send. So while a request body is still on its way, a
@@ -450,10 +451,11 @@ The settings, by group:
       waiting for the app to take what it had.
     - Go's HTTP server, on which `smallwebwaf` is built, reads a request's line
       and headers before `smallwebwaf` sees the request. A client that takes
-      longer than `SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT` to send them gets no answer:
+      longer than `SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT` to send them gets either no
-      the server closes its connection. Headers over
+      answer or an error answer from the server, mostly `400 Bad Request`;
-      `SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_HEADER_MAX_BYTES` are answered `431` by the server
+      either way the server closes its connection and nothing reaches the app.
-      itself. Neither request gets a line in the request log.
+      Headers over `SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_HEADER_MAX_BYTES` are answered `431` by
+      the server itself. Neither request gets a line in the request log.
     - A WebSocket connection leaves these limits behind once it is upgraded: it
       stays open until either side closes it.
 - Lookup of AS number and country (R7). On by default through GeoJS, which needs
@@ -1324,9 +1326,16 @@ The two processes:
 - A `smallwebwaf` that stops at start, for example on invalid configuration, is
   started again every second and stops again, logging its message each time,
   until the cause is fixed. The health check fails meanwhile.
-- `docker stop` sends SIGTERM to `runsvinit`, which has runit stop both
+- `docker stop` sends SIGTERM to `runsvinit`, which has runit stop both services
-  services, each with SIGTERM, and exits once they have stopped. `smallwebwaf`
+  at once, each with SIGTERM, and exits once they have stopped. `smallwebwaf`
-  writes its state files as it stops (see "Persistent state").
+  stops taking requests, gives those in progress five seconds to finish, and
+  writes its state files as it stops (see "Persistent state"). The requests in
+  progress can finish only while the app still answers. An app that exits at
+  once on SIGTERM ends them: the client gets `502`, or a response cut short if
+  the app had already begun to answer. An app that should let them finish keeps
+  taking and answering requests, not only the ones it already has, for the whole
+  five seconds after SIGTERM, since `smallwebwaf` can still pass it requests it
+  took before then.
 - The container's root filesystem stays writable: runit writes each service's
   status into its directory under `/etc/service`.
 
@@ -1506,13 +1515,18 @@ holds any token file.
           page are refused; the directory that holds it lists it, and a clone
           carries it.
         - A container image push that reuses a layer of an image docker has
-          pushed to that gitea before, when that image's name, after its owner,
+          pushed to that gitea before, when that image's owner, or its name
-          starts with an entry on the list of commands (932260), such as
+          after the owner, starts with an entry on the list of commands
-          `owner/python3-app` or `owner/docker-base`. docker asks gitea to take
+          (932260), such as `owner/python3-app`, `owner/docker-base` or any
-          the layer from that image, naming it in the query parameter `from`,
+          image of an owner named `ansible` or `docker-team`. docker asks gitea
-          which 932260 checks. The push fails with the 403 answer of
+          to take the layer from that image, naming it in the query parameter
-          `smallwebwaf`, and so does each new try, since docker asks in the same
+          `from`, which 932260 checks, and gets the 403 answer of `smallwebwaf`.
-          way.
+          A docker that keeps its images in containerd's image store, as a new
+          install of Docker Engine 29 does, then fails the push, and fails each
+          new try the same way. A docker that keeps them in its own older image
+          store uploads the layer instead, so the push succeeds after one
+          refusal for each layer it reuses, and each of those refusals counts
+          toward the error burst.
     - Artifact uploads from `actions/upload-artifact@v3` send the header
       `Content-Range`, which the Core Rule Set refuses (920450). The action
       sends two files at a time, does not retry a 403 and sends no further file
@@ -1601,11 +1615,18 @@ holds any token file.
   body once `SWWAF_WAF_BODY_LIMIT` is set): a match refuses only that request
   and bans no one by itself; the request log names the rule, and exclusions by
   rule id and path fix it. `script/gitea-requests` runs gitea behind the image
-  at the defaults, sends through it the requests the notes specific to gitea
+  at the defaults and sends through it a short sample of gitea's ordinary use
-  name for a file name in a query parameter, for a path and for a container
+  and some of the requests that three of the notes specific to gitea say are
-  image push, and a short sample of gitea's ordinary use, and reports each
+  refused: for each file the note on a file name in a query parameter names, the
-  request the Core Rule Set refuses, so that those notes can be checked again
+  API's list of its commits; for `Runtime.java` alone, the commit graph of that
-  when gitea or the Core Rule Set changes version.
+  file, the hidden lines of its diff and the API's call for the contents of
+  files that names it; the sign-in page gitea sends a visitor to on the way to
+  the edit page of `document.write.js`; the pages of `java.lang.String.md`,
+  `META-INF/services/org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory`, `process.env.d.ts`
+  and `.../notes.txt`; and one container image push that reuses a layer, which
+  it does not try again. It reports each request the Core Rule Set refuses, so
+  that those requests can be checked again when gitea or the Core Rule Set
+  changes version.
 - Attacks carried in request bodies: not refused by default, since on a code
   forge bodies are full of code the Core Rule Set takes for attacks. Most of
   what shows in URLs and headers is still refused, the client that sends an

internal/bans/admin_test.go

@@ -61,6 +61,59 @@ func TestAdminsBansAreNeverDroppedAndDoNotCountTowardMaxBans(t *testing.T) {
 	wantBans(t, ledger, map[netip.Prefix]int{adminsOnly: 2, both: 1, second: 0, third: 1})
 }
 
+func TestEarlierBansCountABanDroppedAfterAnAdminsBan(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	rules := defaultRules()
+	rules.MaxBans = 2
+	ledger := bans.New(rules)
+	netblock := netip.MustParsePrefix("203.0.113.1/32")
+	other := netip.MustParsePrefix("203.0.113.2/32")
+
+	// An admin bans the netblock for a minute, and it then breaks a limit
+	// twice, each time after its last ban has ended.
+	ledger.BanForAdmin(netblock, midnight(), midnight().Add(time.Minute),
+		"probes for logins")
+	first, _ := ledger.BanForLimit(netblock, midnight().Add(time.Minute), bans.Notes{})
+	second, _ := ledger.BanForLimit(netblock, first.Expires, bans.Notes{})
+
+	// A ban on another netblock fills the ledger, and the netblock's first
+	// ban for a limit, its earliest that is not an admin's, goes.
+	ledger.BanForLimit(other, second.Start, bans.Notes{})
+	wantBans(t, ledger, map[netip.Prefix]int{netblock: 2, other: 1})
+
+	// The netblock's next ban still counts it.
+	third, _ := ledger.BanForLimit(netblock, second.Expires, bans.Notes{})
+	if third.Notes.EarlierBans != (bans.EarlierBans{Limit: 2, Admin: 1}) {
+		t.Errorf("the third ban for a limit has earlier bans %+v, "+
+			"want 2 for a limit and 1 an admin's", third.Notes.EarlierBans)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEarlierBansCountABanAnAdminKeepsOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	ledger := bans.New(defaultRules())
+	netblock := netip.MustParsePrefix("203.0.113.1/32")
+
+	// The netblock breaks a limit twice, the second time after its first
+	// ban has ended, and the second ban's notes count the first. An admin
+	// then keeps the first ban.
+	first, _ := ledger.BanForLimit(netblock, midnight(), bans.Notes{})
+	second, _ := ledger.BanForLimit(netblock, first.Expires, bans.Notes{})
+
+	kept := first
+	kept.Cause = bans.CauseAdmin
+	ledger.LoadEdit([]bans.Ban{kept, second})
+
+	// The netblock's next ban counts the kept ban once, as an admin's.
+	third, _ := ledger.BanForLimit(netblock, second.Expires, bans.Notes{})
+	if third.Notes.EarlierBans != (bans.EarlierBans{Limit: 1, Admin: 1}) {
+		t.Errorf("the third ban for a limit has earlier bans %+v, "+
+			"want 1 for a limit and 1 an admin's", third.Notes.EarlierBans)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestReasonOfTheBansSmallwebwafMakes(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

internal/bans/bans.go

@@ -687,26 +687,51 @@ func (l *Ledger) ban(
 }
 
 // earlierBans returns how many bans a netblock with the bans held, oldest
-// first, has had, by cause: the first ban held counts the bans the
+// first, has had, by cause. Each ban held gives a count: the bans its
-// netblock had before that one, since dropped to make room, and each ban
+// notes count before it, and one for it and each ban held after it. A
-// held adds one.
+// ban's count misses a ban dropped after it to make room, and that of an
+// admin's ban added to bans.json without notes misses the bans before it,
+// so the count that names the most bans is taken, whole: a ban an admin
+// keeps by giving it CauseAdmin is still counted under its old cause in
+// later bans' notes, and taking each cause from another count would count
+// it twice.
 func earlierBans(held []Ban) EarlierBans {
-	earlier := held[0].Notes.EarlierBans
+	// fromHere counts ban and the bans held after it.
+	var most, fromHere EarlierBans
 
-	for _, ban := range held {
+	for _, ban := range slices.Backward(held) {
 		switch ban.Cause {
 		case CauseLimit:
-			earlier.Limit++
+			fromHere.Limit++
 		case CauseAttack:
-			earlier.Attack++
+			fromHere.Attack++
 		case CauseAdmin:
-			earlier.Admin++
+			fromHere.Admin++
 		case CauseCrowdSec:
-			earlier.CrowdSec++
+			fromHere.CrowdSec++
+		}
+
+		notes := ban.Notes.EarlierBans
+		count := EarlierBans{
+			Limit:    notes.Limit + fromHere.Limit,
+			Attack:   notes.Attack + fromHere.Attack,
+			Admin:    notes.Admin + fromHere.Admin,
+			CrowdSec: notes.CrowdSec + fromHere.CrowdSec,
+		}
+
+		// Of counts that name as many bans, the earlier ban's is taken: it
+		// counts more of the bans held by the cause they have now.
+		if count.total() >= most.total() {
+			most = count
 		}
 	}
 
-	return earlier
+	return most
+}
+
+// total returns how many bans e counts, of all causes.
+func (e EarlierBans) total() int {
+	return e.Limit + e.Attack + e.Admin + e.CrowdSec
 }
 
 // markChanged has Changed receive a value, unless one is waiting already.

internal/proxy/bodies.go

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 package proxy
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
+	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"sync/atomic"
 
@@ -211,9 +213,20 @@ func (w *responseWriter) FlushError() error {
 	return err
 }
 
+// Hijack takes over the connection to the client, which ReverseProxy does
+// only to pass on the app's 101 Switching Protocols: that is then the
+// status sent.
+func (w *responseWriter) Hijack() (net.Conn, *bufio.ReadWriter, error) {
+	conn, buffered, err := http.NewResponseController(w.ResponseWriter).Hijack()
+	if err == nil {
+		w.status = http.StatusSwitchingProtocols
+	}
+
+	return conn, buffered, err
+}
+
 // Unwrap lets http.ResponseController reach net/http's own
-// ResponseWriter, which is how ReverseProxy takes over the connection of
+// ResponseWriter for what responseWriter does not do itself.
-// an upgraded request.
 func (w *responseWriter) Unwrap() http.ResponseWriter {
 	return w.ResponseWriter
 }

internal/proxy/coreruleset.go

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import (
 // limit while the Core Rule Set reads it, which it notes nothing of.
 func (rq *request) checkCoreRuleSet() string {
 	cfg := rq.h.config
-	if cfg.WAFMode == config.WAFModeOff || pathExempt(rq.in.URL, cfg.WAFExemptPaths) {
+	if cfg.WAFMode == config.WAFModeOff || pathExempt(rq.in, cfg.WAFExemptPaths) {
 		return ""
 	}
 

internal/proxy/lookup_test.go

@@ -86,6 +86,75 @@ func TestEveryClientIsLookedUpWithoutWaitingWhileNoSettingNeedsIt(t *testing.T)
 	}
 }
 
+func TestRequestThatWaitedForItsLookupIsCountedWhenItGoesOn(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// The country list has a new client's request wait for its answer,
+	// which the stand-in for GeoJS gives only once released.
+	geojsURL, asked, release := startHeldGeoJS(t)
+	app := startApp(t, func(http.ResponseWriter, *http.Request) {})
+	clk := &clock{now: time.Date(2026, 10, 6, 0, 0, 58, 0, time.UTC)}
+	addr, out, server := startProxyWithClock(t, app.URL, geojsURL, clk.Now,
+		map[string]string{
+			trustedProxies:  trustLocalhost,
+			lookupTimeout:   "1h",
+			deniedCountries: "kp",
+		})
+
+	requestFromDE := func() *http.Request {
+		req := newRequest(t, http.MethodGet, addr, "/", http.NoBody)
+		req.Header.Set(forwardedFor, fromDE)
+
+		return req
+	}
+
+	// fromDE's first request arrives two seconds before a minute ends,
+	// and waits for GeoJS.
+	first, httpClient := requestFromDE(), newClient(t)
+	firstEnded := make(chan error, 1)
+
+	go func() {
+		res, err := httpClient.Do(first)
+		if err == nil {
+			err = readAnswer(res).err
+		}
+
+		firstEnded <- err
+	}()
+
+	waitUntil(func() bool { return len(asked()) == 1 })
+
+	// Half a second into the next minute, the answer is kept, as an edit
+	// of lookups.json would keep it, while the first request still waits
+	// for GeoJS. The second request goes on at once, and is counted.
+	clk.advance(2500 * time.Millisecond)
+	server.GeoJS.Load([]lookup.Answer{{
+		Client: netip.MustParsePrefix(fromDE + "/32"), ASN: asnDE, ASName: asNameDE,
+		Country: "DE", Answered: clk.Now(), Used: clk.Now(),
+	}})
+	wantStatus(t, do(t, requestFromDE()), http.StatusOK)
+
+	// GeoJS answers, and the first request goes on.
+	release()
+
+	err := <-firstEnded
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("first request: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	wantLine(t, out.requestLines(t, 2)[1], http.StatusOK, requestlog.ActionForward)
+
+	// The third request's count holds all three: the first was counted
+	// when it went on, in the minute under way, and the second's count
+	// was kept.
+	clk.advance(500 * time.Millisecond)
+	wantStatus(t, do(t, requestFromDE()), http.StatusOK)
+
+	if got := out.requestLines(t, 3)[2].Counts.Minute; got != 3 {
+		t.Errorf("the third request's count in the minute is %v, want 3", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestASNumberAndNameInTheLogLineTheHistoryTheBanNotesAndTheAlert(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

internal/proxy/passthrough_test.go

@@ -74,6 +74,47 @@ func TestPassesRequestAndAnswerUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
 	wantRequestFields(t, line, addr, len(requestBody), len(answerBody))
 }
 
+func TestPassesThePathAsSent(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	for _, path := range []string{
+		// An encoded slash and a character Go escapes: |, ^, and é sent
+		// as its UTF-8 bytes.
+		"/a%2Fb|c", "/feat%2Fx/file^1", "/x%2Fy/café",
+		// A path starting with //, which Go would send as a scheme and
+		// host if it were put in URL.Opaque.
+		"//a%2Fb",
+	} {
+		t.Run(path, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			saw := make(chan string, 1)
+			app := startApp(t, func(_ http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+				saw <- r.RequestURI
+			})
+			addr, out := startProxy(t, app.URL, nil)
+
+			conn := dial(t, addr)
+			send(t, conn, "GET "+path+"?q=1 HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: "+appHost+"\r\n\r\n")
+
+			got := readResponse(t, conn)
+			if got.status != http.StatusOK {
+				t.Fatalf("status %d, want %d", got.status, http.StatusOK)
+			}
+
+			target := <-saw
+			if target != path+"?q=1" {
+				t.Errorf("app saw %s, want %s", target, path+"?q=1")
+			}
+
+			line := out.requestLine(t)
+			if line.Path != path {
+				t.Errorf("log line has path %s, want %s", line.Path, path)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 // wantAppSaw checks that the app received the test's request unchanged.
 func wantAppSaw(t *testing.T, saw appSaw, body []byte) {
 	t.Helper()
@@ -151,6 +192,36 @@ func wantRequestFields(t *testing.T, line logLine, host string, sent, received i
 	}
 }
 
+func TestAddsNoContentTypeTheAppDidNotSend(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	const typed = "text/plain"
+
+	app := startApp(t, func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if r.URL.Path == "/typed" {
+			w.Header().Set("Content-Type", typed)
+		} else {
+			// The key with no value keeps Go's server from adding one.
+			w.Header()["Content-Type"] = nil
+		}
+
+		_, _ = io.WriteString(w, "<!doctype html><title>page</title>")
+	})
+	addr, _ := startProxy(t, app.URL, nil)
+
+	got := get(t, addr, "/")
+	if got.header.Values("Content-Type") != nil {
+		t.Errorf("client got Content-Type %q, want none",
+			got.header.Get("Content-Type"))
+	}
+
+	got = get(t, addr, "/typed")
+	if got.header.Get("Content-Type") != typed {
+		t.Errorf("client got Content-Type %q, want %q",
+			got.header.Get("Content-Type"), typed)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestStreamsTheRequestBody(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
@@ -309,6 +380,23 @@ func echoAfterUpgrade(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestAnswers502WhenTheAppSwitchesToAnotherProtocol(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// answerAfterUpgrade switches to websocket whatever the client asked
+	// for, and ReverseProxy passes on a switch only to the protocol the
+	// client asked for, here "websocket, foo".
+	app := startApp(t, answerAfterUpgrade)
+	addr, out := startProxy(t, app.URL, nil)
+
+	conn := dial(t, addr)
+	send(t, conn, "GET /ws HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: app\r\n"+
+		"Connection: Upgrade\r\nUpgrade: websocket, foo\r\n\r\n")
+
+	wantStatus(t, readResponse(t, conn), http.StatusBadGateway)
+	wantLine(t, out.requestLine(t), http.StatusBadGateway, requestlog.ActionUpstreamError)
+}
+
 func TestServerHasTheDefaultLimits(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

internal/proxy/ratelimits_test.go

@@ -185,6 +185,9 @@ func TestRateLimitCountsPathsThatAreNotExempt(t *testing.T) {
 		"/assets/x%2Fy",
 		"/assets/x%2fy",
 		`/assets/x\y`,
+		// The same with a character Go escapes, |, for which Go's
+		// URL.EscapedPath gives /assets/x/y%7Cz, with no encoded slash.
+		"/assets/x%2Fy|z",
 	} {
 		t.Run(sent, func(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Parallel()

internal/proxy/request.go

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"net/http/httptrace"
 	"net/http/httputil"
 	"net/netip"
-	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
@@ -22,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"sneak.berlin/go/smallwebwaf/internal/lookup"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/smallwebwaf/internal/ratelimit"
 	"sneak.berlin/go/smallwebwaf/internal/requestlog"
+	"sneak.berlin/go/smallwebwaf/internal/rules"
 )
 
 // flushAfterEachWrite has ReverseProxy pass on each part of the app's
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func (h *handler) newRequest(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) *request {
 			Method:           r.Method,
 			Scheme:           scheme(r, peerTrusted),
 			Host:             r.Host,
-			Path:             r.URL.EscapedPath(),
+			Path:             rules.Path(r),
 			Query:            r.URL.RawQuery,
 			Protocol:         r.Proto,
 			Referer:          r.Referer(),
@@ -261,6 +261,12 @@ func (rq *request) checkClient(ctx context.Context) string {
 
 	rq.lookUp(ctx)
 
+	// The lookup can wait for GeoJS, so the checks after it read the time
+	// again: a request counted at the time it arrived could be counted
+	// after a later one of its client's, which the rate limits would take
+	// for the clock set back.
+	now = rq.h.now()
+
 	if rq.countryDenied() {
 		return requestlog.ActionCountryDenied
 	}
@@ -278,7 +284,7 @@ func (rq *request) checkClient(ctx context.Context) string {
 	}
 
 	rq.counted = !isInside(rq.client, cfg.RateLimitExemptNets) &&
-		!pathExempt(rq.in.URL, cfg.RateLimitExemptPaths)
+		!pathExempt(rq.in, cfg.RateLimitExemptPaths)
 	if rq.counted {
 		rq.limitPercent, rq.bytesPercent = rq.limitPercentages()
 		rq.line.LimitPercent, rq.line.LimitPercentSetting = rq.limitPercent.logged()
@@ -301,7 +307,7 @@ func (rq *request) checkClient(ctx context.Context) string {
 	return rq.checkCoreRuleSet()
 }
 
-// pathExempt reports whether a request for u is exempt under prefixes,
+// pathExempt reports whether r is exempt under prefixes,
 // SWWAF_RATE_LIMIT_EXEMPT_PATHS or SWWAF_WAF_EXEMPT_PATHS: whether its
 // path as sent, the path the app receives, not percent-decoded, starts
 // with one of prefixes, so that /%61ssets/x is not under /assets/ for an
@@ -310,10 +316,9 @@ func (rq *request) checkClient(ctx context.Context) string {
 // encoded slash (%2F or %2f), never is, since an app may act on it as a
 // path outside every prefix: /assets/..%2Flogin as /login, or /assets%2Fx
 // as one path segment, as Go's router does.
-func pathExempt(u *url.URL, prefixes []string) bool {
+func pathExempt(r *http.Request, prefixes []string) bool {
-	decoded := u.Path
+	decoded := r.URL.Path
-	// EscapedPath is the path as the app receives it, not decoded.
+	sent := rules.Path(r)
-	sent := u.EscapedPath()
 
 	if strings.Contains(decoded, "..") || strings.Contains(decoded, `\`) ||
 		strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(sent), "%2f") {
@@ -369,6 +374,17 @@ func (rq *request) rewrite(pr *httputil.ProxyRequest) {
 	// ReverseProxy drops query parameters it cannot parse; the app gets
 	// the query as the client sent it.
 	pr.Out.URL.RawQuery = pr.In.URL.RawQuery
+	// ReverseProxy sends the path URL.EscapedPath gives, which, for a path
+	// holding a character Go escapes, such as |, is the whole path decoded
+	// and escaped again, %2F turned into /. Opaque is sent as it is, so the
+	// app gets the path as the client sent it. Left out are a target that
+	// is no path, such as *, and a path starting with //, which Go would
+	// send in Opaque as a scheme and host.
+	path := rules.Path(pr.In)
+	if strings.HasPrefix(path, "/") && !strings.HasPrefix(path, "//") {
+		pr.Out.URL.Opaque = path
+	}
+
 	setForwardedHeaders(pr.In, pr.Out, rq.peer, rq.peerTrusted)
 	pr.Out.Header.Set(requestIDHeader, rq.line.RequestID)
 	pr.Out.Header.Del(asnHeader)
@@ -389,8 +405,10 @@ func (rq *request) modifyResponse(res *http.Response) error {
 		// timeouts. ReverseProxy writes this answer straight to the
 		// connection it takes over, not through rq.out, and then copies
 		// what passes each way through res.Body, the connection to the app.
+		// It may still refuse the switch, as when the app's Upgrade is not
+		// the client's, so the status is noted only once it has taken over
+		// the connection, by rq.out's Hijack.
 		rq.stopTimers()
-		rq.out.status = res.StatusCode
 		rq.line.Websocket = true
 
 		conn, ok := res.Body.(io.ReadWriteCloser)
@@ -413,6 +431,13 @@ func (rq *request) modifyResponse(res *http.Response) error {
 		return errResponseTooLarge
 	}
 
+	// Go's server adds a Content-Type it guesses from the body to a
+	// response whose headers have no Content-Type key. The key with no
+	// value sends none, as the app sent none.
+	if res.Header.Get("Content-Type") == "" {
+		rq.out.Header()["Content-Type"] = nil
+	}
+
 	res.Body = &responseBody{body: limitBody(res.Body, maxBytes), rq: rq}
 	rq.startClientResponseTimeout()
 
@@ -422,6 +447,13 @@ func (rq *request) modifyResponse(res *http.Response) error {
 // answerError is ReverseProxy's ErrorHandler: the request could not be
 // passed to the app, or the app's answer cannot be passed on.
 func (rq *request) answerError(_ http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request, err error) {
+	if rq.upgraded != nil {
+		// The app switched protocols, but the switch was not passed on,
+		// and ReverseProxy leaves the app's connection open when it
+		// refuses it.
+		_ = rq.upgraded.Close()
+	}
+
 	refused := rq.refused.Load()
 	if refused == nil {
 		if rq.in.Context().Err() != nil {
@@ -704,6 +736,16 @@ func (rq *request) requestTimedOut(limit string) {
 	}
 
 	if rq.body == nil || !rq.body.waiting.Load() {
+		// Once the app has answered, the transport, ReverseProxy and Go's
+		// server each close the client's body, and closing it reads what
+		// is left of a body under 256 KiB without requestBody.Read, so
+		// waiting is false while that read waits for the client. That
+		// read ends now, before refuse: should smallwebwaf still answer
+		// itself, answer then sets the deadline it gives its own answers.
+		if !rq.answerStarted.IsZero() {
+			rq.stopReadingBody(time.Now())
+		}
+
 		rq.refuse(refusal{
 			status: http.StatusGatewayTimeout,
 			action: requestlog.ActionTimedOut,
@@ -789,9 +831,19 @@ func (rq *request) responseTimedOut() {
 	}
 }
 
-// responseReceived is called once the app has sent its whole answer.
+// responseReceived is called once the app has sent its whole answer. An
+// app may answer before the client has sent its whole body, as with a 404
+// it sends without reading it. The timeouts then run on: until the
+// transport's read of the body returns, Go's server cannot send the
+// answer, and SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT is what ends that read for a
+// client that stops sending.
 func (rq *request) responseReceived() {
 	rq.complete = true
+
+	if rq.body != nil && !rq.body.received.Load() {
+		return
+	}
+
 	rq.stopTimers()
 }
 

internal/proxy/request_internal_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+package proxy
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"testing"
+
+	"sneak.berlin/go/smallwebwaf/internal/config"
+)
+
+func TestAnAnswerWithoutAContentTypeGetsNone(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(
+		func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+			rq := &request{
+				h:   &handler{config: &config.Config{}},
+				out: &responseWriter{ResponseWriter: w},
+			}
+			app := &http.Response{
+				StatusCode: http.StatusOK,
+				Header:     http.Header{},
+				Body:       http.NoBody,
+			}
+
+			err := rq.modifyResponse(app)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("modifyResponse: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			// The headers go out with this, the first part of the body,
+			// which Go's server would guess a Content-Type from.
+			_, _ = io.WriteString(w, "<!doctype html><title>page</title>")
+		}))
+	t.Cleanup(srv.Close)
+
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(t.Context(), http.MethodGet, srv.URL,
+		http.NoBody)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("new request: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	res, err := srv.Client().Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_ = res.Body.Close()
+
+	if res.Header.Values("Content-Type") != nil {
+		t.Errorf("client got Content-Type %q, want none",
+			res.Header.Get("Content-Type"))
+	}
+}

internal/proxy/timeouts_test.go

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
@@ -194,6 +195,151 @@ func sendLargeBody(t *testing.T, addr string) net.Conn {
 	return conn
 }
 
+func TestClientStopsSendingAfterTheAppHasAnswered(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// answeredAt is when the app answered, or nil if the bytes the client
+	// sent never reached it.
+	var answeredAt atomic.Pointer[time.Time]
+
+	// The app answers without reading the whole body, as an app does for
+	// a path it does not serve, and only once smallwebwaf waits for the
+	// rest of it: the app takes the bytes the client sent, and then waits
+	// half the timeout, far longer than smallwebwaf takes to go on to
+	// wait.
+	app := startApp(t, func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		_, err := io.ReadFull(r.Body, make([]byte, len("the first bytes")))
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+
+		time.Sleep(shortTimeout / 2)
+		answeredAt.Store(new(time.Now()))
+		http.NotFound(w, r)
+	})
+	addr, out := startProxy(t, app.URL, map[string]string{
+		clientRequestTimeout: shortTimeoutSetting,
+		metricsToken:         token,
+	})
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	got := readResponse(t, sendPartOfBody(t, addr))
+	wantTimedOut(t, start)
+
+	// Close returns once the app has finished with the request.
+	app.Close()
+
+	// The app's answer came before the time ran out, so the client is
+	// sent that answer, not smallwebwaf's 408. Only a hold-up of the test
+	// process can make it come later, and SPEC.md then asks for 408, as
+	// smallwebwaf was waiting for the client, or for 504 if the bytes the
+	// client sent had not reached the app.
+	at := answeredAt.Load()
+	want := http.StatusNotFound
+
+	switch {
+	case at == nil:
+		want = http.StatusGatewayTimeout
+	case at.Sub(start) >= shortTimeout:
+		want = http.StatusRequestTimeout
+	}
+
+	wantStatus(t, got, want)
+	wantLine(t, out.requestLine(t), want, requestlog.ActionTimedOut)
+	wantLimitHits(t, addr, clientRequestTimeout, 1)
+}
+
+func TestClientStopsSendingWithLittleOfItsBodyLeft(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name string
+		// limit is the setting set to shortTimeout, which runs out, and
+		// clientTimeout what SWWAF_CLIENT_REQUEST_TIMEOUT is set to when it
+		// is not limit.
+		limit, clientTimeout string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:  "client request timeout",
+			limit: clientRequestTimeout,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "upstream request timeout, client request timeout off",
+			limit:         upstreamRequestTimeout,
+			clientTimeout: off,
+		},
+		{
+			name:          "upstream request timeout, client request timeout longer",
+			limit:         upstreamRequestTimeout,
+			clientTimeout: longTimeoutSetting,
+		},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			// appClosed is closed once smallwebwaf has closed its
+			// connection to the app, which it does once it has the app's
+			// answer.
+			appClosed := make(chan struct{})
+
+			// The app answers without reading the rest of the body, and
+			// says it closes the connection, only once smallwebwaf waits
+			// for the client to send more: it takes the bytes the client
+			// sent, and then waits half the timeout, far longer than
+			// smallwebwaf takes to go on to wait.
+			app := startApp(t, func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+				conn, buf, err := http.NewResponseController(w).Hijack()
+				if err != nil {
+					return
+				}
+
+				_, _ = io.ReadFull(buf.Reader, make([]byte, len("the first bytes")))
+
+				time.Sleep(shortTimeout / 2)
+
+				_, _ = buf.WriteString("HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found\r\n" +
+					"Content-Length: 0\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n")
+				_ = buf.Flush()
+				_, _ = io.Copy(io.Discard, buf.Reader)
+				_ = conn.Close()
+
+				close(appClosed)
+			})
+
+			env := map[string]string{tc.limit: shortTimeoutSetting, metricsToken: token}
+			if tc.clientTimeout != "" {
+				env[clientRequestTimeout] = tc.clientTimeout
+			}
+
+			addr, out := startProxy(t, app.URL, env)
+
+			// Less than 256 KiB of the body is left after the first bytes,
+			// little enough for Go's server in smallwebwaf to read the rest
+			// itself before it sends the app's answer.
+			start := time.Now()
+			conn := dial(t, addr)
+			send(t, conn, "POST /upload HTTP/1.1\r\nHost: app\r\nContent-Length: 200000\r\n\r\n"+
+				"the first bytes")
+
+			select {
+			case <-appClosed:
+			case <-time.After(waitLimit):
+				t.Fatal("smallwebwaf did not close its connection to the app")
+			}
+
+			// More of the body, which can no longer go to the app, and then
+			// nothing.
+			send(t, conn, strings.Repeat("x", 8<<10))
+
+			got := readResponse(t, conn)
+			wantTimedOut(t, start)
+			wantStatus(t, got, http.StatusNotFound)
+			wantLine(t, out.requestLine(t), http.StatusNotFound, requestlog.ActionTimedOut)
+			wantLimitHits(t, addr, tc.limit, 1)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAppTooSlowToAnswer(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

internal/state/state.go

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ var (
 	// errMissing is for an entry without a field it needs.
 	errMissing     = errors.New("has no")
 	errCause       = errors.New("is not limit, attack, admin or crowdsec")
+	errExpires     = errors.New("is not after its start")
 	errDestination = errors.New("is not webhook, slack or ntfy")
 	errScope       = errors.New("is not client, net, asn, total or watch")
 	errWaitingList = errors.New(`waiting is a list, but now lists the alerts by ` +
@@ -646,8 +647,10 @@ func (e BanEntry) ban() bans.Ban {
 // client, a start, from which the length of the netblock's next ban is
 // worked out, or an expires, which would make it permanent. A permanent
 // ban's expires is null, which Bans cannot tell from a missing one, so
-// each expires is read again as written. A cause other than limit,
+// each expires is read again as written. An expires not after the start
-// attack, admin or crowdsec, most likely misspelt, is refused too.
+// is refused too, since the netblock's next ban for a broken limit, three
+// times as long as this one, would then refuse nothing; and so is a cause
+// other than limit, attack, admin or crowdsec, most likely misspelt.
 func (f *bansFile) check(data []byte) error {
 	var written struct {
 		Bans []struct {
@@ -668,6 +671,8 @@ func (f *bansFile) check(data []byte) error {
 			return missing(i, "start")
 		case written.Bans[i].Expires == nil:
 			return missing(i, "expires")
+		case entry.Expires != nil && !entry.Expires.After(entry.Start):
+			return fmt.Errorf("entry %d's expires %w", i+1, errExpires)
 		case entry.Cause != "" && entry.Cause != bans.CauseLimit &&
 			entry.Cause != bans.CauseAttack && entry.Cause != bans.CauseAdmin &&
 			entry.Cause != bans.CauseCrowdSec:

internal/state/state_test.go

@@ -865,6 +865,21 @@ func TestBanWithAnotherCauseStopsTheStart(t *testing.T) {
 		`: entry 4's cause "atack" is not limit, attack, admin or crowdsec`)
 }
 
+func TestBanThatDoesNotEndAfterItsStartStopsTheStart(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// The first ban ends a second after its start; the second ends as it
+	// starts, or an hour before.
+	for _, expires := range []string{`"2026-10-06T00:00:00Z"`, `"2026-10-05T23:00:00Z"`} {
+		wantRefused(t, bansJSON, `{"version": 1, "bans": [`+
+			`{"netblock": "203.0.113.9/32", "start": "2026-10-06T00:00:00Z", `+
+			`"expires": "2026-10-06T00:00:01Z"}, `+
+			`{"netblock": "203.0.113.10/32", "start": "2026-10-06T00:00:00Z", `+
+			`"expires": `+expires+`}]}`,
+			`: entry 2's expires is not after its start`)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestUnknownVersionStopsTheStart(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

script/example-app

@@ -5,12 +5,15 @@
 # served through smallwebwaf, that a second one in a minute bans the
 # client, that a probe for /.env bans another client, which its next
 # request bans for good, that `sv stop` stops smallwebwaf in order, that
-# `docker stop` stops the container without having to kill it, and that
+# `docker stop` stops the container without having to kill it, that a
-# a new container on the same volume still refuses the banned client. The
+# new container on the same volume still refuses the banned client, that
+# a container with its state files on a new volume mounted at the
+# directory SWWAF_STATE_DIR_FILE names becomes healthy, and that one whose
+# SWWAF_STATE_DIR does not exist logs smallwebwaf's message about it. The
 # containers run with SWWAF_LOOKUP_SOURCE=off, so that no address is sent
-# to GeoJS. The containers, the volume and both images are removed however
+# to GeoJS. The containers, the volumes and both images are removed
-# the script ends. Building the app needs network access, for nixpkgs'
+# however the script ends. Building the app needs network access, for
-# binary cache. script/check does not run this.
+# nixpkgs' binary cache. script/check does not run this.
 set -eu
 
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd -P)"
@@ -23,10 +26,15 @@ IMAGE="$NAME-base"
 APP_IMAGE="$NAME-app"
 CONTAINER="$NAME"
 VOLUME="$NAME-state"
+# The volumes of the container whose state directory SWWAF_STATE_DIR_FILE
+# names: its state files, and the file that names their directory.
+MOVED_VOLUME="$NAME-moved-state"
+SETTINGS_VOLUME="$NAME-settings"
 
 cleanup() {
     docker rm --force "$CONTAINER" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-    docker volume rm --force "$VOLUME" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    docker volume rm --force "$VOLUME" "$MOVED_VOLUME" "$SETTINGS_VOLUME" \
+        >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
     docker rmi --force "$APP_IMAGE" "$IMAGE" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 }
 
@@ -76,6 +84,27 @@ start_container() {
     address="$(docker port "$CONTAINER" 8080/tcp)"
 }
 
+# start_moved_container: run the app's container with the state files on
+# a new volume at /srv/state, which SWWAF_STATE_DIR_FILE names in a file
+# only the smallwebwaf user can read, as under "Settings given as files"
+# in README.md, and wait until it is healthy. smallwebwaf can write the
+# new volume only once the run script has given it to that user.
+start_moved_container() {
+    docker volume create "$MOVED_VOLUME" >/dev/null
+    docker volume create "$SETTINGS_VOLUME" >/dev/null
+    docker run --rm --volume "$SETTINGS_VOLUME:/settings" \
+        --entrypoint bash "$IMAGE" -c 'echo /srv/state > /settings/state-dir &&
+            chown smallwebwaf:smallwebwaf /settings/state-dir &&
+            chmod 0400 /settings/state-dir'
+    docker run --detach --name "$CONTAINER" \
+        --volume "$MOVED_VOLUME:/srv/state" \
+        --volume "$SETTINGS_VOLUME:/etc/smallwebwaf/settings:ro" \
+        --env SWWAF_STATE_DIR_FILE=/etc/smallwebwaf/settings/state-dir \
+        --env SWWAF_LOOKUP_SOURCE=off \
+        "$APP_IMAGE" >/dev/null
+    wait_for "the health check did not pass" healthy
+}
+
 # refused: a request to the container gets 403, SWWAF_BAN_RESPONSE's
 # default.
 refused() {
@@ -140,6 +169,20 @@ main() {
     wait_for "smallwebwaf logged no request refused under the ban" \
         logged '"action":"banned"'
     echo "example-app: a new container on the same volume keeps the ban"
+
+    docker rm --force "$CONTAINER" >/dev/null
+    start_moved_container
+    echo "example-app: the run script gives the state files' directory named" \
+        "by SWWAF_STATE_DIR_FILE to the smallwebwaf user"
+
+    docker rm --force "$CONTAINER" >/dev/null
+    docker run --detach --name "$CONTAINER" \
+        --env SWWAF_STATE_DIR=/srv/missing \
+        --env SWWAF_LOOKUP_SOURCE=off \
+        "$APP_IMAGE" >/dev/null
+    wait_for "smallwebwaf did not report the missing state directory" \
+        logged "SWWAF_STATE_DIR cannot be written"
+    echo "example-app: smallwebwaf reports a state directory that does not exist"
 }
 
 main "$@"

script/gitea-requests

@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@
 # did with it and the ids of the Core Rule Set's rules that matched it.
 # Every request comes from one client, docker's gateway, so more than
 # SWWAF_ERROR_BURST_THRESHOLD, 30, refusals in a minute would ban it, and
-# the requests after would show as banned. The containers, the network, the images and the files the script makes
+# the requests after would show as banned. The containers, the network,
-# are removed however it ends; gitea's own image stays, as the base images
+# the images and the files the script makes are removed however it ends;
-# of a build do. It needs network access, and a docker daemon that pushes
+# gitea's own image stays, as the base images of a build do. It needs
-# to a registry on localhost over plain HTTP, as docker does by default.
+# network access, and a docker daemon that pushes to a registry on
-# script/check does not run this.
+# localhost over plain HTTP, as docker does by default. script/check does
+# not run this.
 set -eu
 
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd -P)"
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@ WORK=""
 address=""
 
 cleanup() {
+    # So that a signal cannot stop it partway through.
+    trap '' HUP INT TERM
     docker rm --force --volumes "$SMALLWEBWAF" "$GITEA" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
     docker network rm "$NETWORK" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
     docker rmi --force "$IMAGE" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
@@ -241,8 +244,11 @@ push_images() {
         docker import - "$address/owner/python3-app:1" >/dev/null
     docker tag "$address/owner/python3-app:1" "$address/owner/app:1"
 
-    echo "$PASSWORD" | DOCKER_CONFIG="$WORK/docker" docker login --username owner \
+    # The login is written here rather than made with docker login, which
-        --password-stdin "$address" >/dev/null 2>&1 || fail "docker login failed"
+    # would keep it in the host's credential helper when it has one.
+    mkdir "$WORK/docker"
+    printf '{"auths":{"%s":{"auth":"%s"}}}\n' "$address" \
+        "$(printf 'owner:%s' "$PASSWORD" | base64)" >"$WORK/docker/config.json"
     for image in "$address/owner/python3-app:1" "$address/owner/app:1"; do
         DOCKER_CONFIG="$WORK/docker" docker push --quiet "$image" >/dev/null ||
             echo "gitea-requests: the push of $image failed" >&2

share/smallwebwaf.run

@@ -5,12 +5,32 @@ set -euo pipefail
 # exits; the wait spaces out the restarts. The state directory and every
 # file in it are given to the smallwebwaf user, so that a volume mounted
 # there needs no change of owner; chown -R changes a symbolic link itself,
-# never what it points to. exec, so that the signal `sv stop` sends
+# never what it points to. When SWWAF_STATE_DIR, in either form, cannot be
-# reaches smallwebwaf itself.
+# read or is not the absolute path of a directory, no owner is changed,
+# and smallwebwaf starts and stops with a message naming the setting. A
+# change of owner that fails, as on a volume mounted read-only, does not
+# end the script either: smallwebwaf reports a directory it cannot write.
+# exec, so that the signal `sv stop` sends reaches smallwebwaf itself.
 main() {
     sleep 1
-    chown -R smallwebwaf:smallwebwaf "${SWWAF_STATE_DIR:-/var/lib/smallwebwaf}"
+    local dir
+    if dir="$(state_dir)" && [[ "$dir" == /* && -d "$dir" ]]; then
+        chown -R smallwebwaf:smallwebwaf "$dir" || true
+    fi
     exec chpst -u smallwebwaf:smallwebwaf /usr/local/bin/smallwebwaf
 }
 
+# state_dir prints SWWAF_STATE_DIR, /var/lib/smallwebwaf when it is unset,
+# or what is in the file SWWAF_STATE_DIR_FILE names, less every newline at
+# its end. It fails when both are set or the file cannot be read.
+state_dir() {
+    if [[ ! -v SWWAF_STATE_DIR_FILE ]]; then
+        printf '%s\n' "${SWWAF_STATE_DIR-/var/lib/smallwebwaf}"
+    elif [[ ! -v SWWAF_STATE_DIR ]]; then
+        cat -- "$SWWAF_STATE_DIR_FILE" 2>/dev/null
+    else
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
 main "$@"