Ignore getaddr messages on Outbound connections.

The only time when a client sends a "getaddr" message is when he
esatblishes an Outbound connection (see ProcessMessage() in
src/main.cpp).  Another bitcoin client is expected to receive a
"getaddr" message only on Inbound connection. Ignoring "gettaddr"
requests on Outbound connections can resolve potential privacy issues
(and as was said such request normally do not happen anyway).

1 files changed, 6 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 27c427f7cd..a30084a75b 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -4008,7 +4008,12 @@ bool static ProcessMessage(CNode* pfrom, string strCommand, CDataStream& vRecv,
     }
 
 
-    else if (strCommand == "getaddr")
+    // This asymmetric behavior for inbound and outbound connections was introduced
+    // to prevent a fingerprinting attack: an attacker can send specific fake addresses
+    // to users' AddrMan and later request them by sending getaddr messages. 
+    // Making users (which are behind NAT and can only make outgoing connections) ignore 
+    // getaddr message mitigates the attack.
+    else if ((strCommand == "getaddr") && (pfrom->fInbound))
     {
         pfrom->vAddrToSend.clear();
         vector<CAddress> vAddr = addrman.GetAddr();