Subhra Mazumdar [ARCHIVE] on Nostr: 📅 Original date posted:2020-04-13 📝 Original message: Ok got it. Sorry I missed ...
📅 Original date posted:2020-04-13
📝 Original message:
Ok got it. Sorry I missed out the points stated by you.
On Mon, Apr 13, 2020 at 9:13 AM ZmnSCPxj <ZmnSCPxj at protonmail.com> wrote:
> Good morning Subhra,
>
>
> > Ok. But this is a worse situation where C pays money to D but bound to
> keep its resource locked for a longer duration, unlike D not responding and
> C being able to unlock after the elapse of lock time.
>
> It is exactly the griefing attack scenario: it is the lock time at D that
> is the problem.
> As such, it is not "worse", it is ***exactly*** the griefing attack
> scenario.
>
> C cannot unlock until 144 blocks, so D can delay its response for up to
> 143 blocks without any effect on its channels, this is *exactly* the
> griefing attack.
>
> Regards,
> ZmnSCPxj
>
> >
> > On Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 08:21 ZmnSCPxj <ZmnSCPxj at protonmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Good morning Subhra,
> > >
> > > > Hello,
> > > > So based on what you have stated as possible scenario of
> griefing attack, does delay in providing the preimage also counted as a
> form of griefing in htlc? Like given the path A->B->C->D, what if C and D
> has a lock time of 144 blocks and D responds after 142 block time elapses,
> claiming the money locked with D?
> > >
> > > That ***is*** the griefing attack.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > ZmnSCPxj
> > >
> > > >
> > > > On Wed, Apr 1, 2020, 11:49 ZmnSCPxj via Lightning-dev <
> lightning-dev at lists.linuxfoundation.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Introduction
> > > > > ============
> > > > >
> > > > > Given the fact that contracts on offchain protocols need to be
> enforceable onchain as well, timelocks involved in multi-hop payments are
> measured in blocks.
> > > > > This is because the blockchain can only (third-party-verifiably)
> enforce timeouts in units of entire blocks.
> > > > > This leads to very long timeouts for payment delivery, thus
> multi-hop offchain payment attempts can be, deliberately or accidentally,
> be in a "pending" state up to the very large timeouts involved.
> > > > >
> > > > > Deliberately setting up a multi-hop payment such that it will be
> in a "pending" state for long periods of time is colloquially known as a
> "griefing attack".
> > > > > In this article, we assess various proposed solutions to mitigate
> the effects of griefing attacks, and propose a particular solution,
> proof-of-closure, as well, that requires significant changes to the update
> state machine.
> > > > >
> > > > > Digression: Why Grief?
> > > > > ======================
> > > > >
> > > > > Before embarking on our investigation for solutions to the
> griefing problem, we should first wonder if griefing is, in fact, a problem.
> > > > >
> > > > > This brings up the question of: why would anybody grief at all?
> > > > >
> > > > > Humans, like cats and other less-sapient pieces of walking meat,
> often find enjoyment in causing the suffering of others for no immediate
> direct gain to themselves, as a public demonstration of dominance over
> those they make suffer (aka "shits and giggles", which, if executed
> correctly, can lead to eventual direct gains to themselves or their progeny
> or relatives or allies, but such details are often outside the ken of the
> very beings who execute such survival strategies: brains are pieces of meat
> that have been hacked to act as action-reaction engines, but are not
> sophisticated enough to execute as pure rationality engines at all times).
> > > > > Fortunately, in the Bitcoin world, only purely rational beings of
> pure selfishness can exist in the long run, thus we can neglect such
> motivations as mere noise.
> > > > >
> > > > > First, let us investigate *how* griefing attacks can be performed.
> > > > >
> > > > > * An intermediate node in a multi-hop attempt can delay forwarding
> or failing an incoming HTLC.
> > > > > * A final node in a payment attempt can delay claiming an incoming
> HTLC.
> > > > >
> > > > > Let us consider a purely rational intermediate node of pure
> selfishness:
> > > > >
> > > > > * If it forwards as soon as possible, it can earn fees, and also
> speed up the release of the HTLC-locked funds so that they can reuse those
> funds as liquidity for further payment attempts.
> > > > > * Thus, delaying an HTLC is not selfishly-rational for an
> intermediate node.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, for an intermediate node, it seems there is no
> selfishly-rational motivation to execute a griefing attack on an arbitrary
> payment attempt.
> > > > > We can then conclude that an intermediate that delays a payment
> would do so, not of its own rational self-interest, but as an accident,
> such as an unforeseen connectivity or power failure.
> > > > >
> > > > > However, things are different when we consider a non-arbitrary
> payment.
> > > > > Suppose a node were to make a payment attempt to itself, and
> deliberately delay claiming this self-payment.
> > > > > This lets any single node, *who happens to own large liquidity*,
> to lock up the liquidity of other nodes.
> > > > >
> > > > > The motivation to lock up the liquidity of other nodes is to
> *eliminate competition*.
> > > > > Suppose we have a network as below:
> > > > >
> > > > > A -- B -- C
> > > > > \ /
> > > > > \ /
> > > > > \ /
> > > > > E
> > > > >
> > > > > When A and C want to transact with one another, they may choose to
> route via either B or E.
> > > > > B and E are therefore competitors in the business of forwarding
> payments.
> > > > >
> > > > > But suppose E has much larger channels AE and CE than the channels
> of AB and CB.
> > > > > For example, suppose E has 100mBTC perfectly-balanced channels
> while B has only 10mBTC perfectly-balanced channels, as all things should
> be in simplified models of reality.
> > > > > E can then "take out the competition" by making a 5mBTC
> self-payment along E->A->B->C->E and a 5mBTC self-payment along
> E->C->B->A->E, then refusing to claim the payment, tying up all the
> liquidity of the channels of B.
> > > > > By doing so, it can ensure that A and C will always fail to pay
> via B, even if they wish to transact in amounts less than 5mBTC.
> > > > > E thereby eliminates B as a competitor.
> > > > >
> > > > > This demonstrates that griefing attacks will be motivated, such
> that such attacks will be performed by payers and payees *against
> intermediate nodes*.
> > > > > Intermediate nodes have no motivation to attack payers and payees
> (those are their potential customers in the business of forwarding
> payments, and attacking potential customers is bad business: such attacking
> intermediate nodes will be removed economically in the long run).
> > > > > However, payers and payees can become motivated to attack
> intermediate nodes, if the "payer" and "payee" are actually competitor
> intermediate nodes.
> > > > >
> > > > > (We can observe that this is always a possibility even outside of
> Lightning: a service or product provider has no incentive to attack its
> customers ("the customer is always right"), but have an incentive to
> *pretend* to be a customer of a competitor and attack them.)
> > > > >
> > > > > We will keep this fact in mind: active griefing attacks are
> attacks *on* intermediate nodes, not *by* intermediate nodes, because there
> is no economic incentive for intermediate nodes to attack their customers.
> > > > >
> > > > > Previous Proposed Solutions
> > > > > ===========================
> > > > >
> > > > > Time-Spent Reporting
> > > > > --------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > At each channel along the route, the time spent by a node to
> handle its forwarding is recorded, and reported upstream in the route.
> > > > >
> > > > > Unfortunately, this solution protects payers from intermediate
> nodes and payees: it does not protect intermediate nodes from colluding
> payers and payees.
> > > > > Even if an intermediate node knows that a particular node is
> consistently slow via a previous time-spent report, it will not be able,
> with our current onion routing, determine if an onion packet it just
> received will or will not go through the known-slow node.
> > > > > Thus, an intermediate node would not be able to defend against
> distant payees that, with a colluding payer, will not claim a particular
> payment.
> > > > >
> > > > > As we have established, an active griefing atttack will never be
> deliberately performed by a selfishly-rational intermediate node.
> > > > > Thus, this solution protects against the wrong thing: it protects
> payers against slow/unreliable intermediate nodes, it does not protect
> intermediate nodes against malicious payer/payee collusions.
> > > > > It protects only against intermediate nodes that inadvertently go
> offline during forwarding, but such nodes will inevitably lose out on the
> forwarding market anyway, and will disappear in the long run.
> > > > >
> > > > > Up-Front Payment
> > > > > ----------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Payers pay for an attempt, not just the successful completion of
> an attempt.
> > > > >
> > > > > A variation on this is that the payer (or payee) continuously pays
> as long as the payment is pending.
> > > > > Further variations include paying by other means, such as just
> locking funds or paying with proof-of-work.
> > > > >
> > > > > While it certainly erects economic barriers against payer/payee
> collusions attacking intermediate nodes, it *also* erects economic barriers
> against normal, non-malicious payments.
> > > > >
> > > > > We can consider that economic barriers against non-malicious,
> low-value, high-frequency payments ("micropayments") may be enough that
> such payments become infeasible if we impose up-front payment for mere
> attempts.
> > > > > Thus, while this solution is certainly something we can consider,
> we must be reluctant to use it due to its up-front, strict-evaluation
> behavior.
> > > > >
> > > > > Proof-Of-Closure
> > > > > ================
> > > > >
> > > > > Observing the above, we want the properties for a "good" solution
> to griefing attacks to be:
> > > > >
> > > > > * It should protect intermediate nodes against payer/payee
> collusions.
> > > > > * It should only come into play upon detection of an attack.
> > > > >
> > > > > We now present proof-of-closure, which (we hope) has the above
> properties.
> > > > >
> > > > > We can consider instead a softer timeout, distinct from the HTLC
> block-based timeout.
> > > > > This softer timeout is measurable in fractions of a second, e.g.
> units of 0.1 seconds.
> > > > >
> > > > > Each node on the network advertises, in addition to a block-based
> `cltv_delta`, a `timeout_delta` in units of 0.1 seconds.
> > > > > Further, each invoice contains, in addition to a block-based
> `final_cltv`, a `final_timeout` in units of 0.1 seconds.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, there are two timeouts:
> > > > >
> > > > > * The current "hard" block-based timeout that is enforceable
> onchain.
> > > > > * A new "soft" sidereal-time-based timeout that is not onchain
> enforceable.
> > > > >
> > > > > The soft timeout, as mentioned, is not enforceable onchain.
> > > > > Instead, enforcement of the soft timeout *is* the act of putting
> the channel state onchain.
> > > > >
> > > > > Now, for the current "hard" block-based timeout, we already have a
> reaction.
> > > > > If the HTLC "hard" timeout is approaching:
> > > > >
> > > > > * Drop the channel onchain and enforce the hard timeout onchain to
> reclaim the funds in the HTLCs.
> > > > > * Wait for the onchain action to be deeply resolved (either
> timelock or hashlock branch is confirmed deeply) and report the result
> (success or fail) upstream.
> > > > >
> > > > > What happens if the "soft" timeout is violated?
> > > > >
> > > > > * Drop the channel onchain.
> > > > > * Report the channel closure upstream.
> > > > >
> > > > > The "hard" timeout is cancelled in any of these two conditions:
> > > > >
> > > > > * A success is reported via `update_fulfill_htlc`, OR,
> > > > > * A failure is reported via `update_fail_htlc` AND the HTLC is
> irrevocably removed from the latest commitments/state(s) of the channel.
> > > > >
> > > > > The "soft" timeout is cancelled in any of these three conditions,
> the first two of which are the same as above:
> > > > >
> > > > > * A success is reported via `update_fulfill_htlc`, OR,
> > > > > * A failure is reported via `update_fail_htlc` AND the HTLC is
> irrevocably removed from the latest commitments/state(s) of the channel, OR
> > > > > * A channel closure is reported.
> > > > >
> > > > > Let us fill this in more detail.
> > > > >
> > > > > Suppose we have a payment route A->B->C->E.
> > > > >
> > > > > Both the "hard" block timeouts and the "soft" second timeouts
> decrement monotonically at each hop.
> > > > > Thus, the payee E has the shortest "hard" and "soft" timeouts (as
> normal).
> > > > >
> > > > > * Suppose E then delays claiming the payment and violates the
> "soft" timeout.
> > > > > * C then drops the CE channel onchain.
> > > > > * C reports, before its own timeout (slightly larger than the
> timeout imposed on E), the closing of the channel CE, to B.
> > > > > * B validates this report, and if valid, propagates the report to
> A.
> > > > > * A validates this report, and if valid, accepts that the payment
> will be "stuck" for up to the hard timeout it imposed on B.
> > > > >
> > > > > C has to report back to B in order to prevent B from closing the
> BC channel, and B has to report back to A in order to prevent A from
> closing the AB channel.
> > > > > The decrementing seconds-unit timeouts are needed for each hop,
> for the same reason that decrementing block-unit timeouts are needed.
> > > > >
> > > > > Since E is motivated to attack intermediate nodes because it wants
> to redirect payment forwards through itself rather than its competitotrs,
> having one of its channels closed (which prevents it from being used for
> forwarding) is directly opposed to its end goal of getting more money,
> thus, we can believe the action of closing a channel involved in a griefing
> attack is sufficient disincentive.
> > > > >
> > > > > The major drawback is that enforcement of the soft timeout *is* a
> channel closure, which is generally a negative for the network.
> > > > > This is not a remote attack vector, since a node can only trigger
> this closure if it is able to stall the fulfillment or failure of an HTLC
> on a channel, which generally means the node triggering this closure can
> only do so for its own channels (or it is able to, via a separate
> mechanism, remotely crash a different node).
> > > > >
> > > > > Proving Channel Closes
> > > > > ----------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > What C *really* needs to prove is that:
> > > > >
> > > > > * It is *willing* to close a channel due to a violation of the
> soft timeout.
> > > > > * The channel it is willing to close was, in fact, involved in the
> same payment attempt.
> > > > >
> > > > > With the above, B can believe that C was innocent of wrongdoing,
> because:
> > > > >
> > > > > * C would only be wiling to close a channel in case of a protocol
> violation, in this case, a violation of the soft timeout.
> > > > > * The channel it closed was closed because of this payment
> attempt, and not because of another payment attempt, or some other
> unrelated channel being unilaterally closed.
> > > > >
> > > > > First, what C needs to prove is *NOT*, in fact, actual channel
> closure: it needs to prove a *willingness* to close a channel.
> > > > > Thus, it does not require the channel to actually be *closed* yet,
> i.e. it does not have to wait for onchain activity that the channel closure
> is in a mempool and is confirmed deeply onchain etc etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, to prove a *willingness to close* rather than an actual
> close, C can provide the unilateral close of the channel CE.
> > > > > The act of unilaterally closing a channel is the publication of
> the transaction(s) making up the unilateral close.
> > > > > Thus, if C is *willing* to close the channel, it is willing to
> publish the transaction(s) involved, and thus, providing the unilateral
> close to B and further upstream, shows a willingness to close the channel.
> > > > >
> > > > > B then validates the provided proof-of-closure by checking that
> the unilateral close transaction is either onchain, in the mempool, or that
> it spends a TXO that is not currently spent by another transaction.
> > > > > In the case the unilateral close transaction is not confirmed and
> in the mempool, B can speed up its propagation on the Bitcoin layer by
> putting it in its own mempool as well --- after all, C is willing to close
> the channel to exonerate itself and punish the actual culprit, and B
> putting the unilateral close in its own mempool can only help C in what it
> is willing to do.
> > > > >
> > > > > Secondly, C needs to prove that the channel it is willing to close
> involves the payment attempt, and is not some other channel closure that it
> is attempting to use to fulfill its own soft timeout.
> > > > > Since the unilateral close transaction *is* the proof-of-closure,
> B (and A) can inspect the transaction outputs and see (with some additional
> data from C) that one of the outputs is to an HTLC that matches the payment
> hash.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, B (and A) can believe that the proof-of-closure proves that
> whoever is presenting it is free of wrongdoing, as whoever is actually
> causing the delay has been punished (by someone being willing to close a
> channel with the culprit), and that the proof-of-closure commits to this
> particular payment attempt and no other (because it commits to a particular
> payment hash).
> > > > >
> > > > > Further, if CE is closed by E dropping it onchain rather than C, C
> will still be able to fulfill its own soft timeout by taking the closing
> transaction from E, which should still contain the HTLC.
> > > > > Indeed, neither A nor B will particularly care (nor need to know)
> who dropped the channel onchain, or (for A) that the channel participants
> are C and E.
> > > > >
> > > > > Update State Shenanigans
> > > > > ------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Bitcoin update mechanisms are complicated things, and it may be
> possible for an attacking payee E to fool around with the update state
> machine to make it difficult for C to report a willingness to close CE.
> > > > >
> > > > > In particular, I quote here the relevant passages from
> `lightning-rfc`, `02-peer-protocol.md`, which is an implementation of the
> Poon-Dryja update mechanism:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Thus each update traverses through the following states:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 1. pending on the receiver
> > > > > > 2. in the receiver's latest commitment transaction
> > > > > > 3. ... and the receiver's previous commitment transaction has
> been revoked,
> > > > > > and the update is pending on the sender
> > > > > > 4. ... and in the sender's latest commitment transaction
> > > > > > 5. ... and the sender's previous commitment transaction has been
> revoked
> > > > >
> > > > > The payee E is the "receiver" in this context.
> > > > >
> > > > > In this case, once the update has reached step 2, then E has a
> commitment transaction that it can put onchain, that contains an HTLC it
> can claim.
> > > > > From this step onward, C cannot send a failure (i.e. it cannot
> send back an `update_fail_htlc`) back to B, because E could drop its latest
> commitment onchain and claim the HTLC onchain.
> > > > >
> > > > > However, until step 4, C does not have a unilateral close
> containing the HTLC, and thus cannot provide a proof-of-closure that
> contains an HTLC that refers to the payment.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, between steps 2 to 4, C cannot safely respond to its own
> soft timeout.
> > > > > C cannot respond with a failure, as E could then drop its latest
> commitment transaction onchain and claim the payment from C, and extract
> money from C that way.
> > > > > C also cannot respond with a proof-of-closure, as it does not have
> a transaction that it can use to provide this proof.
> > > > >
> > > > > The best that C can do would be to impose an even shorter timeout
> between steps 2 and 4 above, and to drop its current commitment transaction
> (which does not contain the HTLC yet and thus does not constitute a valid
> proof-of-closure) onchain.
> > > > > In between the time it drops the commitment transaction and its
> own incoming soft timeout, there is a chance, however small, that this
> transaction will be confirmed, and the channel will (with high probability)
> settle in a state where the HTLC is not instantiated, thus C can safely
> fail its incoming HTLC (not show a proof-of-closure, since that is not
> possible for C to do) without risk of loss, just prior to its own soft
> timeout.
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, C is still at risk here: E could collude with miners
> via a side-channel fee offer to confirm its commitment transaction with the
> HTLC present, and ensure that C is liable for the HTLC value.
> > > > >
> > > > > With Decker-Russell-Osuntokun, we can remove this risk by
> requiring a ritual as follows:
> > > > >
> > > > > 1. C requests exclusive access to update their single shared
> state.
> > > > > * This can be done via a variety of sub-protocols, including a
> fair coin toss in case of near-simultaneous requests for exclusive locks on
> both sides.
> > > > > 2. C provides the details of the new HTLC to E.
> > > > > 3. C and E generate the new state transaction and exchange
> signatures for it.
> > > > > 4. C and E generate (without signing) the new update transaction.
> > > > > 5. E provides the signature (or share of signature, if MuSig) for
> the new update transaction to C.
> > > > > 6. C provides the signature for the new update transaction to E,
> which releases the exclusive lock on the shared state atomically with the
> finalization of the new update transaction.
> > > > >
> > > > > Prior to step 5, C can simply fail the incoming HTLC from B in
> case its own soft timeout is near.
> > > > > Even if E performs step 5 after C has already failed the incoming
> HTLC from B, C can simply not perform step 6 and drop the channel onchain
> with the previous update and state transactions.
> > > > >
> > > > > With Poon-Dryja, we will have to rearrange the order in which we
> perform things, effectively adding an extra communications turnaround
> between the participants.
> > > > > Specifically, the order would have to be revised to:
> > > > >
> > > > > > 1. pending on the sender
> > > > > > 2. in the sender's latest commitment transaction
> > > > > > 3. ... and the sender's previous commitment transaction has been
> revoked,
> > > > > > and the update is pending on the receiver
> > > > > > 4. ... and in the receiver's latest commitment transaction
> > > > > > 5. ... and the receiver's previous commitment transaction has
> been revoked
> > > > >
> > > > > This allows the sender (C in our context) to provide a
> proof-of-closure after step 2, and before step 2, C can safely return a
> failure with `update_fail_htlc` (and refuse to proceed beyond step 2, thus
> ensuring it can still use the previous commitment that still has no HTLC).
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, this change will require redesigning the update state
> machine, increasing the number of communication turnarounds, and creating a
> subtle incompatbility when transitioning a payment from a hop that knows
> only the old update state machine to a hop that knows the new update state
> machine.
> > > > >
> > > > > Purely Falsified Proof-Of-Closure
> > > > > ---------------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, the attacking node E might want to create a false
> proof-of-closure.
> > > > > E can do this by simulating a Lightning channel: lock an amount of
> funds in a 2-of-2 (where E controls both keys), then spend it in a set of
> transactions mimicking the unilateral close.
> > > > >
> > > > > We observe, however, that the overhead of simulating a Lightning
> channel is the same as the overhead of actually creating and closing a
> Lightning channel.
> > > > > Since the punishment of proof-of-closure is to force attackers to
> have their channels closed, we can consider that this simulation of a
> channel open and close is sufficient as well.
> > > > >
> > > > > Future-Proofing
> > > > > ---------------
> > > > >
> > > > > This sketch of proof-of-closure can be used for any update
> mechanism:
> > > > >
> > > > > * With Poon-Dryja, C can use its own commitment transaction as the
> proof-of-closure.
> > > > > * With Decker-Wattenhofer, C can give all the offchain
> transactions up to the last stage in the multi-stage
> decrementing-`nSequence` mechanism.
> > > > > * With Deckker-Russell-Osuntokun, C can give the latest update and
> state trnsaction.
> > > > >
> > > > > Basically, we expect that for now, and in the future, any update
> mechanism worth consideration will have a concept of "unilateral close"
> where a channel can be dropped onchain, using data that only one of the
> channel participants holds.
> > > > >
> > > > > Such a unilateral close will be a sequence of one or more valid
> transactions, terminating in a transaction containing an HTLC-like contract
> in one of its outputs.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, to validate the unilateral close, it is only required to
> validate all the transactions contained in the proof-of-closure, and see
> that the last transaction has an HTLC output.
> > > > >
> > > > > The limitations are thus:
> > > > >
> > > > > * The acceptable forms of HTLC would need to be agreed-upon by the
> entire network.
> > > > > * Implementations would need to be able to assess, in a
> Bitcoin-consensus-compatible way, whether a transaction is valid or not.
> > > > >
> > > > > Payment Decorrelation and Payment Points
> > > > > ----------------------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, having a single payment hash for the entire payment
> attempt is a privacy loss, which we intend to fix in the near future by
> using payment points, and adding a blinding scalar at each hop, aka.
> payment decorrelation.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, in the future, there will not be any HTLC, but instead a
> PTLC.
> > > > > Further, the payment point at each hop will be changed at each
> hop, in order to prevent decorrelation.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, C needs to provide proofs:
> > > > >
> > > > > * That an apparent singlesig on the unilateral close output is in
> fact a PTLC.
> > > > > C needs to provide:
> > > > > * A target point P.
> > > > > * A partial signature that would spend that singlesig for a
> particular sighash.
> > > > > * An adaptor signature which, with knowledge of the completed
> signature, adaptor signature, and sighash message, would have revealed the
> scalar behind P.
> > > > > * That the PTLC belongs to the same payment attempt as what B
> offered to C.
> > > > > C needs to provide:
> > > > > * The C-only blinding factor that is the difference between the
> payment point of the B-to-C PTLC and the C-to-E PTLC on the unilateral
> close.
> > > > >
> > > > > Then, when B needs to propagate the proof-of-closure back to A, B
> simply adds its own blinding factor to the reported blinding factor, in
> order to convince A that this is the same payment attempt.
> > > > >
> > > > > As we have brought up privacy, we observe that, when this
> mechanism triggers, there is a mild privacy loss, in that intermediate
> nodes now know some channel closure that is related to this payment, and
> can thus determine the exact path that the payment attempt went through, at
> least until the channel being closed.
> > > > > However, proof-of-closure is only propagated in case of violation
> of the soft timeout, so for normal non-malicious payments, proof-of-closure
> does not cause any privacy loss.
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Lightning-dev mailing list
> > > > > Lightning-dev at lists.linuxfoundation.org
> > > > > https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/lightning-dev
>
>
>
--
Yours sincerely,
Subhra Mazumdar.
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📝 Original message:
Ok got it. Sorry I missed out the points stated by you.
On Mon, Apr 13, 2020 at 9:13 AM ZmnSCPxj <ZmnSCPxj at protonmail.com> wrote:
> Good morning Subhra,
>
>
> > Ok. But this is a worse situation where C pays money to D but bound to
> keep its resource locked for a longer duration, unlike D not responding and
> C being able to unlock after the elapse of lock time.
>
> It is exactly the griefing attack scenario: it is the lock time at D that
> is the problem.
> As such, it is not "worse", it is ***exactly*** the griefing attack
> scenario.
>
> C cannot unlock until 144 blocks, so D can delay its response for up to
> 143 blocks without any effect on its channels, this is *exactly* the
> griefing attack.
>
> Regards,
> ZmnSCPxj
>
> >
> > On Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 08:21 ZmnSCPxj <ZmnSCPxj at protonmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Good morning Subhra,
> > >
> > > > Hello,
> > > > So based on what you have stated as possible scenario of
> griefing attack, does delay in providing the preimage also counted as a
> form of griefing in htlc? Like given the path A->B->C->D, what if C and D
> has a lock time of 144 blocks and D responds after 142 block time elapses,
> claiming the money locked with D?
> > >
> > > That ***is*** the griefing attack.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > ZmnSCPxj
> > >
> > > >
> > > > On Wed, Apr 1, 2020, 11:49 ZmnSCPxj via Lightning-dev <
> lightning-dev at lists.linuxfoundation.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Introduction
> > > > > ============
> > > > >
> > > > > Given the fact that contracts on offchain protocols need to be
> enforceable onchain as well, timelocks involved in multi-hop payments are
> measured in blocks.
> > > > > This is because the blockchain can only (third-party-verifiably)
> enforce timeouts in units of entire blocks.
> > > > > This leads to very long timeouts for payment delivery, thus
> multi-hop offchain payment attempts can be, deliberately or accidentally,
> be in a "pending" state up to the very large timeouts involved.
> > > > >
> > > > > Deliberately setting up a multi-hop payment such that it will be
> in a "pending" state for long periods of time is colloquially known as a
> "griefing attack".
> > > > > In this article, we assess various proposed solutions to mitigate
> the effects of griefing attacks, and propose a particular solution,
> proof-of-closure, as well, that requires significant changes to the update
> state machine.
> > > > >
> > > > > Digression: Why Grief?
> > > > > ======================
> > > > >
> > > > > Before embarking on our investigation for solutions to the
> griefing problem, we should first wonder if griefing is, in fact, a problem.
> > > > >
> > > > > This brings up the question of: why would anybody grief at all?
> > > > >
> > > > > Humans, like cats and other less-sapient pieces of walking meat,
> often find enjoyment in causing the suffering of others for no immediate
> direct gain to themselves, as a public demonstration of dominance over
> those they make suffer (aka "shits and giggles", which, if executed
> correctly, can lead to eventual direct gains to themselves or their progeny
> or relatives or allies, but such details are often outside the ken of the
> very beings who execute such survival strategies: brains are pieces of meat
> that have been hacked to act as action-reaction engines, but are not
> sophisticated enough to execute as pure rationality engines at all times).
> > > > > Fortunately, in the Bitcoin world, only purely rational beings of
> pure selfishness can exist in the long run, thus we can neglect such
> motivations as mere noise.
> > > > >
> > > > > First, let us investigate *how* griefing attacks can be performed.
> > > > >
> > > > > * An intermediate node in a multi-hop attempt can delay forwarding
> or failing an incoming HTLC.
> > > > > * A final node in a payment attempt can delay claiming an incoming
> HTLC.
> > > > >
> > > > > Let us consider a purely rational intermediate node of pure
> selfishness:
> > > > >
> > > > > * If it forwards as soon as possible, it can earn fees, and also
> speed up the release of the HTLC-locked funds so that they can reuse those
> funds as liquidity for further payment attempts.
> > > > > * Thus, delaying an HTLC is not selfishly-rational for an
> intermediate node.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, for an intermediate node, it seems there is no
> selfishly-rational motivation to execute a griefing attack on an arbitrary
> payment attempt.
> > > > > We can then conclude that an intermediate that delays a payment
> would do so, not of its own rational self-interest, but as an accident,
> such as an unforeseen connectivity or power failure.
> > > > >
> > > > > However, things are different when we consider a non-arbitrary
> payment.
> > > > > Suppose a node were to make a payment attempt to itself, and
> deliberately delay claiming this self-payment.
> > > > > This lets any single node, *who happens to own large liquidity*,
> to lock up the liquidity of other nodes.
> > > > >
> > > > > The motivation to lock up the liquidity of other nodes is to
> *eliminate competition*.
> > > > > Suppose we have a network as below:
> > > > >
> > > > > A -- B -- C
> > > > > \ /
> > > > > \ /
> > > > > \ /
> > > > > E
> > > > >
> > > > > When A and C want to transact with one another, they may choose to
> route via either B or E.
> > > > > B and E are therefore competitors in the business of forwarding
> payments.
> > > > >
> > > > > But suppose E has much larger channels AE and CE than the channels
> of AB and CB.
> > > > > For example, suppose E has 100mBTC perfectly-balanced channels
> while B has only 10mBTC perfectly-balanced channels, as all things should
> be in simplified models of reality.
> > > > > E can then "take out the competition" by making a 5mBTC
> self-payment along E->A->B->C->E and a 5mBTC self-payment along
> E->C->B->A->E, then refusing to claim the payment, tying up all the
> liquidity of the channels of B.
> > > > > By doing so, it can ensure that A and C will always fail to pay
> via B, even if they wish to transact in amounts less than 5mBTC.
> > > > > E thereby eliminates B as a competitor.
> > > > >
> > > > > This demonstrates that griefing attacks will be motivated, such
> that such attacks will be performed by payers and payees *against
> intermediate nodes*.
> > > > > Intermediate nodes have no motivation to attack payers and payees
> (those are their potential customers in the business of forwarding
> payments, and attacking potential customers is bad business: such attacking
> intermediate nodes will be removed economically in the long run).
> > > > > However, payers and payees can become motivated to attack
> intermediate nodes, if the "payer" and "payee" are actually competitor
> intermediate nodes.
> > > > >
> > > > > (We can observe that this is always a possibility even outside of
> Lightning: a service or product provider has no incentive to attack its
> customers ("the customer is always right"), but have an incentive to
> *pretend* to be a customer of a competitor and attack them.)
> > > > >
> > > > > We will keep this fact in mind: active griefing attacks are
> attacks *on* intermediate nodes, not *by* intermediate nodes, because there
> is no economic incentive for intermediate nodes to attack their customers.
> > > > >
> > > > > Previous Proposed Solutions
> > > > > ===========================
> > > > >
> > > > > Time-Spent Reporting
> > > > > --------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > At each channel along the route, the time spent by a node to
> handle its forwarding is recorded, and reported upstream in the route.
> > > > >
> > > > > Unfortunately, this solution protects payers from intermediate
> nodes and payees: it does not protect intermediate nodes from colluding
> payers and payees.
> > > > > Even if an intermediate node knows that a particular node is
> consistently slow via a previous time-spent report, it will not be able,
> with our current onion routing, determine if an onion packet it just
> received will or will not go through the known-slow node.
> > > > > Thus, an intermediate node would not be able to defend against
> distant payees that, with a colluding payer, will not claim a particular
> payment.
> > > > >
> > > > > As we have established, an active griefing atttack will never be
> deliberately performed by a selfishly-rational intermediate node.
> > > > > Thus, this solution protects against the wrong thing: it protects
> payers against slow/unreliable intermediate nodes, it does not protect
> intermediate nodes against malicious payer/payee collusions.
> > > > > It protects only against intermediate nodes that inadvertently go
> offline during forwarding, but such nodes will inevitably lose out on the
> forwarding market anyway, and will disappear in the long run.
> > > > >
> > > > > Up-Front Payment
> > > > > ----------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Payers pay for an attempt, not just the successful completion of
> an attempt.
> > > > >
> > > > > A variation on this is that the payer (or payee) continuously pays
> as long as the payment is pending.
> > > > > Further variations include paying by other means, such as just
> locking funds or paying with proof-of-work.
> > > > >
> > > > > While it certainly erects economic barriers against payer/payee
> collusions attacking intermediate nodes, it *also* erects economic barriers
> against normal, non-malicious payments.
> > > > >
> > > > > We can consider that economic barriers against non-malicious,
> low-value, high-frequency payments ("micropayments") may be enough that
> such payments become infeasible if we impose up-front payment for mere
> attempts.
> > > > > Thus, while this solution is certainly something we can consider,
> we must be reluctant to use it due to its up-front, strict-evaluation
> behavior.
> > > > >
> > > > > Proof-Of-Closure
> > > > > ================
> > > > >
> > > > > Observing the above, we want the properties for a "good" solution
> to griefing attacks to be:
> > > > >
> > > > > * It should protect intermediate nodes against payer/payee
> collusions.
> > > > > * It should only come into play upon detection of an attack.
> > > > >
> > > > > We now present proof-of-closure, which (we hope) has the above
> properties.
> > > > >
> > > > > We can consider instead a softer timeout, distinct from the HTLC
> block-based timeout.
> > > > > This softer timeout is measurable in fractions of a second, e.g.
> units of 0.1 seconds.
> > > > >
> > > > > Each node on the network advertises, in addition to a block-based
> `cltv_delta`, a `timeout_delta` in units of 0.1 seconds.
> > > > > Further, each invoice contains, in addition to a block-based
> `final_cltv`, a `final_timeout` in units of 0.1 seconds.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, there are two timeouts:
> > > > >
> > > > > * The current "hard" block-based timeout that is enforceable
> onchain.
> > > > > * A new "soft" sidereal-time-based timeout that is not onchain
> enforceable.
> > > > >
> > > > > The soft timeout, as mentioned, is not enforceable onchain.
> > > > > Instead, enforcement of the soft timeout *is* the act of putting
> the channel state onchain.
> > > > >
> > > > > Now, for the current "hard" block-based timeout, we already have a
> reaction.
> > > > > If the HTLC "hard" timeout is approaching:
> > > > >
> > > > > * Drop the channel onchain and enforce the hard timeout onchain to
> reclaim the funds in the HTLCs.
> > > > > * Wait for the onchain action to be deeply resolved (either
> timelock or hashlock branch is confirmed deeply) and report the result
> (success or fail) upstream.
> > > > >
> > > > > What happens if the "soft" timeout is violated?
> > > > >
> > > > > * Drop the channel onchain.
> > > > > * Report the channel closure upstream.
> > > > >
> > > > > The "hard" timeout is cancelled in any of these two conditions:
> > > > >
> > > > > * A success is reported via `update_fulfill_htlc`, OR,
> > > > > * A failure is reported via `update_fail_htlc` AND the HTLC is
> irrevocably removed from the latest commitments/state(s) of the channel.
> > > > >
> > > > > The "soft" timeout is cancelled in any of these three conditions,
> the first two of which are the same as above:
> > > > >
> > > > > * A success is reported via `update_fulfill_htlc`, OR,
> > > > > * A failure is reported via `update_fail_htlc` AND the HTLC is
> irrevocably removed from the latest commitments/state(s) of the channel, OR
> > > > > * A channel closure is reported.
> > > > >
> > > > > Let us fill this in more detail.
> > > > >
> > > > > Suppose we have a payment route A->B->C->E.
> > > > >
> > > > > Both the "hard" block timeouts and the "soft" second timeouts
> decrement monotonically at each hop.
> > > > > Thus, the payee E has the shortest "hard" and "soft" timeouts (as
> normal).
> > > > >
> > > > > * Suppose E then delays claiming the payment and violates the
> "soft" timeout.
> > > > > * C then drops the CE channel onchain.
> > > > > * C reports, before its own timeout (slightly larger than the
> timeout imposed on E), the closing of the channel CE, to B.
> > > > > * B validates this report, and if valid, propagates the report to
> A.
> > > > > * A validates this report, and if valid, accepts that the payment
> will be "stuck" for up to the hard timeout it imposed on B.
> > > > >
> > > > > C has to report back to B in order to prevent B from closing the
> BC channel, and B has to report back to A in order to prevent A from
> closing the AB channel.
> > > > > The decrementing seconds-unit timeouts are needed for each hop,
> for the same reason that decrementing block-unit timeouts are needed.
> > > > >
> > > > > Since E is motivated to attack intermediate nodes because it wants
> to redirect payment forwards through itself rather than its competitotrs,
> having one of its channels closed (which prevents it from being used for
> forwarding) is directly opposed to its end goal of getting more money,
> thus, we can believe the action of closing a channel involved in a griefing
> attack is sufficient disincentive.
> > > > >
> > > > > The major drawback is that enforcement of the soft timeout *is* a
> channel closure, which is generally a negative for the network.
> > > > > This is not a remote attack vector, since a node can only trigger
> this closure if it is able to stall the fulfillment or failure of an HTLC
> on a channel, which generally means the node triggering this closure can
> only do so for its own channels (or it is able to, via a separate
> mechanism, remotely crash a different node).
> > > > >
> > > > > Proving Channel Closes
> > > > > ----------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > What C *really* needs to prove is that:
> > > > >
> > > > > * It is *willing* to close a channel due to a violation of the
> soft timeout.
> > > > > * The channel it is willing to close was, in fact, involved in the
> same payment attempt.
> > > > >
> > > > > With the above, B can believe that C was innocent of wrongdoing,
> because:
> > > > >
> > > > > * C would only be wiling to close a channel in case of a protocol
> violation, in this case, a violation of the soft timeout.
> > > > > * The channel it closed was closed because of this payment
> attempt, and not because of another payment attempt, or some other
> unrelated channel being unilaterally closed.
> > > > >
> > > > > First, what C needs to prove is *NOT*, in fact, actual channel
> closure: it needs to prove a *willingness* to close a channel.
> > > > > Thus, it does not require the channel to actually be *closed* yet,
> i.e. it does not have to wait for onchain activity that the channel closure
> is in a mempool and is confirmed deeply onchain etc etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, to prove a *willingness to close* rather than an actual
> close, C can provide the unilateral close of the channel CE.
> > > > > The act of unilaterally closing a channel is the publication of
> the transaction(s) making up the unilateral close.
> > > > > Thus, if C is *willing* to close the channel, it is willing to
> publish the transaction(s) involved, and thus, providing the unilateral
> close to B and further upstream, shows a willingness to close the channel.
> > > > >
> > > > > B then validates the provided proof-of-closure by checking that
> the unilateral close transaction is either onchain, in the mempool, or that
> it spends a TXO that is not currently spent by another transaction.
> > > > > In the case the unilateral close transaction is not confirmed and
> in the mempool, B can speed up its propagation on the Bitcoin layer by
> putting it in its own mempool as well --- after all, C is willing to close
> the channel to exonerate itself and punish the actual culprit, and B
> putting the unilateral close in its own mempool can only help C in what it
> is willing to do.
> > > > >
> > > > > Secondly, C needs to prove that the channel it is willing to close
> involves the payment attempt, and is not some other channel closure that it
> is attempting to use to fulfill its own soft timeout.
> > > > > Since the unilateral close transaction *is* the proof-of-closure,
> B (and A) can inspect the transaction outputs and see (with some additional
> data from C) that one of the outputs is to an HTLC that matches the payment
> hash.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, B (and A) can believe that the proof-of-closure proves that
> whoever is presenting it is free of wrongdoing, as whoever is actually
> causing the delay has been punished (by someone being willing to close a
> channel with the culprit), and that the proof-of-closure commits to this
> particular payment attempt and no other (because it commits to a particular
> payment hash).
> > > > >
> > > > > Further, if CE is closed by E dropping it onchain rather than C, C
> will still be able to fulfill its own soft timeout by taking the closing
> transaction from E, which should still contain the HTLC.
> > > > > Indeed, neither A nor B will particularly care (nor need to know)
> who dropped the channel onchain, or (for A) that the channel participants
> are C and E.
> > > > >
> > > > > Update State Shenanigans
> > > > > ------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Bitcoin update mechanisms are complicated things, and it may be
> possible for an attacking payee E to fool around with the update state
> machine to make it difficult for C to report a willingness to close CE.
> > > > >
> > > > > In particular, I quote here the relevant passages from
> `lightning-rfc`, `02-peer-protocol.md`, which is an implementation of the
> Poon-Dryja update mechanism:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Thus each update traverses through the following states:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > 1. pending on the receiver
> > > > > > 2. in the receiver's latest commitment transaction
> > > > > > 3. ... and the receiver's previous commitment transaction has
> been revoked,
> > > > > > and the update is pending on the sender
> > > > > > 4. ... and in the sender's latest commitment transaction
> > > > > > 5. ... and the sender's previous commitment transaction has been
> revoked
> > > > >
> > > > > The payee E is the "receiver" in this context.
> > > > >
> > > > > In this case, once the update has reached step 2, then E has a
> commitment transaction that it can put onchain, that contains an HTLC it
> can claim.
> > > > > From this step onward, C cannot send a failure (i.e. it cannot
> send back an `update_fail_htlc`) back to B, because E could drop its latest
> commitment onchain and claim the HTLC onchain.
> > > > >
> > > > > However, until step 4, C does not have a unilateral close
> containing the HTLC, and thus cannot provide a proof-of-closure that
> contains an HTLC that refers to the payment.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, between steps 2 to 4, C cannot safely respond to its own
> soft timeout.
> > > > > C cannot respond with a failure, as E could then drop its latest
> commitment transaction onchain and claim the payment from C, and extract
> money from C that way.
> > > > > C also cannot respond with a proof-of-closure, as it does not have
> a transaction that it can use to provide this proof.
> > > > >
> > > > > The best that C can do would be to impose an even shorter timeout
> between steps 2 and 4 above, and to drop its current commitment transaction
> (which does not contain the HTLC yet and thus does not constitute a valid
> proof-of-closure) onchain.
> > > > > In between the time it drops the commitment transaction and its
> own incoming soft timeout, there is a chance, however small, that this
> transaction will be confirmed, and the channel will (with high probability)
> settle in a state where the HTLC is not instantiated, thus C can safely
> fail its incoming HTLC (not show a proof-of-closure, since that is not
> possible for C to do) without risk of loss, just prior to its own soft
> timeout.
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, C is still at risk here: E could collude with miners
> via a side-channel fee offer to confirm its commitment transaction with the
> HTLC present, and ensure that C is liable for the HTLC value.
> > > > >
> > > > > With Decker-Russell-Osuntokun, we can remove this risk by
> requiring a ritual as follows:
> > > > >
> > > > > 1. C requests exclusive access to update their single shared
> state.
> > > > > * This can be done via a variety of sub-protocols, including a
> fair coin toss in case of near-simultaneous requests for exclusive locks on
> both sides.
> > > > > 2. C provides the details of the new HTLC to E.
> > > > > 3. C and E generate the new state transaction and exchange
> signatures for it.
> > > > > 4. C and E generate (without signing) the new update transaction.
> > > > > 5. E provides the signature (or share of signature, if MuSig) for
> the new update transaction to C.
> > > > > 6. C provides the signature for the new update transaction to E,
> which releases the exclusive lock on the shared state atomically with the
> finalization of the new update transaction.
> > > > >
> > > > > Prior to step 5, C can simply fail the incoming HTLC from B in
> case its own soft timeout is near.
> > > > > Even if E performs step 5 after C has already failed the incoming
> HTLC from B, C can simply not perform step 6 and drop the channel onchain
> with the previous update and state transactions.
> > > > >
> > > > > With Poon-Dryja, we will have to rearrange the order in which we
> perform things, effectively adding an extra communications turnaround
> between the participants.
> > > > > Specifically, the order would have to be revised to:
> > > > >
> > > > > > 1. pending on the sender
> > > > > > 2. in the sender's latest commitment transaction
> > > > > > 3. ... and the sender's previous commitment transaction has been
> revoked,
> > > > > > and the update is pending on the receiver
> > > > > > 4. ... and in the receiver's latest commitment transaction
> > > > > > 5. ... and the receiver's previous commitment transaction has
> been revoked
> > > > >
> > > > > This allows the sender (C in our context) to provide a
> proof-of-closure after step 2, and before step 2, C can safely return a
> failure with `update_fail_htlc` (and refuse to proceed beyond step 2, thus
> ensuring it can still use the previous commitment that still has no HTLC).
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, this change will require redesigning the update state
> machine, increasing the number of communication turnarounds, and creating a
> subtle incompatbility when transitioning a payment from a hop that knows
> only the old update state machine to a hop that knows the new update state
> machine.
> > > > >
> > > > > Purely Falsified Proof-Of-Closure
> > > > > ---------------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, the attacking node E might want to create a false
> proof-of-closure.
> > > > > E can do this by simulating a Lightning channel: lock an amount of
> funds in a 2-of-2 (where E controls both keys), then spend it in a set of
> transactions mimicking the unilateral close.
> > > > >
> > > > > We observe, however, that the overhead of simulating a Lightning
> channel is the same as the overhead of actually creating and closing a
> Lightning channel.
> > > > > Since the punishment of proof-of-closure is to force attackers to
> have their channels closed, we can consider that this simulation of a
> channel open and close is sufficient as well.
> > > > >
> > > > > Future-Proofing
> > > > > ---------------
> > > > >
> > > > > This sketch of proof-of-closure can be used for any update
> mechanism:
> > > > >
> > > > > * With Poon-Dryja, C can use its own commitment transaction as the
> proof-of-closure.
> > > > > * With Decker-Wattenhofer, C can give all the offchain
> transactions up to the last stage in the multi-stage
> decrementing-`nSequence` mechanism.
> > > > > * With Deckker-Russell-Osuntokun, C can give the latest update and
> state trnsaction.
> > > > >
> > > > > Basically, we expect that for now, and in the future, any update
> mechanism worth consideration will have a concept of "unilateral close"
> where a channel can be dropped onchain, using data that only one of the
> channel participants holds.
> > > > >
> > > > > Such a unilateral close will be a sequence of one or more valid
> transactions, terminating in a transaction containing an HTLC-like contract
> in one of its outputs.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, to validate the unilateral close, it is only required to
> validate all the transactions contained in the proof-of-closure, and see
> that the last transaction has an HTLC output.
> > > > >
> > > > > The limitations are thus:
> > > > >
> > > > > * The acceptable forms of HTLC would need to be agreed-upon by the
> entire network.
> > > > > * Implementations would need to be able to assess, in a
> Bitcoin-consensus-compatible way, whether a transaction is valid or not.
> > > > >
> > > > > Payment Decorrelation and Payment Points
> > > > > ----------------------------------------
> > > > >
> > > > > Of course, having a single payment hash for the entire payment
> attempt is a privacy loss, which we intend to fix in the near future by
> using payment points, and adding a blinding scalar at each hop, aka.
> payment decorrelation.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, in the future, there will not be any HTLC, but instead a
> PTLC.
> > > > > Further, the payment point at each hop will be changed at each
> hop, in order to prevent decorrelation.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thus, C needs to provide proofs:
> > > > >
> > > > > * That an apparent singlesig on the unilateral close output is in
> fact a PTLC.
> > > > > C needs to provide:
> > > > > * A target point P.
> > > > > * A partial signature that would spend that singlesig for a
> particular sighash.
> > > > > * An adaptor signature which, with knowledge of the completed
> signature, adaptor signature, and sighash message, would have revealed the
> scalar behind P.
> > > > > * That the PTLC belongs to the same payment attempt as what B
> offered to C.
> > > > > C needs to provide:
> > > > > * The C-only blinding factor that is the difference between the
> payment point of the B-to-C PTLC and the C-to-E PTLC on the unilateral
> close.
> > > > >
> > > > > Then, when B needs to propagate the proof-of-closure back to A, B
> simply adds its own blinding factor to the reported blinding factor, in
> order to convince A that this is the same payment attempt.
> > > > >
> > > > > As we have brought up privacy, we observe that, when this
> mechanism triggers, there is a mild privacy loss, in that intermediate
> nodes now know some channel closure that is related to this payment, and
> can thus determine the exact path that the payment attempt went through, at
> least until the channel being closed.
> > > > > However, proof-of-closure is only propagated in case of violation
> of the soft timeout, so for normal non-malicious payments, proof-of-closure
> does not cause any privacy loss.
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Lightning-dev mailing list
> > > > > Lightning-dev at lists.linuxfoundation.org
> > > > > https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/lightning-dev
>
>
>
--
Yours sincerely,
Subhra Mazumdar.
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