mutate packet 0, but, avoids a 100-byte copy

This reverts commit e1d96b932a.

.github/actions/code-sign/action.yml

@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ inputs:
     required: false
     default: "code-signer"
   key-prefix:
-    description: "S3 key prefix the caller is authorized to write under"
+    description: "S3 key prefix to write under; defaults to code-signing/<owner>/<repo> of the calling repo"
     required: false
-    default: "code-signing/slackhq/nebula"
+    default: ""
 
 runs:
   using: composite
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ runs:
         KEY_PREFIX: ${{ inputs.key-prefix }}
       run: |
         set -eu
+        # Default the prefix to this repo so the S3 key attributes the sign correctly.
+        # nebula-nightly runs this same action but writes under its own repo's prefix.
+        KEY_PREFIX="${KEY_PREFIX:-code-signing/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY}"
         RUN="${GITHUB_RUN_ID}-${GITHUB_RUN_ATTEMPT}"
 
         find "$SIGN_PATH" -name '*.exe' -print | while read -r path

.github/workflows/gofmt.yml

@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-name: gofmt
-on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - master
-  pull_request:
-    paths:
-      - '.github/workflows/gofmt.yml'
-      - '**.go'
-jobs:
-
-  gofmt:
-    name: Run gofmt
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
-      with:
-        go-version: '1.25'
-        check-latest: true
-
-    - name: Install goimports
-      run: |
-        go install golang.org/x/tools/cmd/goimports@latest
-
-    - name: gofmt
-      run: |
-        if [ "$(find . -iname '*.go' | grep -v '\.pb\.go$' | xargs goimports -l)" ]
-        then
-          find . -iname '*.go' | grep -v '\.pb\.go$' | xargs goimports -d
-          exit 1
-        fi

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ jobs:
     name: Build Linux/BSD All
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
-      - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+      - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
         with:
-          go-version: '1.25'
+          go-version: '1.26'
           check-latest: true
 
       - name: Build
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ jobs:
       id-token: write
       contents: read
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
-      - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+      - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
         with:
-          go-version: '1.25'
+          go-version: '1.26'
           check-latest: true
 
       - name: Build
@@ -76,11 +76,11 @@ jobs:
       HAS_SIGNING_CREDS: ${{ secrets.AC_USERNAME != '' }}
     runs-on: macos-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
-      - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+      - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
         with:
-          go-version: '1.25'
+          go-version: '1.26'
           check-latest: true
 
       - name: Import certificates
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ jobs:
       # be overwritten
       - name: Checkout code
         if: ${{ env.HAS_DOCKER_CREDS == 'true' }}
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Download artifacts
         if: ${{ env.HAS_DOCKER_CREDS == 'true' }}
@@ -163,14 +163,17 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p build/linux-{amd64,arm64}
           tar -zxvf artifacts/nebula-linux-amd64.tar.gz -C build/linux-amd64/
           tar -zxvf artifacts/nebula-linux-arm64.tar.gz -C build/linux-arm64/
-          docker buildx build . --push -f docker/Dockerfile --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --tag "${DOCKER_IMAGE_REPO}:${DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG}" --tag "${DOCKER_IMAGE_REPO}:${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/v}"
+          docker buildx build . --push -f docker/Dockerfile --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 \
+            --build-arg VERSION="${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/v}" \
+            --build-arg REVISION="${GITHUB_SHA}" \
+            --tag "${DOCKER_IMAGE_REPO}:${DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG}" --tag "${DOCKER_IMAGE_REPO}:${GITHUB_REF#refs/tags/v}"
 
   release:
     name: Create and Upload Release
     needs: [build-linux, build-darwin, build-windows]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Download artifacts
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v8

.github/workflows/smoke-extra.yml

@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@ jobs:
       VAGRANT_DEFAULT_PROVIDER: libvirt
     steps:
 
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+    - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
       with:
-        go-version: '1.25'
+        go-version: '1.26'
         check-latest: true
 
     - name: add hashicorp source
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ jobs:
       VAGRANT_DEFAULT_PROVIDER: virtualbox
     steps:
 
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+    - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
       with:
-        go-version: '1.25'
+        go-version: '1.26'
         check-latest: true
 
     - name: add hashicorp source
@@ -88,11 +88,11 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: windows-latest
     steps:
 
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+    - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
       with:
-        go-version: '1.25'
+        go-version: '1.26'
         check-latest: true
 
     # WSL2 + Ubuntu so the smoke can run a real linux peer with its own

.github/workflows/smoke.yml

@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
 
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+    - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
       with:
-        go-version: '1.25'
+        go-version: '1.26'
         check-latest: true
 
     - name: build
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ jobs:
       working-directory: ./.github/workflows/smoke
       run: ./smoke.sh
 
+    - name: setup docker image ipv6
+      working-directory: ./.github/workflows/smoke
+      run: SMOKE_OVERLAY_IPV6=1 ./build.sh
+
+    - name: run smoke ipv6
+      working-directory: ./.github/workflows/smoke
+      run: SMOKE_OVERLAY_IPV6=1 ./smoke.sh
+
     - name: setup relay docker image
       working-directory: ./.github/workflows/smoke
       run: ./build-relay.sh

.github/workflows/smoke/build.sh

@@ -5,6 +5,19 @@ set -e -x
 rm -rf ./build
 mkdir ./build
 
+if [ "$SMOKE_OVERLAY_IPV6" ]
+then
+    LIGHTHOUSE_NIP="fd00:4242:0:0:0:ffff:c0a8:6401"
+    HOST2_NIP="fd00:4242:0:0:0:ffff:c0a8:6402"
+    HOST3_NIP="fd00:4242:0:0:0:ffff:c0a8:6403"
+    HOST4_NIP="fd00:4242:0:0:0:ffff:c0a8:6404"
+else
+    LIGHTHOUSE_NIP="192.168.100.1"
+    HOST2_NIP="192.168.100.2"
+    HOST3_NIP="192.168.100.3"
+    HOST4_NIP="192.168.100.4"
+fi
+
 # Smoke containers run on a dedicated docker network whose subnet is allocated
 # at smoke time, not known at build time. Configs are written with TEST-NET-3
 # placeholder IPs (RFC 5737) and smoke.sh / smoke-vagrant.sh / smoke-relay.sh
@@ -31,24 +44,24 @@ LIGHTHOUSE_IP="203.0.113.2"
         ../genconfig.sh >lighthouse1.yml
 
     HOST="host2" \
-        LIGHTHOUSES="192.168.100.1 $LIGHTHOUSE_IP:4242" \
+        LIGHTHOUSES="$LIGHTHOUSE_NIP $LIGHTHOUSE_IP:4242" \
         ../genconfig.sh >host2.yml
 
     HOST="host3" \
-        LIGHTHOUSES="192.168.100.1 $LIGHTHOUSE_IP:4242" \
+        LIGHTHOUSES="$LIGHTHOUSE_NIP $LIGHTHOUSE_IP:4242" \
         INBOUND='[{"port": "any", "proto": "icmp", "group": "lighthouse"}]' \
         ../genconfig.sh >host3.yml
 
     HOST="host4" \
-        LIGHTHOUSES="192.168.100.1 $LIGHTHOUSE_IP:4242" \
+        LIGHTHOUSES="$LIGHTHOUSE_NIP $LIGHTHOUSE_IP:4242" \
         OUTBOUND='[{"port": "any", "proto": "icmp", "group": "lighthouse"}]' \
         ../genconfig.sh >host4.yml
 
     ../../../../nebula-cert ca -curve "${CURVE:-25519}" -name "Smoke Test"
-    ../../../../nebula-cert sign -name "lighthouse1" -groups "lighthouse,lighthouse1" -ip "192.168.100.1/24"
-    ../../../../nebula-cert sign -name "host2" -groups "host,host2" -ip "192.168.100.2/24"
-    ../../../../nebula-cert sign -name "host3" -groups "host,host3" -ip "192.168.100.3/24"
-    ../../../../nebula-cert sign -name "host4" -groups "host,host4" -ip "192.168.100.4/24"
+    ../../../../nebula-cert sign -name "lighthouse1" -groups "lighthouse,lighthouse1" -ip "$LIGHTHOUSE_NIP/24"
+    ../../../../nebula-cert sign -name "host2" -groups "host,host2" -ip "$HOST2_NIP/24"
+    ../../../../nebula-cert sign -name "host3" -groups "host,host3" -ip "$HOST3_NIP/24"
+    ../../../../nebula-cert sign -name "host4" -groups "host,host4" -ip "$HOST4_NIP/24"
 )
 
 docker build -t "nebula:${NAME:-smoke}" .

.github/workflows/smoke/smoke.sh

@@ -47,6 +47,19 @@ HOST2_IP="$PREFIX.3"
 HOST3_IP="$PREFIX.4"
 HOST4_IP="$PREFIX.5"
 
+if [ "$SMOKE_OVERLAY_IPV6" ]
+then
+    LIGHTHOUSE_NIP="fd00:4242:0:0:0:ffff:c0a8:6401"
+    HOST2_NIP="fd00:4242:0:0:0:ffff:c0a8:6402"
+    HOST3_NIP="fd00:4242:0:0:0:ffff:c0a8:6403"
+    HOST4_NIP="fd00:4242:0:0:0:ffff:c0a8:6404"
+else
+    LIGHTHOUSE_NIP="192.168.100.1"
+    HOST2_NIP="192.168.100.2"
+    HOST3_NIP="192.168.100.3"
+    HOST4_NIP="192.168.100.4"
+fi
+
 # Sed the placeholder TEST-NET-3 IPs in the host configs to the real ones.
 # build/lighthouse1.yml has no IPs to rewrite so it's skipped.
 for f in build/host2.yml build/host3.yml build/host4.yml; do
@@ -80,28 +93,28 @@ docker exec host3 tcpdump -i eth0 -q -w - -U 2>logs/host3.outside.log >logs/host
 docker exec host4 tcpdump -i tun0 -q -w - -U 2>logs/host4.inside.log >logs/host4.inside.pcap &
 docker exec host4 tcpdump -i eth0 -q -w - -U 2>logs/host4.outside.log >logs/host4.outside.pcap &
 
-docker exec host2 ncat -nklv 0.0.0.0 2000 &
-docker exec host3 ncat -nklv 0.0.0.0 2000 &
-docker exec host4 ncat -e '/usr/bin/echo helloagainfromhost4' -nkluv 0.0.0.0 4000 &
-docker exec host2 ncat -e '/usr/bin/echo host2' -nkluv 0.0.0.0 3000 &
-docker exec host3 ncat -e '/usr/bin/echo host3' -nkluv 0.0.0.0 3000 &
+docker exec host2 ncat -nklv 2000 &
+docker exec host3 ncat -nklv 2000 &
+docker exec host4 ncat -e '/usr/bin/echo helloagainfromhost4' -nkluv 4000 &
+docker exec host2 ncat -e '/usr/bin/echo host2' -nkluv 3000 &
+docker exec host3 ncat -e '/usr/bin/echo host3' -nkluv 3000 &
 
 set +x
 echo
 echo " *** Testing ping from lighthouse1"
 echo
 set -x
-docker exec lighthouse1 ping -c1 192.168.100.2
-docker exec lighthouse1 ping -c1 192.168.100.3
+docker exec lighthouse1 ping -c1 $HOST2_NIP
+docker exec lighthouse1 ping -c1 $HOST3_NIP
 
 set +x
 echo
 echo " *** Testing ping from host2"
 echo
 set -x
-docker exec host2 ping -c1 192.168.100.1
+docker exec host2 ping -c1 $LIGHTHOUSE_NIP
 # Should fail because not allowed by host3 inbound firewall
-! docker exec host2 ping -c1 192.168.100.3 -w5 || exit 1
+! docker exec host2 ping -c1 $HOST3_NIP -w5 || exit 1
 
 set +x
 echo
@@ -109,34 +122,34 @@ echo " *** Testing ncat from host2"
 echo
 set -x
 # Should fail because not allowed by host3 inbound firewall
-! docker exec host2 ncat -nzv -w5 192.168.100.3 2000 || exit 1
-! docker exec host2 ncat -nzuv -w5 192.168.100.3 3000 | grep -q host3 || exit 1
+! docker exec host2 ncat -nzv -w5 $HOST3_NIP 2000 || exit 1
+! docker exec host2 ncat -nzuv -w5 $HOST3_NIP 3000 | grep -q host3 || exit 1
 
 set +x
 echo
 echo " *** Testing ping from host3"
 echo
 set -x
-docker exec host3 ping -c1 192.168.100.1
-docker exec host3 ping -c1 192.168.100.2
+docker exec host3 ping -c1 $LIGHTHOUSE_NIP
+docker exec host3 ping -c1 $HOST2_NIP
 
 set +x
 echo
 echo " *** Testing ncat from host3"
 echo
 set -x
-docker exec host3 ncat -nzv -w5 192.168.100.2 2000
-docker exec host3 ncat -nzuv -w5 192.168.100.2 3000 | grep -q host2
+docker exec host3 ncat -nzv -w5 $HOST2_NIP 2000
+docker exec host3 ncat -nzuv -w5 $HOST2_NIP 3000 | grep -q host2
 
 set +x
 echo
 echo " *** Testing ping from host4"
 echo
 set -x
-docker exec host4 ping -c1 192.168.100.1
+docker exec host4 ping -c1 $LIGHTHOUSE_NIP
 # Should fail because not allowed by host4 outbound firewall
-! docker exec host4 ping -c1 192.168.100.2 -w5 || exit 1
-! docker exec host4 ping -c1 192.168.100.3 -w5 || exit 1
+! docker exec host4 ping -c1 $HOST2_NIP -w5 || exit 1
+! docker exec host4 ping -c1 $HOST3_NIP -w5 || exit 1
 
 set +x
 echo
@@ -144,10 +157,10 @@ echo " *** Testing ncat from host4"
 echo
 set -x
 # Should fail because not allowed by host4 outbound firewall
-! docker exec host4 ncat -nzv -w5 192.168.100.2 2000 || exit 1
-! docker exec host4 ncat -nzv -w5 192.168.100.3 2000 || exit 1
-! docker exec host4 ncat -nzuv -w5 192.168.100.2 3000 | grep -q host2 || exit 1
-! docker exec host4 ncat -nzuv -w5 192.168.100.3 3000 | grep -q host3 || exit 1
+! docker exec host4 ncat -nzv -w5 $HOST2_NIP 2000 || exit 1
+! docker exec host4 ncat -nzv -w5 $HOST3_NIP 2000 || exit 1
+! docker exec host4 ncat -nzuv -w5 $HOST2_NIP 3000 | grep -q host2 || exit 1
+! docker exec host4 ncat -nzuv -w5 $HOST3_NIP 3000 | grep -q host3 || exit 1
 
 set +x
 echo
@@ -159,7 +172,7 @@ set -x
 # cannot initiate UDP to host2. Once host2 initiates a flow to host4:4000,
 # conntrack must let host4's listener reply on that flow. If it doesn't,
 # the echo back from host4 never reaches host2.
-docker exec host2 sh -c "(/usr/bin/echo host2; sleep 2) | ncat -nuv 192.168.100.4 4000" | grep -q helloagainfromhost4
+docker exec host2 sh -c "(/usr/bin/echo host2; sleep 2) | ncat -nuv $HOST4_NIP 4000" | grep -q helloagainfromhost4
 
 docker exec host4 sh -c 'kill 1'
 docker exec host3 sh -c 'kill 1'

.github/workflows/test.yml

@@ -13,20 +13,28 @@ on:
       - 'go.sum'
 jobs:
 
-  test-linux:
-    name: Build all and test on ubuntu-linux
+  static:
+    name: Static checks
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
 
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+    - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
       with:
-        go-version: '1.25'
+        go-version: '1.26'
         check-latest: true
 
-    - name: Build
-      run: make all
+    - name: Install goimports
+      run: go install golang.org/x/tools/cmd/goimports@latest
+
+    - name: gofmt
+      run: |
+        if [ "$(find . -iname '*.go' | grep -v '\.pb\.go$' | xargs goimports -l)" ]
+        then
+          find . -iname '*.go' | grep -v '\.pb\.go$' | xargs goimports -d
+          exit 1
+        fi
 
     - name: Vet
       run: make vet
@@ -34,99 +42,109 @@ jobs:
     - name: golangci-lint
       uses: golangci/golangci-lint-action@v9
       with:
-        version: v2.5
-
-    - name: Test
-      run: make test
-
-    - name: End 2 end
-      run: make e2evv
-
-    - name: Build test mobile
-      run: make build-test-mobile
-
-    - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
-      with:
-        name: e2e packet flow linux-latest
-        path: e2e/mermaid/linux-latest
-        if-no-files-found: warn
-
-  test-linux-boringcrypto:
-    name: Build and test on linux with boringcrypto
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
-      with:
-        go-version: '1.25'
-        check-latest: true
-
-    - name: Build
-      run: make bin-boringcrypto
-
-    - name: Test
-      run: make test-boringcrypto
-
-    - name: End 2 end
-      run: make e2e GOEXPERIMENT=boringcrypto CGO_ENABLED=1 TEST_ENV="TEST_LOGS=1" TEST_FLAGS="-v -ldflags -checklinkname=0"
-
-  test-linux-pkcs11:
-    name: Build and test on linux with pkcs11
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
-      with:
-        go-version: '1.25'
-        check-latest: true
-
-    - name: Build
-      run: make bin-pkcs11
-
-    - name: Test
-      run: make test-pkcs11
+        version: v2.12
 
   test:
-    name: Build and test on ${{ matrix.os }}
+    name: Test ${{ matrix.name }}
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        os: [windows-latest, macos-latest]
+        include:
+        - name: linux
+          os: ubuntu-latest
+          build-cmd: go build ./cmd/nebula ./cmd/nebula-cert
+          test-cmd: make test
+          e2e-cmd: make e2evv
+        - name: linux-boringcrypto
+          os: ubuntu-latest
+          build-cmd: make bin-boringcrypto
+          test-cmd: make test-boringcrypto
+          e2e-cmd: make e2e GOEXPERIMENT=boringcrypto CGO_ENABLED=1 TEST_ENV="TEST_LOGS=1" TEST_FLAGS="-v -ldflags -checklinkname=0"
+        - name: linux-pkcs11
+          os: ubuntu-latest
+          build-cmd: make bin-pkcs11
+          test-cmd: make test-pkcs11
+          e2e-cmd: ''
+        - name: macos
+          os: macos-latest
+          build-cmd: go build ./cmd/nebula ./cmd/nebula-cert
+          test-cmd: make test
+          e2e-cmd: make e2evv
+        - name: windows
+          os: windows-latest
+          build-cmd: go build ./cmd/nebula ./cmd/nebula-cert
+          test-cmd: make test
+          e2e-cmd: make e2evv
     steps:
 
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
-    - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
+    - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
       with:
-        go-version: '1.25'
+        go-version: '1.26'
         check-latest: true
 
-    - name: Build nebula
-      run: go build ./cmd/nebula
+    - name: Build
+      run: ${{ matrix.build-cmd }}
 
-    - name: Build nebula-cert
-      run: go build ./cmd/nebula-cert
-
-    - name: Vet
-      run: make vet
-
-    - name: golangci-lint
-      uses: golangci/golangci-lint-action@v9
-      with:
-        version: v2.5
+    - name: Cross-build darwin-amd64
+      if: matrix.name == 'macos'
+      run: GOARCH=amd64 go build -o /tmp/nebula-amd64 ./cmd/nebula && GOARCH=amd64 go build -o /tmp/nebula-cert-amd64 ./cmd/nebula-cert
 
     - name: Test
-      run: make test
+      run: ${{ matrix.test-cmd }}
 
     - name: End 2 end
-      run: make e2evv
+      if: matrix.e2e-cmd != ''
+      run: ${{ matrix.e2e-cmd }}
 
     - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
+      if: matrix.e2e-cmd != '' && always()
       with:
-        name: e2e packet flow ${{ matrix.os }}
-        path: e2e/mermaid/${{ matrix.os }}
+        name: e2e packet flow ${{ matrix.name }}
+        path: e2e/mermaid/
         if-no-files-found: warn
+
+  cross-build:
+    name: Cross-build ${{ matrix.name }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        include:
+        - {name: linux-arm,   make-target: all-cross-linux-arm}
+        - {name: linux-mips,  make-target: all-cross-linux-mips}
+        - {name: linux-other, make-target: all-cross-linux-other}
+        - {name: freebsd,     make-target: all-freebsd}
+        - {name: openbsd,     make-target: all-openbsd}
+        - {name: netbsd,      make-target: all-netbsd}
+        - {name: windows,     make-target: all-cross-windows}
+        - {name: mobile,      make-target: build-test-mobile}
+    steps:
+
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v7
+
+    - uses: actions/setup-go@v7
+      with:
+        go-version: '1.26'
+        check-latest: true
+
+    - name: Build ${{ matrix.name }}
+      run: make -j"$(nproc)" ${{ matrix.make-target }}
+
+  finish:
+    name: CI status
+    if: always()
+    needs: [static, test, cross-build]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+
+    - name: Fail if any upstream job failed
+      if: contains(needs.*.result, 'failure') || contains(needs.*.result, 'cancelled')
+      run: |
+        echo "upstream results: ${{ toJSON(needs) }}"
+        exit 1
+
+    - name: All upstream jobs passed
+      run: echo "ok"

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,88 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [1.11.0] - 2026-07-23
+
+See the [v1.11.0](https://github.com/slackhq/nebula/milestone/25?closed=1) milestone for a complete list of changes.
+
+### Breaking
+
+- Logging has switched from logrus to Go's structured `slog`. Log output changes: levels are upper case
+  (`level=INFO`), trace prints as `level=DEBUG-4`, timestamps are always RFC3339Nano and `logging.timestamp_format`
+  is ignored, and some messages were reworded. Review any log parsing before upgrading. This is also an API break
+  for embedders, as constructors now take a `*slog.Logger`. (#1672, #1734, #1621)
+- `firewall.inbound_action` and `firewall.outbound_action` (used to set reject vs. drop policy) were each being
+  applied to the opposite direction, that is now corrected. This only affects how blocked packets are answered, not
+  which packets the firewall allows or denies. If you set either of these you are getting the behavior of the other
+  one today and likely want to swap them before upgrading. (#1798)
+- On Windows, Nebula now installs WFP PERMIT filters for the nebula adapter and the listener port by default. WFP
+  sits below Windows Defender Firewall, so any WDF inbound rules you rely on for either will no longer apply. Set
+  `tun.windows_bypass_wdf` and `listen.windows_bypass_wdf` to false to leave WDF in charge. (#1710)
+- On Windows, the nebula device is now set to the `private` network category instead of whatever Windows decided,
+  which is usually `Public`. This makes the host firewall less restrictive on the overlay. Set
+  `tun.network_category` to `unset` to keep the old behavior. (#1710)
+- Reject packets for non-TCP now use ICMP code 13, communication administratively prohibited, instead of code 3,
+  port unreachable. Anything keying off the old code needs updating. (#1766, #1768)
+- The SSH debug server's profiling commands are now confined to `sshd.sandbox_dir`, which defaults to
+  `$TMP/nebula-debug`. Relative paths resolve inside it and absolute paths outside it are rejected, so anything
+  scripting `start-cpu-profile`, `save-heap-profile`, or `save-mutex-profile` with a path elsewhere needs the
+  directory set. The directory is not created for you. (#1622)
+
+### Added
+
+- Sign the Windows release binaries. (#1718)
+- Generate IPv6 reject packets, matching the existing IPv4 behavior. (#1766, #1767, #1768)
+- Accept `-` in `nebula-cert` to read from stdin or write to stdout. (#1714)
+- Search for both `config.yml` and `config.yaml` in service and command line modes. (#1717)
+- Add version labels to the Docker/OCI images. (#1772)
+- Rebind the listener and re-query lighthouses on macOS when the underlay network changes, so devices moving
+  between wifi and wired or between networks recover without waiting for dead tunnel detection. Controlled by
+  `listen.rebind_on_network_change` (default `true`, not reloadable). (#1816)
+
+### Changed
+
+- Reload the firewall when the unsafe networks in the certificate change. (#1719)
+- Reconfigure, start, and stop the stats listener on a config reload instead of requiring a restart. (#1670)
+- Update a static host's addresses when they change on reload. (#1713)
+- Don't require a port on ICMP firewall rules. (#1609)
+- Connection track ICMP traffic. (#1602)
+- Return `NODATA` instead of `NXDOMAIN` from the DNS server for a name that exists but has no record of the
+  requested type, so clients that query `AAAA` first (busybox/Alpine) fall through to `A`. (#1668)
+- Record the local host's details in the DNS server. (#1716)
+- Install Windows unsafe routes as link routes. (#1709)
+- Reduce relay handshake log spam, and only log a handshake send error at error level when the remote list
+  changes. (#1733, #1765, #1810)
+- Start, stop, and reload subsystems (DNS, stats, conntrack, ssh, punchy) cleanly without leaking goroutines. (#1640, #1654, #1661, #1667, #1669, #1708, #1806, #1815)
+- `Control` is now safe to stop and wait on from any lifecycle state, and a new `Control.Wait` blocks until nebula
+  has fully stopped and returns the first fatal reader error. Failed starts release the udp sockets and tun fd
+  instead of leaking them. (#1794)
+- Trigger an immediate lighthouse update when reconnecting to or adding a lighthouse instead of waiting for the next update tick. (#1645)
+- Bring the Darwin and OpenBSD tun implementations in line with the other BSDs. (#1703)
+- Update to build against go v1.26. (#1818)
+- Various dependency updates. (#1586, #1587, #1604, #1617, #1618, #1627, #1628, #1629, #1652, #1664, #1665, #1697, #1721, #1732, #1742, #1743, #1750, #1763, #1771, #1782, #1800, #1807)
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fix a data race on a host's remote address that could send packets to the wrong address during a roam. (#1773)
+- Fix tunnels that could permanently escape connection manager monitoring. (#1752)
+- Fix a crash when reloading the SSH server's trusted keys. (#1787)
+- Fix hostmap corruption when a host has multiple overlay addresses. Each address now gets its own list instead of
+  a single shared chain, which also fixes two latent bugs on the add and makePrimary paths. (#1788, #1790)
+- Apply `remote_allow_list` IPv4 rules to 4-in-6 mapped addresses. (#1786)
+- Don't panic in the DNS server on a short or empty query name. (#1635)
+- Advance the replay window on relayed packets so a relay drops replayed frames instead of re-forwarding them. (#1751)
+- Fix a race in relay state handling. (#1753)
+- Lock replay window updates so concurrent readers can't corrupt it. (#1802)
+- Reject malformed handshakes more reliably, including invalid ed25519 key lengths. (#1601, #1756)
+- Properly handle `closetunnel` packets. (#1638)
+- Fix an IPv6 extension-header length overflow that could make the firewall parse the wrong protocol and ports. (#1789)
+- Fix relay re-establishment when a handshake arrives over a relay entry that a one-sided teardown left
+  `Disestablished`, which silently dropped every send until dead tunnel detection forced a re-handshake. (#1805)
+- Don't build new relay state on a tunnel that was just discarded. (#1796)
+- Don't delete the wrong pending hostinfo in the handshake manager. (#1811)
+- Don't call the packet reader after a UDP error on Darwin. (#1755)
+- Open the FreeBSD tun device non blocking. (#1666)
+
 ## [1.10.3] - 2026-02-06
 
 ### Security

Makefile

@@ -60,6 +60,18 @@ ALL = $(ALL_LINUX) \
 	windows-amd64 \
 	windows-arm64
 
+# Cross-build shards used by .github/workflows/test.yml — same as ALL_*
+# but with the arch that has a native CI runner removed, so the cross-build
+# job is not duplicating coverage the native test jobs already give.
+ALL_CROSS_LINUX = $(filter-out linux-amd64,$(ALL_LINUX))
+
+# ALL_CROSS_LINUX further split into family sub-shards so each can run on
+# its own CI runner in parallel. Union of the three must equal
+# ALL_CROSS_LINUX; adding a new linux arch goes into the matching family.
+ALL_CROSS_LINUX_ARM   = linux-arm-5 linux-arm-6 linux-arm-7 linux-arm64
+ALL_CROSS_LINUX_MIPS  = linux-mips linux-mipsle linux-mips64 linux-mips64le linux-mips-softfloat
+ALL_CROSS_LINUX_OTHER = linux-386 linux-ppc64le linux-riscv64 linux-loong64
+
 e2e:
 	$(TEST_ENV) go test -tags=e2e_testing -count=1 $(TEST_FLAGS) ./e2e
 
@@ -82,6 +94,35 @@ DOCKER_BIN = build/linux-amd64/nebula build/linux-amd64/nebula-cert
 
 all: $(ALL:%=build/%/nebula) $(ALL:%=build/%/nebula-cert)
 
+all-linux: $(ALL_LINUX:%=build/%/nebula) $(ALL_LINUX:%=build/%/nebula-cert)
+
+all-freebsd: $(ALL_FREEBSD:%=build/%/nebula) $(ALL_FREEBSD:%=build/%/nebula-cert)
+
+all-openbsd: $(ALL_OPENBSD:%=build/%/nebula) $(ALL_OPENBSD:%=build/%/nebula-cert)
+
+all-netbsd: $(ALL_NETBSD:%=build/%/nebula) $(ALL_NETBSD:%=build/%/nebula-cert)
+
+all-darwin: build/darwin-amd64/nebula build/darwin-amd64/nebula-cert build/darwin-arm64/nebula build/darwin-arm64/nebula-cert
+
+all-windows: build/windows-amd64/nebula.exe build/windows-amd64/nebula-cert.exe build/windows-arm64/nebula.exe build/windows-arm64/nebula-cert.exe
+
+# CI cross-build shards. darwin-arm64 is covered by the native macos-latest
+# job; windows-amd64 is covered by the native windows-latest job; both are
+# omitted here to avoid building them a second time. darwin-amd64 stays in
+# all-cross-darwin because intel mac is only a labeled/master-time native
+# job, so PRs still need cross-build coverage for it.
+all-cross-linux: $(ALL_CROSS_LINUX:%=build/%/nebula) $(ALL_CROSS_LINUX:%=build/%/nebula-cert)
+
+all-cross-linux-arm:   $(ALL_CROSS_LINUX_ARM:%=build/%/nebula)   $(ALL_CROSS_LINUX_ARM:%=build/%/nebula-cert)
+
+all-cross-linux-mips:  $(ALL_CROSS_LINUX_MIPS:%=build/%/nebula)  $(ALL_CROSS_LINUX_MIPS:%=build/%/nebula-cert)
+
+all-cross-linux-other: $(ALL_CROSS_LINUX_OTHER:%=build/%/nebula) $(ALL_CROSS_LINUX_OTHER:%=build/%/nebula-cert)
+
+all-cross-darwin: build/darwin-amd64/nebula build/darwin-amd64/nebula-cert
+
+all-cross-windows: build/windows-arm64/nebula.exe build/windows-arm64/nebula-cert.exe
+
 docker: docker/linux-$(shell go env GOARCH)
 
 release: $(ALL:%=build/nebula-%.tar.gz)
@@ -120,6 +161,10 @@ bin-pkcs11: BUILD_ARGS += -tags pkcs11
 bin-pkcs11: CGO_ENABLED = 1
 bin-pkcs11: bin
 
+# Build with the pprof debug server (serves on :6060). See startPprofServer.
+debug: BUILD_ARGS += -tags debug
+debug: bin
+
 bin:
 	go build $(BUILD_ARGS) -ldflags "$(LDFLAGS)" -o ./nebula${NEBULA_CMD_SUFFIX} ${NEBULA_CMD_PATH}
 	go build $(BUILD_ARGS) -ldflags "$(LDFLAGS)" -o ./nebula-cert${NEBULA_CMD_SUFFIX} ./cmd/nebula-cert
@@ -227,6 +272,9 @@ smoke-relay-docker: bin-docker
 	cd .github/workflows/smoke/ && ./build-relay.sh
 	cd .github/workflows/smoke/ && ./smoke-relay.sh
 
+smoke-docker-ipv6: export SMOKE_OVERLAY_IPV6 = 1
+smoke-docker-ipv6: smoke-docker
+
 smoke-docker-race: BUILD_ARGS = -race
 smoke-docker-race: CGO_ENABLED = 1
 smoke-docker-race: smoke-docker
@@ -236,5 +284,5 @@ smoke-vagrant/%: bin-docker build/%/nebula
 	cd .github/workflows/smoke/ && ./smoke-vagrant.sh $*
 
 .FORCE:
-.PHONY: bench bench-cpu bench-cpu-long bin build-test-mobile e2e e2ev e2evv e2evvv e2evvvv proto release service smoke-docker smoke-docker-race test test-cov-html smoke-vagrant/%
+.PHONY: all all-linux all-freebsd all-openbsd all-netbsd all-darwin all-windows all-cross-linux all-cross-linux-arm all-cross-linux-mips all-cross-linux-other all-cross-darwin all-cross-windows bench bench-cpu bench-cpu-long bin debug build-test-mobile e2e e2ev e2evv e2evvv e2evvvv proto release service smoke-docker smoke-docker-race test test-cov-html smoke-vagrant/%
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := bin

cert/helper_test.go

@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/ed25519"
 )
 
+// testCertNow is the reference "now" used to derive default before/after times
+// in NewTestCaCert and NewTestCert. Holding it fixed for the lifetime of the
+// test binary keeps CA and leaf defaults aligned at the same second, so a leaf
+// signed with default times can never expire after its CA on a rounding race.
+var testCertNow = time.Now().Round(time.Second)
+
 // NewTestCaCert will create a new ca certificate
 func NewTestCaCert(version Version, curve Curve, before, after time.Time, networks, unsafeNetworks []netip.Prefix, groups []string) (Certificate, []byte, []byte, []byte) {
 	var err error
@@ -34,10 +40,10 @@ func NewTestCaCert(version Version, curve Curve, before, after time.Time, networ
 	}
 
 	if before.IsZero() {
-		before = time.Now().Add(time.Second * -60).Round(time.Second)
+		before = testCertNow.Add(time.Second * -60)
 	}
 	if after.IsZero() {
-		after = time.Now().Add(time.Second * 60).Round(time.Second)
+		after = testCertNow.Add(time.Second * 60)
 	}
 
 	t := &TBSCertificate{
@@ -70,11 +76,11 @@ func NewTestCaCert(version Version, curve Curve, before, after time.Time, networ
 // Expiry times are defaulted if you do not pass them in
 func NewTestCert(v Version, curve Curve, ca Certificate, key []byte, name string, before, after time.Time, networks, unsafeNetworks []netip.Prefix, groups []string) (Certificate, []byte, []byte, []byte) {
 	if before.IsZero() {
-		before = time.Now().Add(time.Second * -60).Round(time.Second)
+		before = testCertNow.Add(time.Second * -60)
 	}
 
 	if after.IsZero() {
-		after = time.Now().Add(time.Second * 60).Round(time.Second)
+		after = testCertNow.Add(time.Second * 60)
 	}
 
 	if len(networks) == 0 {

cert/pem.go

@@ -148,6 +148,9 @@ func MarshalSigningPublicKeyToPEM(curve Curve, b []byte) []byte {
 	}
 }
 
+// UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM will try to unmarshal the first pem block in a byte array, returning any non
+// consumed data or an error on failure. Only key-agreement (ECDH) public key banners are accepted.
+// Use UnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM for Ed25519/ECDSA banners.
 func UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(b []byte) ([]byte, []byte, Curve, error) {
 	k, r := pem.Decode(b)
 	if k == nil {
@@ -156,10 +159,10 @@ func UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(b []byte) ([]byte, []byte, Curve, error) {
 	var expectedLen int
 	var curve Curve
 	switch k.Type {
-	case X25519PublicKeyBanner, Ed25519PublicKeyBanner:
+	case X25519PublicKeyBanner:
 		expectedLen = 32
 		curve = Curve_CURVE25519
-	case P256PublicKeyBanner, ECDSAP256PublicKeyBanner:
+	case P256PublicKeyBanner:
 		// Uncompressed
 		expectedLen = 65
 		curve = Curve_P256
@@ -172,6 +175,33 @@ func UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(b []byte) ([]byte, []byte, Curve, error) {
 	return k.Bytes, r, curve, nil
 }
 
+// UnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM will try to unmarshal the first pem block in a byte array, returning any non
+// consumed data or an error on failure. Only Ed25519/ECDSA public key banners are accepted.
+// Use UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM for X25519/P256 (ECDH) banners.
+func UnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM(b []byte) ([]byte, []byte, Curve, error) {
+	k, r := pem.Decode(b)
+	if k == nil {
+		return nil, r, 0, fmt.Errorf("input did not contain a valid PEM encoded block")
+	}
+	var expectedLen int
+	var curve Curve
+	switch k.Type {
+	case Ed25519PublicKeyBanner:
+		expectedLen = 32
+		curve = Curve_CURVE25519
+	case ECDSAP256PublicKeyBanner:
+		// Uncompressed
+		expectedLen = 65
+		curve = Curve_P256
+	default:
+		return nil, r, 0, fmt.Errorf("bytes did not contain a proper Ed25519/ECDSA public key banner")
+	}
+	if len(k.Bytes) != expectedLen {
+		return nil, r, 0, fmt.Errorf("key was not %d bytes, is invalid %s public key", expectedLen, curve)
+	}
+	return k.Bytes, r, curve, nil
+}
+
 func MarshalPrivateKeyToPEM(curve Curve, b []byte) []byte {
 	switch curve {
 	case Curve_CURVE25519:

cert/pem_test.go

@@ -255,60 +255,6 @@ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
 func TestUnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	pubKey := []byte(`# A good key
------BEGIN NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
------END NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
-`)
-	shortKey := []byte(`# A short key
------BEGIN NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==
------END NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
-`)
-	invalidBanner := []byte(`# Invalid banner
------BEGIN NOT A NEBULA PUBLIC KEY-----
-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
------END NOT A NEBULA PUBLIC KEY-----
-`)
-	invalidPem := []byte(`# Not a valid PEM format
--BEGIN NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
--END NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----`)
-
-	keyBundle := appendByteSlices(pubKey, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem)
-
-	// Success test case
-	k, rest, curve, err := UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(keyBundle)
-	assert.Len(t, k, 32)
-	assert.Equal(t, Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem))
-
-	// Fail due to short key
-	k, rest, curve, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
-	assert.Nil(t, k)
-	assert.Equal(t, Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
-	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(invalidBanner, invalidPem))
-	require.EqualError(t, err, "key was not 32 bytes, is invalid CURVE25519 public key")
-
-	// Fail due to invalid banner
-	k, rest, curve, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
-	assert.Nil(t, k)
-	assert.Equal(t, Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
-	require.EqualError(t, err, "bytes did not contain a proper public key banner")
-	assert.Equal(t, rest, invalidPem)
-
-	// Fail due to invalid PEM format, because
-	// it's missing the requisite pre-encapsulation boundary.
-	k, rest, curve, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
-	assert.Nil(t, k)
-	assert.Equal(t, Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
-	assert.Equal(t, rest, invalidPem)
-	require.EqualError(t, err, "input did not contain a valid PEM encoded block")
-}
-
-func TestUnmarshalX25519PublicKey(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-	pubKey := []byte(`# A good key
 -----BEGIN NEBULA X25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
 -----END NEBULA X25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
@@ -319,7 +265,7 @@ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
 -----END NEBULA P256 PUBLIC KEY-----
 `)
-	oldPubP256Key := []byte(`# A good key
+	signingKey := []byte(`# A signing key has the wrong scope for this function
 -----BEGIN NEBULA ECDSA P256 PUBLIC KEY-----
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
@@ -340,44 +286,118 @@ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
 -END NEBULA X25519 PUBLIC KEY-----`)
 
-	keyBundle := appendByteSlices(pubKey, pubP256Key, oldPubP256Key, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem)
+	keyBundle := appendByteSlices(pubKey, pubP256Key, signingKey, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem)
 
-	// Success test case
+	// X25519 key
 	k, rest, curve, err := UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(keyBundle)
 	assert.Len(t, k, 32)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(pubP256Key, oldPubP256Key, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem))
+	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(pubP256Key, signingKey, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem))
 	assert.Equal(t, Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
 
-	// Success test case
+	// P256 key
 	k, rest, curve, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
 	assert.Len(t, k, 65)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(oldPubP256Key, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem))
+	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(signingKey, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem))
 	assert.Equal(t, Curve_P256, curve)
 
-	// Success test case
-	k, rest, curve, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
-	assert.Len(t, k, 65)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	// Reject a signing public key (Ed25519/ECDSA banner)
+	k, rest, _, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
+	assert.Nil(t, k)
 	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem))
-	assert.Equal(t, Curve_P256, curve)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, "bytes did not contain a proper public key banner")
 
 	// Fail due to short key
-	k, rest, curve, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
+	k, rest, _, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
 	assert.Nil(t, k)
 	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(invalidBanner, invalidPem))
 	require.EqualError(t, err, "key was not 32 bytes, is invalid CURVE25519 public key")
 
 	// Fail due to invalid banner
-	k, rest, curve, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
+	k, rest, _, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
 	assert.Nil(t, k)
 	require.EqualError(t, err, "bytes did not contain a proper public key banner")
 	assert.Equal(t, rest, invalidPem)
 
 	// Fail due to invalid PEM format, because
 	// it's missing the requisite pre-encapsulation boundary.
-	k, rest, curve, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
+	k, rest, _, err = UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
+	assert.Nil(t, k)
+	assert.Equal(t, rest, invalidPem)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, "input did not contain a valid PEM encoded block")
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	pubKey := []byte(`# A good key
+-----BEGIN NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
+AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
+-----END NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
+`)
+	pubP256Key := []byte(`# A good key
+-----BEGIN NEBULA ECDSA P256 PUBLIC KEY-----
+AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
+AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
+-----END NEBULA ECDSA P256 PUBLIC KEY-----
+`)
+	ecdhKey := []byte(`# A key-agreement key has the wrong scope for this function
+-----BEGIN NEBULA X25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
+AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
+-----END NEBULA X25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
+`)
+	shortKey := []byte(`# A short key
+-----BEGIN NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
+AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==
+-----END NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
+`)
+	invalidBanner := []byte(`# Invalid banner
+-----BEGIN NOT A NEBULA PUBLIC KEY-----
+AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
+-----END NOT A NEBULA PUBLIC KEY-----
+`)
+	invalidPem := []byte(`# Not a valid PEM format
+-BEGIN NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----
+AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=
+-END NEBULA ED25519 PUBLIC KEY-----`)
+
+	keyBundle := appendByteSlices(pubKey, pubP256Key, ecdhKey, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem)
+
+	// Ed25519 key
+	k, rest, curve, err := UnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM(keyBundle)
+	assert.Len(t, k, 32)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(pubP256Key, ecdhKey, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem))
+	assert.Equal(t, Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
+
+	// ECDSA P256 key
+	k, rest, curve, err = UnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
+	assert.Len(t, k, 65)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(ecdhKey, shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem))
+	assert.Equal(t, Curve_P256, curve)
+
+	// Reject a key-agreement public key (X25519/P256 banner)
+	k, rest, _, err = UnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
+	assert.Nil(t, k)
+	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(shortKey, invalidBanner, invalidPem))
+	require.EqualError(t, err, "bytes did not contain a proper Ed25519/ECDSA public key banner")
+
+	// Fail due to short key
+	k, rest, _, err = UnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
+	assert.Nil(t, k)
+	assert.Equal(t, rest, appendByteSlices(invalidBanner, invalidPem))
+	require.EqualError(t, err, "key was not 32 bytes, is invalid CURVE25519 public key")
+
+	// Fail due to invalid banner
+	k, rest, _, err = UnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
+	assert.Nil(t, k)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, "bytes did not contain a proper Ed25519/ECDSA public key banner")
+	assert.Equal(t, rest, invalidPem)
+
+	// Fail due to invalid PEM format, because
+	// it's missing the requisite pre-encapsulation boundary.
+	k, rest, _, err = UnmarshalSigningPublicKeyFromPEM(rest)
 	assert.Nil(t, k)
 	assert.Equal(t, rest, invalidPem)
 	require.EqualError(t, err, "input did not contain a valid PEM encoded block")

cert_test/cert.go

@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/ed25519"
 )
 
+// testCertNow is the reference "now" used to derive default before/after times
+// in NewTestCaCert and NewTestCert. Holding it fixed for the lifetime of the
+// test binary keeps CA and leaf defaults aligned at the same second, so a leaf
+// signed with default times can never expire after its CA on a rounding race.
+var testCertNow = time.Now().Round(time.Second)
+
 // NewTestCaCert will create a new ca certificate
 func NewTestCaCert(version cert.Version, curve cert.Curve, before, after time.Time, networks, unsafeNetworks []netip.Prefix, groups []string) (cert.Certificate, []byte, []byte, []byte) {
 	var err error
@@ -35,10 +41,10 @@ func NewTestCaCert(version cert.Version, curve cert.Curve, before, after time.Ti
 	}
 
 	if before.IsZero() {
-		before = time.Now().Add(time.Second * -60).Round(time.Second)
+		before = testCertNow.Add(time.Second * -60)
 	}
 	if after.IsZero() {
-		after = time.Now().Add(time.Second * 60).Round(time.Second)
+		after = testCertNow.Add(time.Second * 60)
 	}
 
 	t := &cert.TBSCertificate{
@@ -71,11 +77,11 @@ func NewTestCaCert(version cert.Version, curve cert.Curve, before, after time.Ti
 // Expiry times are defaulted if you do not pass them in
 func NewTestCert(v cert.Version, curve cert.Curve, ca cert.Certificate, key []byte, name string, before, after time.Time, networks, unsafeNetworks []netip.Prefix, groups []string) (cert.Certificate, []byte, []byte, []byte) {
 	if before.IsZero() {
-		before = time.Now().Add(time.Second * -60).Round(time.Second)
+		before = testCertNow.Add(time.Second * -60)
 	}
 
 	if after.IsZero() {
-		after = time.Now().Add(time.Second * 60).Round(time.Second)
+		after = testCertNow.Add(time.Second * 60)
 	}
 
 	var pub, priv []byte

cmd/nebula-cert/ca.go

@@ -97,6 +97,19 @@ func ca(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader) error
 		if err = mustFlagString("out-key", cf.outKeyPath); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+	} else {
+		// out-key is meaningless under PKCS#11 because the private key never
+		// leaves the HSM; reject it so we never silently accept or claim a
+		// stdout slot for it.
+		outKeySet := false
+		cf.set.Visit(func(f *flag.Flag) {
+			if f.Name == "out-key" {
+				outKeySet = true
+			}
+		})
+		if outKeySet {
+			return newHelpErrorf("cannot set -out-key with -pkcs11")
+		}
 	}
 	if err := mustFlagString("out-crt", cf.outCertPath); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -171,12 +184,21 @@ func ca(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader) error
 		}
 	}
 
+	var claims ioClaims
+	if err := reserveOutputs(&claims,
+		"out-key", *cf.outKeyPath,
+		"out-crt", *cf.outCertPath,
+		"out-qr", *cf.outQRPath,
+	); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	var passphrase []byte
 	if !isP11 && *cf.encryption {
 		passphrase = []byte(os.Getenv("NEBULA_CA_PASSPHRASE"))
 		if len(passphrase) == 0 {
 			for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
-				out.Write([]byte("Enter passphrase: "))
+				errOut.Write([]byte("Enter passphrase: "))
 				passphrase, err = pr.ReadPassword()
 
 				if err == ErrNoTerminal {
@@ -261,15 +283,17 @@ func ca(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader) error
 		Curve:          curve,
 	}
 
-	if !isP11 {
+	if !isP11 && !isStdio(*cf.outKeyPath) {
 		if _, err := os.Stat(*cf.outKeyPath); err == nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("refusing to overwrite existing CA key: %s", *cf.outKeyPath)
 		}
 	}
 
+	if !isStdio(*cf.outCertPath) {
 		if _, err := os.Stat(*cf.outCertPath); err == nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("refusing to overwrite existing CA cert: %s", *cf.outCertPath)
 		}
+	}
 
 	var c cert.Certificate
 	var b []byte
@@ -294,7 +318,7 @@ func ca(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader) error
 			b = cert.MarshalSigningPrivateKeyToPEM(curve, rawPriv)
 		}
 
-		err = os.WriteFile(*cf.outKeyPath, b, 0600)
+		err = writeOutput(*cf.outKeyPath, b, 0600, out)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while writing out-key: %s", err)
 		}
@@ -305,7 +329,7 @@ func ca(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader) error
 		return fmt.Errorf("error while marshalling certificate: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	err = os.WriteFile(*cf.outCertPath, b, 0600)
+	err = writeOutput(*cf.outCertPath, b, 0600, out)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error while writing out-crt: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -316,7 +340,7 @@ func ca(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader) error
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while generating qr code: %s", err)
 		}
 
-		err = os.WriteFile(*cf.outQRPath, b, 0600)
+		err = writeOutput(*cf.outQRPath, b, 0600, out)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while writing out-qr: %s", err)
 		}
@@ -332,6 +356,7 @@ func caSummary() string {
 func caHelp(out io.Writer) {
 	cf := newCaFlags()
 	out.Write([]byte("Usage of " + os.Args[0] + " " + caSummary() + "\n"))
+	out.Write([]byte(stdioHelpText))
 	cf.set.SetOutput(out)
 	cf.set.PrintDefaults()
 }

cmd/nebula-cert/ca_test.go

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ func Test_caHelp(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(
 		t,
 		"Usage of "+os.Args[0]+" ca <flags>: create a self signed certificate authority\n"+
+			"  Pass \"-\" to any path flag to read from stdin or write to stdout.\n"+
 			"  -argon-iterations uint\n"+
 			"    \tOptional: Argon2 iterations parameter used for encrypted private key passphrase (default 1)\n"+
 			"  -argon-memory uint\n"+
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ func Test_ca(t *testing.T) {
 		err:      nil,
 	}
 
-	pwPromptOb := "Enter passphrase: "
+	pwPromptEB := "Enter passphrase: "
 
 	// required args
 	assertHelpError(t, ca(
@@ -168,8 +169,8 @@ func Test_ca(t *testing.T) {
 	eb.Reset()
 	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-encrypt", "-name", "test", "-duration", "100m", "-groups", "1,2,3,4,5", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", keyF.Name()}
 	require.NoError(t, ca(args, ob, eb, testpw))
-	assert.Equal(t, pwPromptOb, ob.String())
-	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, pwPromptEB, eb.String())
 
 	// test encrypted key with passphrase environment variable
 	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
@@ -207,8 +208,8 @@ func Test_ca(t *testing.T) {
 	eb.Reset()
 	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-encrypt", "-name", "test", "-duration", "100m", "-groups", "1,2,3,4,5", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", keyF.Name()}
 	require.Error(t, ca(args, ob, eb, errpw))
-	assert.Equal(t, pwPromptOb, ob.String())
-	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, pwPromptEB, eb.String())
 
 	// test when user fails to enter a password
 	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
@@ -217,8 +218,8 @@ func Test_ca(t *testing.T) {
 	eb.Reset()
 	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-encrypt", "-name", "test", "-duration", "100m", "-groups", "1,2,3,4,5", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", keyF.Name()}
 	require.EqualError(t, ca(args, ob, eb, nopw), "no passphrase specified, remove -encrypt flag to write out-key in plaintext")
-	assert.Equal(t, strings.Repeat(pwPromptOb, 5), ob.String()) // prompts 5 times before giving up
-	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, strings.Repeat(pwPromptEB, 5), eb.String()) // prompts 5 times before giving up
 
 	// create valid cert/key for overwrite tests
 	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
@@ -247,3 +248,67 @@ func Test_ca(t *testing.T) {
 	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
 
 }
+
+func Test_ca_stdio(t *testing.T) {
+	nopw := &StubPasswordReader{}
+
+	keyF, err := os.CreateTemp("", "ca.key")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
+	defer os.Remove(keyF.Name())
+
+	crtF, err := os.CreateTemp("", "ca.crt")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	os.Remove(crtF.Name())
+	defer os.Remove(crtF.Name())
+
+	// out-crt on stdout, out-key on disk
+	ob := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	eb := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	require.NoError(t, ca([]string{"-name", "test-ca", "-duration", "1h", "-out-crt", "-", "-out-key", keyF.Name()}, ob, eb, nopw))
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	c, _, err := cert.UnmarshalCertificateFromPEM(ob.Bytes())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, c.IsCA())
+	assert.Equal(t, "test-ca", c.Name())
+
+	// out-key on stdout, out-crt on disk
+	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	require.NoError(t, ca([]string{"-name", "test-ca", "-duration", "1h", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", "-"}, ob, eb, nopw))
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	_, _, curve, err := cert.UnmarshalSigningPrivateKeyFromPEM(ob.Bytes())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
+
+	// dual stdout is rejected up front
+	os.Remove(crtF.Name())
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	require.EqualError(t,
+		ca([]string{"-name", "test-ca", "-duration", "1h", "-out-crt", "-", "-out-key", "-"}, ob, eb, nopw),
+		`-out-key and -out-crt both set to "-", only one output may write to stdout`)
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+
+	// an output conflict combined with -encrypt must error BEFORE prompting
+	// for a passphrase; pr would record any read attempt
+	tracker := &trackingPasswordReader{}
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	require.EqualError(t,
+		ca([]string{"-name", "test-ca", "-duration", "1h", "-encrypt", "-out-crt", "-", "-out-key", "-"}, ob, eb, tracker),
+		`-out-key and -out-crt both set to "-", only one output may write to stdout`)
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	assert.Zero(t, tracker.calls, "passphrase prompt should not have been called")
+}
+
+type trackingPasswordReader struct {
+	calls int
+}
+
+func (pr *trackingPasswordReader) ReadPassword() ([]byte, error) {
+	pr.calls++
+	return []byte(""), nil
+}

cmd/nebula-cert/keygen.go

@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ func keygen(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer) error {
 		if err = mustFlagString("out-key", cf.outKeyPath); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+	} else if *cf.outKeyPath != "" {
+		return newHelpErrorf("cannot set -out-key with -pkcs11")
 	}
 	if err = mustFlagString("out-pub", cf.outPubPath); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -69,6 +71,14 @@ func keygen(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	var claims ioClaims
+	if err := reserveOutputs(&claims,
+		"out-key", *cf.outKeyPath,
+		"out-pub", *cf.outPubPath,
+	); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	if isP11 {
 		p11Client, err := pkclient.FromUrl(*cf.p11url)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -82,12 +92,12 @@ func keygen(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while getting public key: %w", err)
 		}
 	} else {
-		err = os.WriteFile(*cf.outKeyPath, cert.MarshalPrivateKeyToPEM(curve, rawPriv), 0600)
+		err = writeOutput(*cf.outKeyPath, cert.MarshalPrivateKeyToPEM(curve, rawPriv), 0600, out)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while writing out-key: %s", err)
 		}
 	}
-	err = os.WriteFile(*cf.outPubPath, cert.MarshalPublicKeyToPEM(curve, pub), 0600)
+	err = writeOutput(*cf.outPubPath, cert.MarshalPublicKeyToPEM(curve, pub), 0600, out)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error while writing out-pub: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -102,6 +112,7 @@ func keygenSummary() string {
 func keygenHelp(out io.Writer) {
 	cf := newKeygenFlags()
 	_, _ = out.Write([]byte("Usage of " + os.Args[0] + " " + keygenSummary() + "\n"))
+	_, _ = out.Write([]byte(stdioHelpText))
 	cf.set.SetOutput(out)
 	cf.set.PrintDefaults()
 }

cmd/nebula-cert/keygen_test.go

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ func Test_keygenHelp(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(
 		t,
 		"Usage of "+os.Args[0]+" keygen <flags>: create a public/private key pair. the public key can be passed to `nebula-cert sign`\n"+
+			"  Pass \"-\" to any path flag to read from stdin or write to stdout.\n"+
 			"  -curve string\n"+
 			"    \tECDH Curve (25519, P256) (default \"25519\")\n"+
 			"  -out-key string\n"+
@@ -93,3 +94,43 @@ func Test_keygen(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, lPub, 32)
 }
+
+func Test_keygen_stdio(t *testing.T) {
+	keyF, err := os.CreateTemp("", "test.key")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
+	defer os.Remove(keyF.Name())
+
+	pubF, err := os.CreateTemp("", "test.pub")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	os.Remove(pubF.Name())
+	defer os.Remove(pubF.Name())
+
+	// out-pub on stdout, out-key on disk
+	ob := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	eb := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	require.NoError(t, keygen([]string{"-out-pub", "-", "-out-key", keyF.Name()}, ob, eb))
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	lPub, _, curve, err := cert.UnmarshalPublicKeyFromPEM(ob.Bytes())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
+	assert.Len(t, lPub, 32)
+
+	// out-key on stdout, out-pub on disk
+	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	require.NoError(t, keygen([]string{"-out-pub", pubF.Name(), "-out-key", "-"}, ob, eb))
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	lKey, _, curve, err := cert.UnmarshalPrivateKeyFromPEM(ob.Bytes())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
+	assert.Len(t, lKey, 32)
+
+	// both on stdout is a conflict caught up front
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	require.EqualError(t, keygen([]string{"-out-pub", "-", "-out-key", "-"}, ob, eb),
+		`-out-key and -out-pub both set to "-", only one output may write to stdout`)
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+}

cmd/nebula-cert/passwords.go

@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ func (pr StdinPasswordReader) ReadPassword() ([]byte, error) {
 	}
 
 	password, err := term.ReadPassword(int(os.Stdin.Fd()))
-	fmt.Println()
+	// Terminal echo is off while reading, so the user's Enter key does not
+	// produce a visible newline. Emit one on stderr to match the prompt.
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr)
 
 	return password, err
 }

cmd/nebula-cert/print.go

@@ -40,11 +40,23 @@ func printCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	rawCert, err := os.ReadFile(*pf.path)
+	var claims ioClaims
+	if err := reserveInputs(&claims, "path", *pf.path); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := reserveOutputs(&claims, "out-qr", *pf.outQRPath); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	rawCert, err := readInput("path", *pf.path, &claims)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to read cert; %s", err)
 	}
 
+	// When the QR is going to stdout, suppress the human-readable text/json
+	// output so the binary stream is not contaminated.
+	qrToStdout := isStdio(*pf.outQRPath)
+
 	var c cert.Certificate
 	var qrBytes []byte
 	part := 0
@@ -57,12 +69,14 @@ func printCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while unmarshaling cert: %s", err)
 		}
 
+		if !qrToStdout {
 			if *pf.json {
 				jsonCerts = append(jsonCerts, c)
 			} else {
 				_, _ = out.Write([]byte(c.String()))
 				_, _ = out.Write([]byte("\n"))
 			}
+		}
 
 		if *pf.outQRPath != "" {
 			b, err := c.MarshalPEM()
@@ -79,7 +93,7 @@ func printCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer) error {
 		part++
 	}
 
-	if *pf.json {
+	if *pf.json && !qrToStdout {
 		b, _ := json.Marshal(jsonCerts)
 		_, _ = out.Write(b)
 		_, _ = out.Write([]byte("\n"))
@@ -91,7 +105,7 @@ func printCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while generating qr code: %s", err)
 		}
 
-		err = os.WriteFile(*pf.outQRPath, b, 0600)
+		err = writeOutput(*pf.outQRPath, b, 0600, out)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while writing out-qr: %s", err)
 		}
@@ -107,6 +121,7 @@ func printSummary() string {
 func printHelp(out io.Writer) {
 	pf := newPrintFlags()
 	out.Write([]byte("Usage of " + os.Args[0] + " " + printSummary() + "\n"))
+	out.Write([]byte(stdioHelpText))
 	pf.set.SetOutput(out)
 	pf.set.PrintDefaults()
 }

cmd/nebula-cert/print_test.go

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ func Test_printHelp(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(
 		t,
 		"Usage of "+os.Args[0]+" print <flags>: prints details about a certificate\n"+
+			"  Pass \"-\" to any path flag to read from stdin or write to stdout.\n"+
 			"  -json\n"+
 			"    \tOptional: outputs certificates in json format\n"+
 			"  -out-qr string\n"+
@@ -178,6 +179,44 @@ func Test_printCert(t *testing.T) {
 		ob.String(),
 	)
 	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+
+	// read cert from stdin
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewReader(p))
+	err = printCert([]string{"-json", "-path", "-"}, ob, eb)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(
+		t,
+		`[{"details":{"curve":"CURVE25519","groups":["hi"],"isCa":false,"issuer":"`+c.Issuer()+`","name":"test","networks":["10.0.0.123/8"],"notAfter":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","notBefore":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z","publicKey":"`+pk+`","unsafeNetworks":[]},"fingerprint":"`+fp+`","signature":"`+sig+`","version":1}]
+`,
+		ob.String(),
+	)
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+
+	// -out-qr - sends only the PNG to stdout, suppressing the cert dump
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewReader(p))
+	err = printCert([]string{"-path", "-", "-out-qr", "-"}, ob, eb)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	stdout := ob.Bytes()
+	require.NotEmpty(t, stdout)
+	// PNG magic, no PEM/JSON noise prepended
+	assert.Equal(t, []byte{0x89, 'P', 'N', 'G', 0x0d, 0x0a, 0x1a, 0x0a}, stdout[:8])
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(stdout), "NebulaCertificate")
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(stdout), `"details"`)
+
+	// json + out-qr - still suppresses json
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewReader(p))
+	err = printCert([]string{"-json", "-path", "-", "-out-qr", "-"}, ob, eb)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, []byte{0x89, 'P', 'N', 'G'}, ob.Bytes()[:4])
+	assert.NotContains(t, ob.String(), `"details"`)
 }
 
 // NewTestCaCert will generate a CA cert

cmd/nebula-cert/sign.go

@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ func signCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader)
 	if !isP11 && *sf.inPubPath != "" && *sf.outKeyPath != "" {
 		return newHelpErrorf("cannot set both -in-pub and -out-key")
 	}
+	if isP11 && *sf.outKeyPath != "" {
+		return newHelpErrorf("cannot set -out-key with -pkcs11")
+	}
 
 	var v4Networks []netip.Prefix
 	var v6Networks []netip.Prefix
@@ -102,13 +105,35 @@ func signCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader)
 		return newHelpErrorf("-version must be either %v or %v", cert.Version1, cert.Version2)
 	}
 
+	if *sf.outKeyPath == "" {
+		*sf.outKeyPath = *sf.name + ".key"
+	}
+	if *sf.outCertPath == "" {
+		*sf.outCertPath = *sf.name + ".crt"
+	}
+
+	var claims ioClaims
+	if err := reserveInputs(&claims,
+		"ca-key", *sf.caKeyPath,
+		"ca-crt", *sf.caCertPath,
+		"in-pub", *sf.inPubPath,
+	); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := reserveOutputs(&claims,
+		"out-key", *sf.outKeyPath,
+		"out-crt", *sf.outCertPath,
+		"out-qr", *sf.outQRPath,
+	); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	var curve cert.Curve
 	var caKey []byte
 
 	if !isP11 {
 		var rawCAKey []byte
-		rawCAKey, err := os.ReadFile(*sf.caKeyPath)
-
+		rawCAKey, err = readInput("ca-key", *sf.caKeyPath, &claims)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while reading ca-key: %s", err)
 		}
@@ -121,7 +146,7 @@ func signCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader)
 			if len(passphrase) == 0 {
 				// ask for a passphrase until we get one
 				for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
-					out.Write([]byte("Enter passphrase: "))
+					errOut.Write([]byte("Enter passphrase: "))
 					passphrase, err = pr.ReadPassword()
 
 					if errors.Is(err, ErrNoTerminal) {
@@ -147,7 +172,7 @@ func signCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader)
 		}
 	}
 
-	rawCACert, err := os.ReadFile(*sf.caCertPath)
+	rawCACert, err := readInput("ca-crt", *sf.caCertPath, &claims)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error while reading ca-crt: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -245,7 +270,7 @@ func signCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader)
 
 	if *sf.inPubPath != "" {
 		var pubCurve cert.Curve
-		rawPub, err := os.ReadFile(*sf.inPubPath)
+		rawPub, err := readInput("in-pub", *sf.inPubPath, &claims)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while reading in-pub: %s", err)
 		}
@@ -266,17 +291,11 @@ func signCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader)
 		pub, rawPriv = newKeypair(curve)
 	}
 
-	if *sf.outKeyPath == "" {
-		*sf.outKeyPath = *sf.name + ".key"
-	}
-
-	if *sf.outCertPath == "" {
-		*sf.outCertPath = *sf.name + ".crt"
-	}
-
+	if !isStdio(*sf.outCertPath) {
 		if _, err := os.Stat(*sf.outCertPath); err == nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("refusing to overwrite existing cert: %s", *sf.outCertPath)
 		}
+	}
 
 	var crts []cert.Certificate
 
@@ -360,11 +379,13 @@ func signCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader)
 	}
 
 	if !isP11 && *sf.inPubPath == "" {
+		if !isStdio(*sf.outKeyPath) {
 			if _, err := os.Stat(*sf.outKeyPath); err == nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("refusing to overwrite existing key: %s", *sf.outKeyPath)
 			}
+		}
 
-		err = os.WriteFile(*sf.outKeyPath, cert.MarshalPrivateKeyToPEM(curve, rawPriv), 0600)
+		err = writeOutput(*sf.outKeyPath, cert.MarshalPrivateKeyToPEM(curve, rawPriv), 0600, out)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while writing out-key: %s", err)
 		}
@@ -379,7 +400,7 @@ func signCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader)
 		b = append(b, sb...)
 	}
 
-	err = os.WriteFile(*sf.outCertPath, b, 0600)
+	err = writeOutput(*sf.outCertPath, b, 0600, out)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error while writing out-crt: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -390,7 +411,7 @@ func signCert(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer, pr PasswordReader)
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while generating qr code: %s", err)
 		}
 
-		err = os.WriteFile(*sf.outQRPath, b, 0600)
+		err = writeOutput(*sf.outQRPath, b, 0600, out)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error while writing out-qr: %s", err)
 		}
@@ -440,6 +461,7 @@ func signSummary() string {
 func signHelp(out io.Writer) {
 	sf := newSignFlags()
 	out.Write([]byte("Usage of " + os.Args[0] + " " + signSummary() + "\n"))
+	out.Write([]byte(stdioHelpText))
 	sf.set.SetOutput(out)
 	sf.set.PrintDefaults()
 }

cmd/nebula-cert/sign_test.go

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ func Test_signHelp(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(
 		t,
 		"Usage of "+os.Args[0]+" sign <flags>: create and sign a certificate\n"+
+			"  Pass \"-\" to any path flag to read from stdin or write to stdout.\n"+
 			"  -ca-crt string\n"+
 			"    \tOptional: path to the signing CA cert (default \"ca.crt\")\n"+
 			"  -ca-key string\n"+
@@ -376,15 +377,18 @@ func Test_signCert(t *testing.T) {
 	// test with the proper password
 	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", caCrtF.Name(), "-ca-key", caKeyF.Name(), "-name", "test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", keyF.Name(), "-duration", "100m", "-subnets", "10.1.1.1/32, ,   10.2.2.2/32   ,   ,  ,, 10.5.5.5/32", "-groups", "1,,   2    ,        ,,,3,4,5"}
 	require.NoError(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, testpw))
-	assert.Equal(t, "Enter passphrase: ", ob.String())
-	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, "Enter passphrase: ", eb.String())
 
 	// test with the proper password in the environment
 	os.Remove(crtF.Name())
 	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
 	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", caCrtF.Name(), "-ca-key", caKeyF.Name(), "-name", "test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", keyF.Name(), "-duration", "100m", "-subnets", "10.1.1.1/32, ,   10.2.2.2/32   ,   ,  ,, 10.5.5.5/32", "-groups", "1,,   2    ,        ,,,3,4,5"}
 	os.Setenv("NEBULA_CA_PASSPHRASE", string(passphrase))
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
 	require.NoError(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, testpw))
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
 	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
 	os.Setenv("NEBULA_CA_PASSPHRASE", "")
 
@@ -395,8 +399,8 @@ func Test_signCert(t *testing.T) {
 	testpw.password = []byte("invalid password")
 	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", caCrtF.Name(), "-ca-key", caKeyF.Name(), "-name", "test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", keyF.Name(), "-duration", "100m", "-subnets", "10.1.1.1/32, ,   10.2.2.2/32   ,   ,  ,, 10.5.5.5/32", "-groups", "1,,   2    ,        ,,,3,4,5"}
 	require.Error(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, testpw))
-	assert.Equal(t, "Enter passphrase: ", ob.String())
-	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, "Enter passphrase: ", eb.String())
 
 	// test with the wrong password in environment
 	ob.Reset()
@@ -416,8 +420,8 @@ func Test_signCert(t *testing.T) {
 	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", caCrtF.Name(), "-ca-key", caKeyF.Name(), "-name", "test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", keyF.Name(), "-duration", "100m", "-subnets", "10.1.1.1/32, ,   10.2.2.2/32   ,   ,  ,, 10.5.5.5/32", "-groups", "1,,   2    ,        ,,,3,4,5"}
 	require.Error(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, nopw))
 	// normally the user hitting enter on the prompt would add newlines between these
-	assert.Equal(t, "Enter passphrase: Enter passphrase: Enter passphrase: Enter passphrase: Enter passphrase: ", ob.String())
-	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, "Enter passphrase: Enter passphrase: Enter passphrase: Enter passphrase: Enter passphrase: ", eb.String())
 
 	// test an error condition
 	ob.Reset()
@@ -425,6 +429,106 @@ func Test_signCert(t *testing.T) {
 
 	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", caCrtF.Name(), "-ca-key", caKeyF.Name(), "-name", "test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", keyF.Name(), "-duration", "100m", "-subnets", "10.1.1.1/32, ,   10.2.2.2/32   ,   ,  ,, 10.5.5.5/32", "-groups", "1,,   2    ,        ,,,3,4,5"}
 	require.Error(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, errpw))
-	assert.Equal(t, "Enter passphrase: ", ob.String())
-	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, "Enter passphrase: ", eb.String())
+}
+
+func Test_signCert_stdio(t *testing.T) {
+	nopw := &StubPasswordReader{
+		password: []byte(""),
+		err:      nil,
+	}
+
+	caPub, caPriv, _ := ed25519.GenerateKey(rand.Reader)
+	rawCAKey := cert.MarshalSigningPrivateKeyToPEM(cert.Curve_CURVE25519, caPriv)
+
+	ca, _ := NewTestCaCert("ca", caPub, caPriv, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(time.Minute*200), nil, nil, nil)
+	rawCACrt, _ := ca.MarshalPEM()
+
+	caCrtF, err := os.CreateTemp("", "sign-cert.crt")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer os.Remove(caCrtF.Name())
+	caCrtF.Write(rawCACrt)
+
+	caKeyF, err := os.CreateTemp("", "sign-cert.key")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer os.Remove(caKeyF.Name())
+	caKeyF.Write(rawCAKey)
+
+	keyF, err := os.CreateTemp("", "sign.key")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	os.Remove(keyF.Name())
+	defer os.Remove(keyF.Name())
+
+	// ca-key on stdin, cert to stdout
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewReader(rawCAKey))
+	ob := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	eb := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	args := []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", caCrtF.Name(), "-ca-key", "-", "-name", "stdin-test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-out-crt", "-", "-out-key", keyF.Name(), "-duration", "100m"}
+	require.NoError(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, nopw))
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+
+	lCrt, _, err := cert.UnmarshalCertificateFromPEM(ob.Bytes())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "stdin-test", lCrt.Name())
+	assert.True(t, lCrt.CheckSignature(caPub))
+
+	// two flags reading from stdin should error before any read attempt;
+	// otherwise an interactive shell would hang on io.ReadAll
+	stdinIn := bytes.NewReader(rawCAKey)
+	withStdin(t, stdinIn)
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", "-", "-ca-key", "-", "-name", "stdin-test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-out-crt", "nope", "-out-key", "nope", "-duration", "100m"}
+	require.EqualError(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, nopw),
+		`-ca-key and -ca-crt both set to "-", only one input may read from stdin`)
+	assert.Equal(t, len(rawCAKey), stdinIn.Len(), "stdin should be untouched when conflict is caught up front")
+
+	// two flags writing to stdout should error before any output is written
+	// AND before stdin is consumed
+	stdinR := bytes.NewReader(rawCAKey)
+	withStdin(t, stdinR)
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", caCrtF.Name(), "-ca-key", "-", "-name", "stdin-test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-out-crt", "-", "-out-key", "-", "-duration", "100m"}
+	require.EqualError(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, nopw),
+		`-out-key and -out-crt both set to "-", only one output may write to stdout`)
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	// stdin should be untouched because the conflict was caught up front
+	assert.Equal(t, len(rawCAKey), stdinR.Len())
+
+	// out-key on stdout, cert on disk
+	keyF2, err := os.CreateTemp("", "sign.key")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	os.Remove(keyF2.Name())
+	defer os.Remove(keyF2.Name())
+	crtF, err := os.CreateTemp("", "sign.crt")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	os.Remove(crtF.Name())
+	defer os.Remove(crtF.Name())
+
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", caCrtF.Name(), "-ca-key", caKeyF.Name(), "-name", "stdin-test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-out-crt", crtF.Name(), "-out-key", "-", "-duration", "100m"}
+	require.NoError(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, nopw))
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	_, _, curve, err := cert.UnmarshalPrivateKeyFromPEM(ob.Bytes())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, curve)
+
+	// in-pub on stdin (caller already has a keypair, only the cert is generated)
+	inPub, _ := x25519Keypair()
+	rawInPub := cert.MarshalPublicKeyToPEM(cert.Curve_CURVE25519, inPub)
+
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewReader(rawInPub))
+	os.Remove(crtF.Name())
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	args = []string{"-version", "1", "-ca-crt", caCrtF.Name(), "-ca-key", caKeyF.Name(), "-name", "in-pub-test", "-ip", "1.1.1.1/24", "-in-pub", "-", "-out-crt", "-", "-duration", "100m"}
+	require.NoError(t, signCert(args, ob, eb, nopw))
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+	stdinCrt, _, err := cert.UnmarshalCertificateFromPEM(ob.Bytes())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "in-pub-test", stdinCrt.Name())
+	assert.Equal(t, inPub, stdinCrt.PublicKey())
 }

cmd/nebula-cert/stdio.go

@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+)
+
+// stdioPath is the special path value that selects stdin (for inputs) or
+// stdout (for outputs) instead of a file on disk.
+const stdioPath = "-"
+
+// stdioHelpText is rendered just under the Usage line of each subcommand
+// help so the - convention is documented once instead of on every flag.
+const stdioHelpText = "  Pass \"-\" to any path flag to read from stdin or write to stdout.\n"
+
+// stdinReader is the source used when an input flag is set to "-".
+// It is a package level var so tests can swap in a deterministic reader.
+// Tests that mutate stdinReader cannot run with t.Parallel().
+var stdinReader io.Reader = os.Stdin
+
+// ioClaims tracks which flags have claimed stdin and stdout during a single
+// command invocation so we can refuse a second flag asking for the same
+// stream.
+type ioClaims struct {
+	in  string
+	out string
+}
+
+func (c *ioClaims) claimIn(flagName string) error {
+	if c.in != "" && c.in != flagName {
+		return fmt.Errorf("-%s and -%s both set to %q, only one input may read from stdin", c.in, flagName, stdioPath)
+	}
+	c.in = flagName
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *ioClaims) claimOut(flagName string) error {
+	if c.out != "" && c.out != flagName {
+		return fmt.Errorf("-%s and -%s both set to %q, only one output may write to stdout", c.out, flagName, stdioPath)
+	}
+	c.out = flagName
+	return nil
+}
+
+// reserveInputs walks alternating (flagName, path) pairs and claims stdin
+// for any path equal to stdioPath. It must be called before any input is
+// read so a conflict can be reported immediately instead of blocking on
+// io.ReadAll while waiting for input that will never arrive.
+func reserveInputs(claims *ioClaims, pairs ...string) error {
+	return reserveStdio(claims, "reserveInputs", (*ioClaims).claimIn, pairs)
+}
+
+// reserveOutputs walks alternating (flagName, path) pairs and claims stdout
+// for any path equal to stdioPath. It must be called before any output is
+// written so a conflict cannot leave one stream half written before the
+// second flag fails.
+func reserveOutputs(claims *ioClaims, pairs ...string) error {
+	return reserveStdio(claims, "reserveOutputs", (*ioClaims).claimOut, pairs)
+}
+
+func reserveStdio(claims *ioClaims, who string, claim func(*ioClaims, string) error, pairs []string) error {
+	if len(pairs)%2 != 0 {
+		panic(who + " requires alternating name, path pairs")
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < len(pairs); i += 2 {
+		name, path := pairs[i], pairs[i+1]
+		if path != stdioPath {
+			continue
+		}
+		if err := claim(claims, name); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// readInput returns the bytes referenced by path, reading from stdin when
+// path is stdioPath.
+func readInput(flagName, path string, claims *ioClaims) ([]byte, error) {
+	if path == stdioPath {
+		if err := claims.claimIn(flagName); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return io.ReadAll(stdinReader)
+	}
+	return os.ReadFile(path)
+}
+
+// openInput returns a reader for path. When path is stdioPath the returned
+// reader wraps stdin and Close is a no-op.
+func openInput(flagName, path string, claims *ioClaims) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
+	if path == stdioPath {
+		if err := claims.claimIn(flagName); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return io.NopCloser(stdinReader), nil
+	}
+	return os.Open(path)
+}
+
+// writeOutput writes data to path, or to stdout when path is stdioPath. perm
+// is only used for file output. The caller must have already claimed stdout
+// via reserveOutputs before invoking with stdioPath.
+func writeOutput(path string, data []byte, perm os.FileMode, stdout io.Writer) error {
+	if path == stdioPath {
+		_, err := stdout.Write(data)
+		return err
+	}
+	return os.WriteFile(path, data, perm)
+}
+
+// isStdio reports whether path is the stdio sentinel and so should skip
+// existence checks like "refuse to overwrite".
+func isStdio(path string) bool {
+	return path == stdioPath
+}

cmd/nebula-cert/stdio_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// withStdin temporarily replaces stdinReader for the duration of t.
+func withStdin(t *testing.T, r io.Reader) {
+	t.Helper()
+	prev := stdinReader
+	stdinReader = r
+	t.Cleanup(func() { stdinReader = prev })
+}
+
+func Test_readInput_stdin(t *testing.T) {
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewBufferString("hello"))
+	var claims ioClaims
+
+	got, err := readInput("path", "-", &claims)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []byte("hello"), got)
+	assert.Equal(t, "path", claims.in)
+}
+
+func Test_readInput_file(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	p := filepath.Join(dir, "f")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(p, []byte("file"), 0600))
+	var claims ioClaims
+
+	got, err := readInput("path", p, &claims)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []byte("file"), got)
+	assert.Empty(t, claims.in)
+}
+
+func Test_readInput_doubleStdinErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewBufferString("hello"))
+	var claims ioClaims
+
+	_, err := readInput("ca-key", "-", &claims)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = readInput("ca-crt", "-", &claims)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, `-ca-key and -ca-crt both set to "-", only one input may read from stdin`)
+}
+
+func Test_openInput_stdin(t *testing.T) {
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewBufferString("hi"))
+	var claims ioClaims
+
+	r, err := openInput("ca", "-", &claims)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer r.Close()
+	b, err := io.ReadAll(r)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []byte("hi"), b)
+}
+
+func Test_openInput_doubleStdinErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewBufferString("hi"))
+	var claims ioClaims
+
+	r, err := openInput("ca", "-", &claims)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	r.Close()
+
+	_, err = openInput("crt", "-", &claims)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, `-ca and -crt both set to "-", only one input may read from stdin`)
+}
+
+func Test_writeOutput_stdout(t *testing.T) {
+	out := &bytes.Buffer{}
+
+	err := writeOutput("-", []byte("payload"), 0600, out)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "payload", out.String())
+}
+
+func Test_writeOutput_file(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	p := filepath.Join(dir, "f")
+	out := &bytes.Buffer{}
+
+	err := writeOutput(p, []byte("payload"), 0600, out)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Empty(t, out.String())
+	got, err := os.ReadFile(p)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []byte("payload"), got)
+}
+
+func Test_reserveOutputs_noConflict(t *testing.T) {
+	var claims ioClaims
+	require.NoError(t, reserveOutputs(&claims,
+		"out-key", "/tmp/key",
+		"out-crt", "-",
+		"out-qr", "",
+	))
+	assert.Equal(t, "out-crt", claims.out)
+}
+
+func Test_reserveOutputs_conflict(t *testing.T) {
+	var claims ioClaims
+	err := reserveOutputs(&claims,
+		"out-key", "-",
+		"out-crt", "-",
+	)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, `-out-key and -out-crt both set to "-", only one output may write to stdout`)
+}
+
+func Test_reserveOutputs_panicsOnOddPairs(t *testing.T) {
+	defer func() {
+		r := recover()
+		require.NotNil(t, r)
+	}()
+	var claims ioClaims
+	_ = reserveOutputs(&claims, "out-key")
+}
+
+func Test_reserveInputs_noConflict(t *testing.T) {
+	var claims ioClaims
+	require.NoError(t, reserveInputs(&claims,
+		"ca-key", "/tmp/ca.key",
+		"ca-crt", "-",
+		"in-pub", "",
+	))
+	assert.Equal(t, "ca-crt", claims.in)
+}
+
+func Test_reserveInputs_conflict(t *testing.T) {
+	var claims ioClaims
+	err := reserveInputs(&claims,
+		"ca-key", "-",
+		"ca-crt", "-",
+	)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, `-ca-key and -ca-crt both set to "-", only one input may read from stdin`)
+}
+
+func Test_claimIn_idempotent(t *testing.T) {
+	// pre-claim then a lazy re-claim of the same flag should be a no-op
+	var claims ioClaims
+	require.NoError(t, claims.claimIn("ca-key"))
+	require.NoError(t, claims.claimIn("ca-key"))
+	assert.Equal(t, "ca-key", claims.in)
+}
+
+func Test_claimOut_idempotent(t *testing.T) {
+	var claims ioClaims
+	require.NoError(t, claims.claimOut("out-crt"))
+	require.NoError(t, claims.claimOut("out-crt"))
+	assert.Equal(t, "out-crt", claims.out)
+}
+
+func Test_isStdio(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.True(t, isStdio("-"))
+	assert.False(t, isStdio(""))
+	assert.False(t, isStdio("./-"))
+	assert.False(t, isStdio("foo"))
+}

cmd/nebula-cert/verify.go

@@ -39,18 +39,26 @@ func verify(args []string, out io.Writer, errOut io.Writer) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	caFile, err := os.Open(*vf.caPath)
+	var claims ioClaims
+	if err := reserveInputs(&claims,
+		"ca", *vf.caPath,
+		"crt", *vf.certPath,
+	); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	caReader, err := openInput("ca", *vf.caPath, &claims)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error while reading ca: %w", err)
 	}
-	defer caFile.Close()
+	defer caReader.Close()
 
-	caPool, err := cert.NewCAPoolFromPEMReader(caFile)
+	caPool, err := cert.NewCAPoolFromPEMReader(caReader)
 	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, cert.ErrExpired) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error while adding ca cert to pool: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	rawCert, err := os.ReadFile(*vf.certPath)
+	rawCert, err := readInput("crt", *vf.certPath, &claims)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to read crt: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -85,6 +93,7 @@ func verifySummary() string {
 func verifyHelp(out io.Writer) {
 	vf := newVerifyFlags()
 	_, _ = out.Write([]byte("Usage of " + os.Args[0] + " " + verifySummary() + "\n"))
+	_, _ = out.Write([]byte(stdioHelpText))
 	vf.set.SetOutput(out)
 	vf.set.PrintDefaults()
 }

cmd/nebula-cert/verify_test.go

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ func Test_verifyHelp(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(
 		t,
 		"Usage of "+os.Args[0]+" verify <flags>: verifies a certificate isn't expired and was signed by a trusted authority.\n"+
+			"  Pass \"-\" to any path flag to read from stdin or write to stdout.\n"+
 			"  -ca string\n"+
 			"    \tRequired: path to a file containing one or more ca certificates\n"+
 			"  -crt string\n"+
@@ -122,3 +123,46 @@ func Test_verify(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
+
+func Test_verify_stdio(t *testing.T) {
+	ob := &bytes.Buffer{}
+	eb := &bytes.Buffer{}
+
+	caPub, caPriv, _ := ed25519.GenerateKey(rand.Reader)
+	ca, _ := NewTestCaCert("test-ca", caPub, caPriv, time.Now().Add(time.Hour*-1), time.Now().Add(time.Hour*2), nil, nil, nil)
+	caPEM, _ := ca.MarshalPEM()
+
+	crt, _ := NewTestCert(ca, caPriv, "test-cert", time.Now().Add(time.Hour*-1), time.Now().Add(time.Hour), nil, nil, nil)
+	crtPEM, _ := crt.MarshalPEM()
+
+	caFile, err := os.CreateTemp("", "verify-ca")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer os.Remove(caFile.Name())
+	caFile.Write(caPEM)
+
+	// crt on stdin, ca on disk
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewReader(crtPEM))
+	require.NoError(t, verify([]string{"-ca", caFile.Name(), "-crt", "-"}, ob, eb))
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+
+	// ca on stdin, crt on disk
+	certFile, err := os.CreateTemp("", "verify-cert")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer os.Remove(certFile.Name())
+	certFile.Write(crtPEM)
+
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewReader(caPEM))
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	require.NoError(t, verify([]string{"-ca", "-", "-crt", certFile.Name()}, ob, eb))
+	assert.Empty(t, ob.String())
+	assert.Empty(t, eb.String())
+
+	// both flags on stdin should error
+	withStdin(t, bytes.NewReader(caPEM))
+	ob.Reset()
+	eb.Reset()
+	require.EqualError(t, verify([]string{"-ca", "-", "-crt", "-"}, ob, eb),
+		`-ca and -crt both set to "-", only one input may read from stdin`)
+}

cmd/nebula-service/main.go

@@ -53,7 +53,12 @@ func main() {
 	l := logging.NewLogger(os.Stdout)
 
 	if *serviceFlag != "" {
-		if err := doService(configPath, configTest, Build, serviceFlag); err != nil {
+		if *configTest {
+			fmt.Println("-test is not supported with -service, run the config test without -service")
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+
+		if err := doService(configPath, Build, serviceFlag); err != nil {
 			l.Error("Service command failed", "error", err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
@@ -61,10 +66,13 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	if *configPath == "" {
-		fmt.Println("-config flag must be set")
-		flag.Usage()
+		p, err := config.DefaultPath()
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Println(err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
+		*configPath = p
+	}
 
 	c := config.NewC(l)
 	err := c.Load(*configPath)
@@ -90,15 +98,14 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	if !*configTest {
-		wait, err := ctrl.Start()
-		if err != nil {
+		if err := ctrl.Start(); err != nil {
 			util.LogWithContextIfNeeded("Error while running", err, l)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 
 		go ctrl.ShutdownBlock()
 
-		if err := wait(); err != nil {
+		if err := ctrl.Wait(); err != nil {
 			l.Error("Nebula stopped due to fatal error", "error", err)
 			os.Exit(2)
 		}

cmd/nebula-service/service.go

@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
 	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 
 	"github.com/kardianos/service"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula"
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ var logger service.Logger
 
 type program struct {
 	configPath *string
-	configTest *bool
 	build      string
 	control    *nebula.Control
 }
@@ -42,39 +40,47 @@ func (p *program) Start(s service.Service) error {
 		}
 	})
 
-	p.control, err = nebula.Main(c, *p.configTest, Build, l, nil)
+	p.control, err = nebula.Main(c, false, Build, l, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	p.control.Start()
+	if err := p.control.Start(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Nebula can stop itself on a fatal packet reader error, make sure to log it if it happens.
+	go func() {
+		if err := p.control.Wait(); err != nil {
+			logger.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Nebula stopped due to fatal error: %v", err))
+			os.Exit(2)
+		}
+	}()
+
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (p *program) Stop(s service.Service) error {
 	logger.Info("Nebula service stopping.")
+	if p.control == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	p.control.Stop()
+
+	// block until nebula has fully drained before reporting stopped.
+	// error logging is handled by Start.
+	_ = p.control.Wait()
 	return nil
 }
 
-func fileExists(filename string) bool {
-	_, err := os.Stat(filename)
-	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return false
-	}
-	return true
-}
-
-func doService(configPath *string, configTest *bool, build string, serviceFlag *string) error {
+func doService(configPath *string, build string, serviceFlag *string) error {
 	if *configPath == "" {
-		ex, err := os.Executable()
+		p, err := config.DefaultPath()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		*configPath = filepath.Dir(ex) + "/config.yaml"
-		if !fileExists(*configPath) {
-			*configPath = filepath.Dir(ex) + "/config.yml"
-		}
+		*configPath = p
 	}
 
 	svcConfig := &service.Config{
@@ -86,7 +92,6 @@ func doService(configPath *string, configTest *bool, build string, serviceFlag *
 
 	prg := &program{
 		configPath: configPath,
-		configTest: configTest,
 		build:      build,
 	}
 
@@ -118,8 +123,9 @@ func doService(configPath *string, configTest *bool, build string, serviceFlag *
 	switch *serviceFlag {
 	case "run":
 		if err := s.Run(); err != nil {
-			// Route any errors to the system logger
+			// Route any errors to the system logger and report the failure
 			logger.Error(err)
+			return err
 		}
 	default:
 		if err := service.Control(s, *serviceFlag); err != nil {

cmd/nebula/close_on_timer_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+//go:build linux && !android && !e2e_testing
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/netip"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
+	cert_test "github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert_test"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// TestControlStopClosesOnTimer reproduces the dnclient lifecycle: nebula runs as
+// a library, and on a config update dnclient calls Stop() in-process to tear the
+// old instance down before starting a new one. This boots a real nebula (real
+// blocking UDP sockets, tun disabled), lets it run, then Stop()s it on a timer
+// and asserts it actually closes. If the reader goroutines parked in recvmmsg
+// don't wake on Close(), Wait() blocks forever and this fails with a goroutine
+// dump instead of relying on a process signal to unstick them.
+func TestControlStopClosesOnTimer(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+
+	before := time.Now().Add(-time.Hour)
+	after := time.Now().Add(time.Hour)
+	ca, _, caKey, caPEM := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, before, after, nil, nil, nil)
+	networks := []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.1/24")}
+	_, _, keyPEM, certPEM := cert_test.NewTestCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, ca, caKey, "close-on-timer", before, after, networks, nil, nil)
+
+	caPath := filepath.Join(dir, "ca.pem")
+	certPath := filepath.Join(dir, "cert.pem")
+	keyPath := filepath.Join(dir, "key.pem")
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(caPath, caPEM, 0o600))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(certPath, certPEM, 0o600))
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(keyPath, keyPEM, 0o600))
+
+	// tun disabled so no device/root is needed; routines: 2 so we exercise the
+	// multi-socket (SO_REUSEPORT) teardown, which is where dnclient runs.
+	configBody := fmt.Sprintf(`
+pki:
+  ca: %s
+  cert: %s
+  key: %s
+listen:
+  host: 127.0.0.1
+  port: 0
+tun:
+  disabled: true
+firewall:
+  outbound:
+    - port: any
+      proto: any
+      host: any
+  inbound:
+    - port: any
+      proto: any
+      host: any
+routines: 2
+`, caPath, certPath, keyPath)
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "config.yml"), []byte(configBody), 0o600))
+
+	c := config.NewC(l)
+	require.NoError(t, c.Load(dir))
+
+	ctrl, err := nebula.Main(c, false, "close-on-timer", l, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, ctrl.Start())
+
+	// Run like a live nebula, then close on a timer, exactly as dnclient does.
+	<-time.NewTimer(5 * time.Second).C
+
+	stopped := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		ctrl.Stop() // closes the udp sockets (shutdown(2)) and the tun
+		ctrl.Wait() // blocks until every reader goroutine has returned
+		close(stopped)
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case <-stopped:
+		t.Log("nebula closed cleanly on timer")
+	case <-time.After(10 * time.Second):
+		buf := make([]byte, 1<<20)
+		n := runtime.Stack(buf, true)
+		t.Fatalf("nebula did NOT close within 10s of Stop(): a blocking reader never woke\n%s", buf[:n])
+	}
+}

cmd/nebula/main.go

@@ -50,10 +50,13 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	if *configPath == "" {
-		fmt.Println("-config flag must be set")
-		flag.Usage()
+		p, err := config.DefaultPath()
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Println(err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
+		*configPath = p
+	}
 
 	l := logging.NewLogger(os.Stdout)
 
@@ -81,8 +84,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	if !*configTest {
-		wait, err := ctrl.Start()
-		if err != nil {
+		if err := ctrl.Start(); err != nil {
 			util.LogWithContextIfNeeded("Error while running", err, l)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
@@ -90,7 +92,7 @@ func main() {
 		go ctrl.ShutdownBlock()
 		notifyReady(l)
 
-		if err := wait(); err != nil {
+		if err := ctrl.Wait(); err != nil {
 			l.Error("Nebula stopped due to fatal error", "error", err)
 			os.Exit(2)
 		}

config/default.go

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+)
+
+// DefaultPath returns a path to a config file alongside the running executable, preferring config.yaml over config.yml.
+// If neither file exists an error is returned that names both paths checked.
+func DefaultPath() (string, error) {
+	ex, err := os.Executable()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return defaultPathInDir(filepath.Dir(ex))
+}
+
+func defaultPathInDir(dir string) (string, error) {
+	yamlPath := filepath.Join(dir, "config.yaml")
+	if _, err := os.Stat(yamlPath); err == nil {
+		return yamlPath, nil
+	}
+	ymlPath := filepath.Join(dir, "config.yml")
+	if _, err := os.Stat(ymlPath); err == nil {
+		return ymlPath, nil
+	}
+	return "", fmt.Errorf("no default config found at %s or %s", yamlPath, ymlPath)
+}

config/default_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestDefaultPathInDir(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("prefers config.yaml when both exist", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		want := filepath.Join(dir, "config.yaml")
+		other := filepath.Join(dir, "config.yml")
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(want, []byte("a: 1"), 0644))
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(other, []byte("a: 2"), 0644))
+
+		got, err := defaultPathInDir(dir)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, want, got)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("returns config.yaml when only it exists", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		want := filepath.Join(dir, "config.yaml")
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(want, []byte("a: 1"), 0644))
+
+		got, err := defaultPathInDir(dir)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, want, got)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("falls back to config.yml when only it exists", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		want := filepath.Join(dir, "config.yml")
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(want, []byte("a: 1"), 0644))
+
+		got, err := defaultPathInDir(dir)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, want, got)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("errors when neither exists and names both paths", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dir := t.TempDir()
+		got, err := defaultPathInDir(dir)
+		assert.Empty(t, got)
+		require.Error(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), filepath.Join(dir, "config.yaml"))
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), filepath.Join(dir, "config.yml"))
+	})
+}
+
+func TestDefaultPath(t *testing.T) {
+	got, err := DefaultPath()
+	if err != nil {
+		ex, exErr := os.Executable()
+		require.NoError(t, exErr)
+		assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), filepath.Dir(ex))
+		return
+	}
+	ex, err := os.Executable()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, filepath.Dir(ex), filepath.Dir(got))
+	assert.Contains(t, []string{"config.yaml", "config.yml"}, filepath.Base(got))
+}

connection_manager.go

@@ -136,14 +136,6 @@ func (cm *connectionManager) getAndResetTrafficCheck(h *HostInfo, now time.Time)
 	return in, out
 }
 
-// AddTrafficWatch must be called for every new HostInfo.
-// We will continue to monitor the HostInfo until the tunnel is dropped.
-func (cm *connectionManager) AddTrafficWatch(h *HostInfo) {
-	if h.out.Swap(true) == false {
-		cm.trafficTimer.Add(h.localIndexId, cm.checkInterval)
-	}
-}
-
 func (cm *connectionManager) Start(ctx context.Context) {
 	clockSource := time.NewTicker(cm.trafficTimer.t.tickDuration)
 	defer clockSource.Stop()
@@ -306,8 +298,8 @@ func (cm *connectionManager) migrateRelayUsed(oldhostinfo, newhostinfo *HostInfo
 		} else {
 			cm.intf.SendMessageToHostInfo(header.Control, 0, newhostinfo, msg, make([]byte, 12), make([]byte, mtu))
 			cm.l.Info("send CreateRelayRequest",
-				"relayFrom", req.RelayFromAddr,
-				"relayTo", req.RelayToAddr,
+				"relayFrom", relayFrom,
+				"relayTo", relayTo,
 				"initiatorRelayIndex", req.InitiatorRelayIndex,
 				"responderRelayIndex", req.ResponderRelayIndex,
 				"vpnAddrs", newhostinfo.vpnAddrs,

connection_manager_test.go

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ func newTestLighthouse() *LightHouse {
 	lighthouses := []netip.Addr{}
 	staticList := map[netip.Addr]struct{}{}
 
+	lh.localAddrsFn = func(*LocalAllowList) []netip.Addr { return nil }
 	lh.lighthouses.Store(&lighthouses)
 	lh.staticList.Store(&staticList)
 

connection_state.go

@@ -2,15 +2,25 @@ package nebula
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"log/slog"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/handshake"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/noiseutil"
 )
 
-const ReplayWindow = 1024
+const ReplayWindow = 8192
+
+// sessionEpoch hands out a receiver-local ordinal to every ConnectionState at creation. The RX
+// staging sort (overlay/batch) orders packets by (epoch, message counter). A re-handshake never
+// rekeys an existing tunnel; it brings up a new hostinfo and ConnectionState with a counter space
+// starting near zero, while the old tunnel keeps decrypting until torn down. During that cutover
+// one flush batch can hold packets from both tunnels, and the epoch keeps the old tunnel's
+// packets sorted first.
+var sessionEpoch atomic.Uint64
 
 type ConnectionState struct {
 	eKey           noiseutil.CipherState
@@ -20,7 +30,10 @@ type ConnectionState struct {
 	initiator      bool
 	messageCounter atomic.Uint64
 	window         *Bits
+	decryptLock    sync.Mutex
 	writeLock      sync.Mutex
+	// epoch is this session's sessionEpoch ordinal. Immutable after creation.
+	epoch uint64
 }
 
 // newConnectionStateFromResult builds a fully-populated ConnectionState from a
@@ -35,6 +48,7 @@ func newConnectionStateFromResult(r *handshake.Result) *ConnectionState {
 		eKey:      noiseutil.NewCipherState(r.EKey, r.Cipher),
 		dKey:      noiseutil.NewCipherState(r.DKey, r.Cipher),
 		window:    NewBits(ReplayWindow),
+		epoch:     sessionEpoch.Add(1),
 	}
 	ci.messageCounter.Add(r.MessageIndex)
 	for i := uint64(1); i <= r.MessageIndex; i++ {
@@ -54,3 +68,54 @@ func (cs *ConnectionState) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 func (cs *ConnectionState) Curve() cert.Curve {
 	return cs.myCert.Curve()
 }
+
+func (cs *ConnectionState) Decrypt(l *slog.Logger, messageCounter uint64, packet []byte, nb []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	cs.decryptLock.Lock()
+	result := cs.window.Check(l, messageCounter)
+	cs.decryptLock.Unlock()
+	if !result {
+		return nil, ErrAlreadySeen
+	}
+
+	out, err := cs.dKey.DecryptDanger(packet[header.Len:header.Len], packet[:header.Len], packet[header.Len:], messageCounter, nb)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	cs.decryptLock.Lock()
+	result = cs.window.Update(l, messageCounter)
+	cs.decryptLock.Unlock()
+	if !result {
+		return nil, ErrAlreadySeen
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func (cs *ConnectionState) VerifyRelay(l *slog.Logger, messageCounter uint64, packet []byte, nb []byte) error {
+	cs.decryptLock.Lock()
+	result := cs.window.Check(l, messageCounter)
+	cs.decryptLock.Unlock()
+	if !result {
+		return ErrAlreadySeen
+	}
+
+	// The entire body is sent as AD, not encrypted.
+	// The packet consists of a 16-byte parsed Nebula header, Associated Data-protected payload, and a trailing 16-byte AEAD signature value.
+	// The packet is guaranteed to be at least 16 bytes at this point, b/c it got past the h.Parse() call above. If it's
+	// otherwise malformed (meaning, there is no trailing 16 byte AEAD value), then this will result in at worst a 0-length slice
+	// which will gracefully fail in the DecryptDanger call.
+	signedPayload := packet[:len(packet)-cs.dKey.Overhead()]
+	signatureValue := packet[len(packet)-cs.dKey.Overhead():]
+	_, err := cs.dKey.DecryptDanger(nil, signedPayload, signatureValue, messageCounter, nb)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	cs.decryptLock.Lock()
+	result = cs.window.Update(l, messageCounter)
+	cs.decryptLock.Unlock()
+	if !result {
+		return ErrAlreadySeen
+	}
+	return nil
+}

control.go

@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ type Control struct {
 	statsStart             func()
 	dnsStart               func()
 	lighthouseStart        func()
+	networkChangeStart     func(rebind func())
 	connectionManagerStart func(context.Context)
 }
 
@@ -69,29 +70,29 @@ type ControlHostInfo struct {
 }
 
 // Start actually runs nebula, this is a nonblocking call.
-// The returned function blocks until nebula has fully stopped and returns the
-// first fatal reader error (if any). A nil error means nebula shut down
-// gracefully; a non-nil error means a reader hit an unexpected failure that
-// triggered the shutdown.
-func (c *Control) Start() (func() error, error) {
+// Use Wait to block until nebula has fully stopped and to learn whether a fatal reader error caused the shutdown.
+func (c *Control) Start() error {
 	c.stateLock.Lock()
 	defer c.stateLock.Unlock()
 	switch c.state {
 	case StateReady:
 		//yay!
 	case StateStopped, StateStopping:
-		return nil, ErrAlreadyStopped
+		return ErrAlreadyStopped
 	case StateStarted:
-		return nil, ErrAlreadyStarted
+		return ErrAlreadyStarted
 	default:
-		return nil, ErrUnknownState
+		return ErrUnknownState
 	}
 
 	// Activate the interface
 	err := c.f.activate()
 	if err != nil {
+		// Cancel before Close so a caller returning from Wait always observes a dead Context
+		c.cancel()
+		_ = c.f.Close()
 		c.state = StateStopped
-		return nil, err
+		return err
 	}
 
 	// Call all the delayed funcs that waited patiently for the interface to be created.
@@ -104,6 +105,9 @@ func (c *Control) Start() (func() error, error) {
 	if c.dnsStart != nil {
 		go c.dnsStart()
 	}
+	if c.networkChangeStart != nil {
+		go c.networkChangeStart(c.RebindUDPServer)
+	}
 	if c.connectionManagerStart != nil {
 		go c.connectionManagerStart(c.ctx)
 	}
@@ -114,13 +118,9 @@ func (c *Control) Start() (func() error, error) {
 	c.f.triggerShutdown = c.Stop
 
 	// Start reading packets.
-	out, err := c.f.run()
-	if err != nil {
-		c.state = StateStopped
-		return nil, err
-	}
+	c.f.run()
 	c.state = StateStarted
-	return out, nil
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (c *Control) State() RunState {
@@ -133,10 +133,26 @@ func (c *Control) Context() context.Context {
 	return c.ctx
 }
 
-// Stop is a non-blocking call that signals nebula to close all tunnels and shut down
+// Stop tears nebula down, closing all tunnels and releasing everything it holds.
+// Use Wait to block until the shutdown has completed.
+// A Control that has been stopped cannot be started again, Start will return ErrAlreadyStopped.
 func (c *Control) Stop() {
 	c.stateLock.Lock()
-	if c.state != StateStarted {
+	switch c.state {
+	case StateStarted:
+		// Fall through to the full teardown below
+
+	case StateReady:
+		// Never started
+		c.cancel()
+		c.state = StateStopped
+		if err := c.f.Close(); err != nil {
+			c.l.Error("Close interface failed", "error", err)
+		}
+		c.stateLock.Unlock()
+		return
+
+	default:
 		c.stateLock.Unlock()
 		// We are stopping or stopped already
 		return
@@ -145,19 +161,26 @@ func (c *Control) Stop() {
 	c.state = StateStopping
 	c.stateLock.Unlock()
 
-	// Stop the handshakeManager (and other services), to prevent new tunnels from
-	// being created while we're shutting them all down.
+	// Closing tunnels can be slow with a large hostmap, don't hold the lock for it
 	c.cancel()
-
 	c.CloseAllTunnels(false)
+
+	c.stateLock.Lock()
+	c.state = StateStopped
 	if err := c.f.Close(); err != nil {
 		c.l.Error("Close interface failed", "error", err)
 	}
-	c.stateLock.Lock()
-	c.state = StateStopped
 	c.stateLock.Unlock()
 }
 
+// Wait blocks until nebula has fully stopped, either via Stop or an internal fatal error,
+// and returns the first fatal packet reader error if there was one.
+// It is safe to call from multiple goroutines and at any point in the lifecycle,
+// but a Wait on a Control that is never started and never stopped will block forever.
+func (c *Control) Wait() error {
+	return c.f.wait()
+}
+
 // ShutdownBlock will listen for and block on term and interrupt signals, calling Control.Stop() once signalled
 func (c *Control) ShutdownBlock() {
 	sigChan := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
@@ -170,9 +193,20 @@ func (c *Control) ShutdownBlock() {
 	c.Stop()
 }
 
-// RebindUDPServer asks the UDP listener to rebind it's listener. Mainly used on mobile clients when interfaces change
+// RebindUDPServer asks the UDP listener to rebind it's listener. Mainly used on mobile clients when interfaces change.
 func (c *Control) RebindUDPServer() {
-	_ = c.f.outside.Rebind()
+	c.stateLock.Lock()
+	defer c.stateLock.Unlock()
+
+	if c.state != StateStarted {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// A failure here means we are likely still pinned to the interface we came up on, so the rest of this is
+	// unlikely to help. Say so instead of silently carrying on as if we rebound.
+	if err := c.f.outside.Rebind(); err != nil {
+		c.l.Error("Failed to rebind udp socket", "error", err)
+	}
 
 	// Trigger a lighthouse update, useful for mobile clients that should have an update interval of 0
 	c.f.lightHouse.SendUpdate()
@@ -305,7 +339,7 @@ func (c *Control) CloseAllTunnels(excludeLighthouses bool) (closed int) {
 
 		c.l.Debug("Sending close tunnel message",
 			"vpnAddrs", h.vpnAddrs,
-			"udpAddr", h.remote,
+			"udpAddr", h.GetRemote(),
 		)
 		closed++
 	}
@@ -350,7 +384,7 @@ func copyHostInfo(h *HostInfo, preferredRanges []netip.Prefix) ControlHostInfo {
 		RemoteAddrs:            h.remotes.CopyAddrs(preferredRanges),
 		CurrentRelaysToMe:      h.relayState.CopyRelayIps(),
 		CurrentRelaysThroughMe: h.relayState.CopyRelayForIps(),
-		CurrentRemote:          h.remote,
+		CurrentRemote:          h.GetRemote(),
 	}
 
 	for i, a := range h.vpnAddrs {

control_lifecycle_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,309 @@
+package nebula
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"net/netip"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/batch"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+type fakeDevice struct {
+	closeOnce sync.Once
+	closedCh  chan struct{}
+	closed    bool
+}
+
+func newFakeDevice() *fakeDevice {
+	return &fakeDevice{closedCh: make(chan struct{})}
+}
+
+// Read blocks until Close like a real tun with no traffic, then reports EOF
+// the same way a closed device does
+func (d *fakeDevice) Read() ([]tio.Packet, error) {
+	<-d.closedCh
+	return nil, io.EOF
+}
+
+func (d *fakeDevice) Write(p []byte) (int, error) { return len(p), nil }
+
+func (d *fakeDevice) Close() error {
+	d.closeOnce.Do(func() {
+		d.closed = true
+		close(d.closedCh)
+	})
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (d *fakeDevice) Activate() error                       { return nil }
+func (d *fakeDevice) Networks() []netip.Prefix              { return nil }
+func (d *fakeDevice) Name() string                          { return "fake" }
+func (d *fakeDevice) RoutesFor(netip.Addr) routing.Gateways { return nil }
+
+func (d *fakeDevice) Queues(int) ([]tio.Queue, error) { return []tio.Queue{d}, nil }
+
+// newReadyControl hand-builds the minimum Control that Main would have
+// produced right before Start, including the construction token NewInterface
+// takes so waiters block until Close releases the resources
+func newReadyControl(t *testing.T) (*Control, *fakeDevice, *fakeConn) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	dev := newFakeDevice()
+	conn := &fakeConn{}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+
+	myVpnNet := netip.MustParsePrefix("10.128.0.1/16")
+	nt := new(bart.Lite)
+	nt.Insert(myVpnNet)
+	cs := &CertState{
+		myVpnNetworks:      []netip.Prefix{myVpnNet},
+		myVpnNetworksTable: nt,
+	}
+	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(ctx, l, config.NewC(l), cs, nil, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	f := &Interface{
+		ctx:        ctx,
+		inside:     dev,
+		outside:    conn,
+		writers:    []udp.Conn{conn},
+		batchers:   make([]*batch.MultiCoalescer, 1),
+		routines:   1,
+		hostMap:    newHostMap(l),
+		lightHouse: lh,
+		l:          l,
+	}
+	f.wg.Add(1)
+
+	return &Control{
+		state:  StateReady,
+		f:      f,
+		l:      l,
+		ctx:    ctx,
+		cancel: cancel,
+	}, dev, conn
+}
+
+func TestControl_StopBeforeStart(t *testing.T) {
+	c, dev, conn := newReadyControl(t)
+
+	// A Stop on a never started control must release everything Main acquired
+	c.Stop()
+	assert.Equal(t, StateStopped, c.State())
+	assert.True(t, dev.closed, "the tun device should have been closed")
+	assert.True(t, conn.closed, "the udp socket should have been closed")
+	require.ErrorIs(t, c.ctx.Err(), context.Canceled, "the service context should have been cancelled")
+
+	// Wait must return promptly now that the resources are released
+	require.NoError(t, c.Wait())
+
+	// A stopped control can never be started
+	err := c.Start()
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrAlreadyStopped)
+
+	// A second Stop is a harmless no-op
+	c.Stop()
+	assert.Equal(t, StateStopped, c.State())
+	require.NoError(t, c.Wait())
+}
+
+func TestControl_WaitBlocksUntilStop(t *testing.T) {
+	c, _, _ := newReadyControl(t)
+
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() { done <- c.Wait() }()
+
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+		t.Fatal("Wait returned before Stop")
+	case <-time.After(50 * time.Millisecond):
+	}
+
+	c.Stop()
+	select {
+	case err := <-done:
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("Wait did not return after Stop")
+	}
+}
+
+type fakeConn struct {
+	closed  bool
+	rebinds int
+}
+
+func (c *fakeConn) Rebind() error                             { c.rebinds++; return nil }
+func (c *fakeConn) LocalAddr() (netip.AddrPort, error)        { return netip.AddrPort{}, nil }
+func (c *fakeConn) ListenOut(_ udp.EncReader, _ func()) error { return nil }
+func (c *fakeConn) WriteTo(_ []byte, _ netip.AddrPort) error  { return nil }
+func (c *fakeConn) WriteBatch(bufs [][]byte, _ []netip.AddrPort) (int, error) {
+	return len(bufs), nil
+}
+func (c *fakeConn) ReloadConfig(_ *config.C)      {}
+func (c *fakeConn) SupportsMultipleReaders() bool { return true }
+func (c *fakeConn) Close() error                  { c.closed = true; return nil }
+
+type multiqueueDevice struct {
+	*fakeDevice
+}
+
+// Queues claims multiqueue support but fails to open the second queue,
+// exercising the activation error path.
+func (d *multiqueueDevice) Queues(n int) ([]tio.Queue, error) {
+	if n > 1 {
+		return nil, errors.New("second queue failed to open")
+	}
+	return d.fakeDevice.Queues(n)
+}
+
+func TestControl_StartMultiqueueFailureReleases(t *testing.T) {
+	dev := &multiqueueDevice{fakeDevice: newFakeDevice()}
+	conn := &fakeConn{}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	f := &Interface{
+		ctx:      ctx,
+		inside:   dev,
+		outside:  conn,
+		writers:  []udp.Conn{conn},
+		batchers: make([]*batch.MultiCoalescer, 2),
+		routines: 2,
+		l:        test.NewLogger(),
+	}
+	f.wg.Add(1)
+
+	c := &Control{
+		state:  StateReady,
+		f:      f,
+		l:      test.NewLogger(),
+		ctx:    ctx,
+		cancel: cancel,
+	}
+
+	// The second reader fails to open, everything must be released
+	err := c.Start()
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, StateStopped, c.State())
+	assert.True(t, dev.closed, "the tun device should have been closed")
+	assert.True(t, conn.closed, "the udp socket should have been closed")
+	require.ErrorIs(t, c.ctx.Err(), context.Canceled)
+
+	// And Wait must not hang on the construction token
+	require.NoError(t, c.Wait())
+}
+
+func TestInterface_CloseIsIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
+	dev := newFakeDevice()
+	f := &Interface{
+		inside: dev,
+		l:      test.NewLogger(),
+	}
+	f.wg.Add(1)
+
+	require.NoError(t, f.Close())
+	assert.True(t, dev.closed)
+
+	// A second Close must not double release the wg token or the device
+	require.NoError(t, f.Close())
+	require.NoError(t, f.wait())
+}
+
+func TestControl_FatalErrorReportsThroughWait(t *testing.T) {
+	c, dev, conn := newReadyControl(t)
+
+	// Mirror what Start wires up, without needing real packet readers
+	c.f.triggerShutdown = c.Stop
+	c.state = StateStarted
+
+	boom := errors.New("boom")
+	c.f.onFatal(boom)
+
+	require.ErrorIs(t, c.Wait(), boom)
+	assert.Equal(t, StateStopped, c.State())
+	assert.True(t, dev.closed)
+	assert.True(t, conn.closed)
+
+	// A second fatal error must not fire the shutdown again or replace the first
+	c.f.onFatal(errors.New("later"))
+	require.ErrorIs(t, c.Wait(), boom)
+
+	// Wait stays factual, a Stop after the death does not mask the error
+	c.Stop()
+	require.ErrorIs(t, c.Wait(), boom)
+}
+
+func TestControl_ConcurrentStopAndStart(t *testing.T) {
+	c, _, _ := newReadyControl(t)
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
+		wg.Go(func() { c.Stop() })
+	}
+	wg.Go(func() { _ = c.Start() })
+	wg.Go(func() {
+		_ = c.Wait()
+		// A returned Wait must always observe the final state, no matter how
+		// the race resolved
+		assert.Equal(t, StateStopped, c.State())
+	})
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	// However the race resolves, the control must end fully stopped with no
+	// panic and Wait must observe the final state
+	require.NoError(t, c.Wait())
+	assert.Equal(t, StateStopped, c.State())
+	err := c.Start()
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrAlreadyStopped)
+}
+
+func TestControl_StartStopLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	c, dev, conn := newReadyControl(t)
+
+	err := c.Start()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, StateStarted, c.State())
+	err = c.Start()
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrAlreadyStarted)
+
+	// Stop must unpark the reader blocked in the device and release everything
+	c.Stop()
+	assert.Equal(t, StateStopped, c.State())
+	assert.True(t, dev.closed, "the tun device should have been closed")
+	assert.True(t, conn.closed, "the udp socket should have been closed")
+	require.ErrorIs(t, c.ctx.Err(), context.Canceled)
+
+	// The reader drained off a closed device, that is not a fatal error
+	require.NoError(t, c.Wait())
+	err = c.Start()
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrAlreadyStopped)
+}
+
+func TestControl_RebindIsGatedByState(t *testing.T) {
+	c, _, conn := newReadyControl(t)
+
+	// A rebind before Start reaches nothing, the interface is not up
+	c.RebindUDPServer()
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, conn.rebinds, "rebind before start must be a no-op")
+
+	err := c.Start()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	c.RebindUDPServer()
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, conn.rebinds, "rebind while started must reach the conn")
+
+	// A rebind racing a completed stop must not touch the closed conn
+	c.Stop()
+	require.NoError(t, c.Wait())
+	c.RebindUDPServer()
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, conn.rebinds, "rebind after stop must be a no-op")
+}

control_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package nebula
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
+	"log/slog"
 	"net"
 	"net/netip"
 	"reflect"
@@ -9,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 func TestControl_GetHostInfoByVpnIp(t *testing.T) {
@@ -42,8 +45,7 @@ func TestControl_GetHostInfoByVpnIp(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, ok)
 
 	crt := &dummyCert{}
-	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(&HostInfo{
-		remote:  remote1,
+	hi := &HostInfo{
 		remotes: remotes,
 		ConnectionState: &ConnectionState{
 			peerCert: &cert.CachedCertificate{Certificate: crt},
@@ -56,13 +58,14 @@ func TestControl_GetHostInfoByVpnIp(t *testing.T) {
 			relayForByAddr: map[netip.Addr]*Relay{},
 			relayForByIdx:  map[uint32]*Relay{},
 		},
-	}, &Interface{})
+	}
+	hi.remote.Store(&remote1)
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(hi, &Interface{})
 
 	vpnIp2, ok := netip.AddrFromSlice(ipNet2.IP)
 	assert.True(t, ok)
 
-	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(&HostInfo{
-		remote:  remote1,
+	hi2 := &HostInfo{
 		remotes: remotes,
 		ConnectionState: &ConnectionState{
 			peerCert: nil,
@@ -75,7 +78,9 @@ func TestControl_GetHostInfoByVpnIp(t *testing.T) {
 			relayForByAddr: map[netip.Addr]*Relay{},
 			relayForByIdx:  map[uint32]*Relay{},
 		},
-	}, &Interface{})
+	}
+	hi2.remote.Store(&remote1)
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(hi2, &Interface{})
 
 	c := Control{
 		state: StateReady,
@@ -119,3 +124,153 @@ func assertFields(t *testing.T, expected []string, actualStruct any) {
 
 	assert.Equal(t, expected, fields)
 }
+
+// alwaysAllowV4/V6 are check funcs that accept every entry (including nil pointers),
+// letting us inject a nil *V4AddrPort/*V6AddrPort into a RemoteList's reported cache
+// the same way a malformed proto message off the wire could.
+func alwaysAllowV4(netip.Addr, *V4AddrPort) bool { return true }
+func alwaysAllowV6(netip.Addr, *V6AddrPort) bool { return true }
+
+// TestGetRelays_SkipsNilRelayAddrs proves GetRelays tolerates nil entries in the
+// RelayVpnAddrs proto slice (which protoAddrToNetAddr would nil-deref on) and still
+// returns the valid relays, including the legacy OldRelayVpnAddrs.
+func TestGetRelays_SkipsNilRelayAddrs(t *testing.T) {
+	good := netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.9")
+
+	d := &NebulaMetaDetails{
+		OldRelayVpnAddrs: []uint32{0x0a000001}, // 10.0.0.1
+		RelayVpnAddrs: []*Addr{
+			nil,
+			netAddrToProtoAddr(good),
+			nil,
+		},
+	}
+
+	var relays []netip.Addr
+	require.NotPanics(t, func() { relays = d.GetRelays() })
+
+	assert.Equal(t, []netip.Addr{
+		netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.1"),
+		good,
+	}, relays)
+}
+
+// TestGetRelays_AllNil ensures an all-nil RelayVpnAddrs slice yields no relays and no panic.
+func TestGetRelays_AllNil(t *testing.T) {
+	d := &NebulaMetaDetails{RelayVpnAddrs: []*Addr{nil, nil}}
+	var relays []netip.Addr
+	require.NotPanics(t, func() { relays = d.GetRelays() })
+	assert.Empty(t, relays)
+}
+
+// TestRemoteList_CopyCache_SkipsNilReported proves CopyCache skips nil reported
+// pointers (v4 and v6) instead of nil-dereferencing them in protoV*AddrPortToNetAddrPort.
+func TestRemoteList_CopyCache_SkipsNilReported(t *testing.T) {
+	owner := netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.1")
+	rl := NewRemoteList([]netip.Addr{owner}, nil)
+
+	rl.unlockedSetV4(owner, owner, []*V4AddrPort{
+		nil,
+		newIp4AndPortFromString("1.2.3.4:5"),
+		nil,
+	}, alwaysAllowV4)
+
+	rl.unlockedSetV6(owner, owner, []*V6AddrPort{
+		nil,
+		newIp6AndPortFromString("[1::1]:6"),
+		nil,
+	}, alwaysAllowV6)
+
+	var cm *CacheMap
+	require.NotPanics(t, func() { cm = rl.CopyCache() })
+
+	c := (*cm)[owner.String()]
+	require.NotNil(t, c)
+	assert.ElementsMatch(t, []netip.AddrPort{
+		netip.MustParseAddrPort("1.2.3.4:5"),
+		netip.MustParseAddrPort("[1::1]:6"),
+	}, c.Reported)
+}
+
+// TestRemoteList_Rebuild_SkipsNilReported drives unlockedCollect (via Rebuild) with
+// nil reported entries and confirms only the valid addresses survive, with no panic.
+func TestRemoteList_Rebuild_SkipsNilReported(t *testing.T) {
+	owner := netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.1")
+	rl := NewRemoteList([]netip.Addr{owner}, nil)
+
+	rl.unlockedSetV4(owner, owner, []*V4AddrPort{
+		nil,
+		newIp4AndPortFromString("1.2.3.4:5"),
+	}, alwaysAllowV4)
+	rl.unlockedSetV6(owner, owner, []*V6AddrPort{
+		newIp6AndPortFromString("[1::1]:6"),
+		nil,
+	}, alwaysAllowV6)
+
+	require.NotPanics(t, func() { rl.Rebuild([]netip.Prefix{}) })
+
+	assert.ElementsMatch(t, []netip.AddrPort{
+		netip.MustParseAddrPort("1.2.3.4:5"),
+		netip.MustParseAddrPort("[1::1]:6"),
+	}, rl.addrs)
+}
+
+// newRelayControl marshals a NebulaControl the way it arrives on the wire so we can feed
+// it through HandleControlMsg's unmarshal + validate path.
+func newRelayControl(t *testing.T, typ NebulaControl_MessageType, from, to *Addr) []byte {
+	t.Helper()
+	msg := &NebulaControl{
+		Type:          typ,
+		RelayFromAddr: from,
+		RelayToAddr:   to,
+	}
+	b, err := msg.Marshal()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return b
+}
+
+// TestRelayManager_HandleControlMsg_NilRelayAddrs verifies the validation block added to
+// HandleControlMsg: CreateRelay{Request,Response} carrying a nil RelayFromAddr or
+// RelayToAddr are dropped with a debug log rather than nil-dereferencing downstream.
+func TestRelayManager_HandleControlMsg_NilRelayAddrs(t *testing.T) {
+	good := netAddrToProtoAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.9"))
+
+	cases := []struct {
+		name    string
+		typ     NebulaControl_MessageType
+		from    *Addr
+		to      *Addr
+		wantLog string // debug substring expected, "" == expect no drop log
+	}{
+		{"request nil from", NebulaControl_CreateRelayRequest, nil, good, "nil RelayFromAddr"},
+		{"request nil to", NebulaControl_CreateRelayRequest, good, nil, "nil RelayToAddr"},
+		{"request both nil", NebulaControl_CreateRelayRequest, nil, nil, "nil RelayFromAddr"},
+		{"response nil from", NebulaControl_CreateRelayResponse, nil, good, "nil RelayFromAddr"},
+		{"response nil to", NebulaControl_CreateRelayResponse, good, nil, "nil RelayToAddr"},
+		// A non-relay control type is not subject to the relay-addr validation and must
+		// pass through it untouched (the final switch simply no-ops on it).
+		{"unrelated type nil addrs", NebulaControl_None, nil, nil, ""},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var buf bytes.Buffer
+			l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(&buf, slog.LevelDebug)
+			rm := &relayManager{l: l, hostmap: newHostMap(l)}
+			rm.useRelays.Store(true)
+
+			f := &Interface{l: l}
+			h := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.2")}, localIndexId: 1}
+
+			d := newRelayControl(t, tc.typ, tc.from, tc.to)
+
+			require.NotPanics(t, func() { rm.HandleControlMsg(h, d, f) })
+
+			if tc.wantLog == "" {
+				assert.NotContains(t, buf.String(), "nil Relay")
+			} else {
+				assert.Contains(t, buf.String(), tc.wantLog)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

control_tester.go

@@ -108,7 +108,19 @@ func (c *Control) GetVpnAddrs() []netip.Addr {
 }
 
 func (c *Control) GetUDPAddr() netip.AddrPort {
-	return c.f.outside.(*udp.TesterConn).Addr
+	return c.f.outside.(*udp.TesterConn).GetAddr()
+}
+
+// SetUDPAddr moves this node to a new underlay address, standing in for a laptop waking up on a different
+// network. Register the new address with the router as well or nothing will route back.
+func (c *Control) SetUDPAddr(addr netip.AddrPort) {
+	c.f.outside.(*udp.TesterConn).SetAddr(addr)
+}
+
+// SetLocalAddrsFn replaces underlay address discovery so a test can advertise its simulated address instead of
+// whatever this machine's NICs happen to be. Call it before Start, SendUpdate reads it from the update worker.
+func (c *Control) SetLocalAddrsFn(fn func(*LocalAllowList) []netip.Addr) {
+	c.f.lightHouse.localAddrsFn = fn
 }
 
 func (c *Control) KillPendingTunnel(vpnIp netip.Addr) bool {
@@ -125,6 +137,14 @@ func (c *Control) GetHostmap() *HostMap {
 	return c.f.hostMap
 }
 
+// GetHostmapIndexCount returns the number of entries in the main hostmap Indexes table, holding
+// the hostmap read lock so tests can poll it while connection manager churns tunnels.
+func (c *Control) GetHostmapIndexCount() int {
+	c.f.hostMap.RLock()
+	defer c.f.hostMap.RUnlock()
+	return len(c.f.hostMap.Indexes)
+}
+
 func (c *Control) GetF() *Interface {
 	return c.f
 }

cpupick/cpupick.go

@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+// Package cpupick chooses which CPUs the tun reader threads pin to when the
+// operator has not chosen for us (tun.cpu_affinity). The stock spread —
+// allowed[i] for routine i — has two failure modes this package exists to fix:
+//
+//   - every co-located nebula starts its spread at allowed[0], so N instances
+//     on one box stack their readers onto the same cores, and allowed[0] is
+//     usually CPU 0, the core housekeeping and default IRQ affinity already
+//     favor;
+//   - on heterogeneous CPUs (ARM big.LITTLE, Intel P/E hybrids, AMD compact
+//     cores) low IDs are not necessarily fast cores, and pinning an encrypt
+//     thread to an efficiency core caps that queue's throughput.
+//
+// Default instead returns a preference-ordered pin list: the allowed set
+// filtered to performance cores (when the platform distinguishes them and
+// enough remain for every routine), confined to a single NUMA node and spread
+// across distinct physical cores when the topology permits, CPU 0's physical
+// core demoted to last resort, and the order rotated by a stable per-instance
+// key so co-located instances spread instead of stacking.
+package cpupick
+
+import (
+	"log/slog"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
+)
+
+// topology is the slice of machine layout arrange consults: the NUMA node
+// and the physical core behind each candidate CPU, plus which core CPU 0
+// lives on (zeroCore, -1 when unknown — tracked separately because CPU 0's
+// SMT sibling deserves demotion even when CPU 0 itself isn't a candidate).
+// Probed from sysfs on Linux; flatTopology stands in when the platform can't
+// say, which turns every topology rule into a no-op rather than a wrong
+// answer.
+type topology struct {
+	nodeOf   map[int]int
+	coreOf   map[int]int
+	zeroCore int
+}
+
+// flatTopology places every CPU on node 0 and on a physical core of its own.
+func flatTopology(cpus []int) topology {
+	t := topology{
+		nodeOf:   make(map[int]int, len(cpus)),
+		coreOf:   make(map[int]int, len(cpus)),
+		zeroCore: -1,
+	}
+	for i, c := range cpus {
+		t.nodeOf[c] = 0
+		t.coreOf[c] = i
+		if c == 0 {
+			t.zeroCore = i
+		}
+	}
+	return t
+}
+
+// Default computes the pin order for `routines` tun readers. key is any
+// stable per-instance value; the bound UDP port is ideal — distinct across
+// co-located instances, stable across restarts so benchmark runs stay
+// comparable. Returns nil when there is nothing useful to say (no affinity
+// support on this platform, lookup failure); callers keep their existing
+// fallback spread.
+func Default(routines int, key uint64, l *slog.Logger) []int {
+	allowed, err := util.AllowedCPUs()
+	if err != nil || len(allowed) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	perf, signal := perfCPUs(allowed)
+	cands := pickCandidates(allowed, perf, routines)
+	if len(cands) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if len(perf) < routines {
+		signal = ""
+	}
+	cpus := arrange(cands, readTopology(cands), routines, splitmix64(key))
+	if l != nil {
+		l.Info("chose default pin CPUs for tun readers",
+			"cpus", cpus[:min(routines, len(cpus))],
+			"perfSignal", signal)
+	}
+	return cpus
+}
+
+// pickCandidates applies the enough-for-everyone guard: a perf filter that
+// leaves fewer candidates than routines is discarded — giving every reader
+// its own (possibly slow) core beats stacking two readers on a fast one.
+func pickCandidates(allowed, perf []int, routines int) []int {
+	if len(perf) < routines {
+		return allowed
+	}
+	return perf
+}
+
+// arrange turns the candidate set into the final pin order:
+//
+//  1. NUMA: when at least one node holds enough candidates for every
+//     routine, confine to one such node, chosen by the instance hash. The
+//     readers share hostmap and cipher state, so splitting one instance
+//     across nodes taxes every packet — and co-located instances that hash
+//     to different nodes stop competing entirely. When no node is big
+//     enough, span nodes rather than stack readers.
+//  2. Rotate the preferred candidates by the hash so instances spread.
+//  3. SMT: emit one thread per physical core before any of their siblings —
+//     two encrypt threads on one core split its execution units. Siblings
+//     still follow for the routines > cores case.
+//  4. CPU 0's whole physical core goes last: housekeeping and default IRQ
+//     noise on CPU 0 bleeds into its SMT sibling too. Within that tail the
+//     sibling precedes CPU 0 itself, which only catches the bleed-through.
+//
+// The rotation happens before the SMT pass so each instance's one-per-core
+// walk also starts at a different core, and CPU 0's core is excluded from
+// the rotation so no hash value can put it back at the front.
+func arrange(cands []int, topo topology, routines int, h uint64) []int {
+	byNode := map[int][]int{}
+	var nodes []int
+	for _, c := range cands {
+		n := topo.nodeOf[c]
+		if _, ok := byNode[n]; !ok {
+			nodes = append(nodes, n)
+		}
+		byNode[n] = append(byNode[n], c)
+	}
+	var eligible []int
+	for _, n := range nodes {
+		if len(byNode[n]) >= routines {
+			eligible = append(eligible, n)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(eligible) > 0 {
+		cands = byNode[eligible[int(h%uint64(len(eligible)))]]
+	}
+
+	// Split off CPU 0's core: its siblings tail the list, CPU 0 tails them.
+	preferred := make([]int, 0, len(cands))
+	var zeroTail []int
+	hasZero := false
+	for _, c := range cands {
+		switch {
+		case c == 0:
+			hasZero = true
+		case topo.zeroCore >= 0 && topo.coreOf[c] == topo.zeroCore:
+			zeroTail = append(zeroTail, c)
+		default:
+			preferred = append(preferred, c)
+		}
+	}
+	if hasZero {
+		zeroTail = append(zeroTail, 0)
+	}
+	if len(preferred) == 0 {
+		return zeroTail // CPU 0's core is all we have
+	}
+
+	// The node pick consumed the low hash bits; rotate by the high ones so
+	// the two choices stay independent.
+	off := int((h >> 32) % uint64(len(preferred)))
+	rot := make([]int, 0, len(preferred))
+	rot = append(rot, preferred[off:]...)
+	rot = append(rot, preferred[:off]...)
+
+	seenCore := make(map[int]bool, len(rot))
+	out := make([]int, 0, len(cands))
+	var siblings []int
+	for _, c := range rot {
+		g := topo.coreOf[c]
+		if seenCore[g] {
+			siblings = append(siblings, c)
+			continue
+		}
+		seenCore[g] = true
+		out = append(out, c)
+	}
+	out = append(out, siblings...)
+	out = append(out, zeroTail...)
+	return out
+}
+
+// splitmix64 decorrelates instance keys before the selection modulos: ports
+// on one box often share spacing (4242/4243, or round steps like +1000) that
+// raw key%len arithmetic would fold onto the same offset.
+func splitmix64(x uint64) uint64 {
+	x += 0x9e3779b97f4a7c15
+	x = (x ^ (x >> 30)) * 0xbf58476d1ce4e5b9
+	x = (x ^ (x >> 27)) * 0x94d049bb133111eb
+	return x ^ (x >> 31)
+}

cpupick/cpupick_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+package cpupick
+
+import (
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// pairTopo builds a topology where consecutive candidate pairs are SMT
+// siblings: (cpus[0],cpus[1]) share a core, (cpus[2],cpus[3]) the next, ...
+// All CPUs land on node 0.
+func pairTopo(cpus []int) topology {
+	t := topology{
+		nodeOf:   make(map[int]int, len(cpus)),
+		coreOf:   make(map[int]int, len(cpus)),
+		zeroCore: -1,
+	}
+	for i, c := range cpus {
+		t.nodeOf[c] = 0
+		t.coreOf[c] = i / 2
+		if c == 0 {
+			t.zeroCore = i / 2
+		}
+	}
+	return t
+}
+
+func TestArrangeDemotesZeroForEveryKey(t *testing.T) {
+	candidates := []int{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
+	for key := range uint64(64) {
+		got := arrange(candidates, flatTopology(candidates), 4, splitmix64(key))
+		if len(got) != len(candidates) {
+			t.Fatalf("key %d: len=%d want %d", key, len(got), len(candidates))
+		}
+		if got[0] == 0 {
+			t.Errorf("key %d: CPU 0 at the front: %v", key, got)
+		}
+		if got[len(got)-1] != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("key %d: CPU 0 not demoted to last: %v", key, got)
+		}
+		sorted := slices.Clone(got)
+		slices.Sort(sorted)
+		if !slices.Equal(sorted, candidates) {
+			t.Errorf("key %d: not a permutation: %v", key, got)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArrangeDemotesZeroSiblings(t *testing.T) {
+	// Pairs (0,1),(2,3),(4,5),(6,7): CPU 0's core — 0 and its sibling 1 —
+	// must tail the list, sibling ahead of 0 itself.
+	candidates := []int{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
+	for key := range uint64(64) {
+		got := arrange(candidates, pairTopo(candidates), 2, splitmix64(key))
+		n := len(got)
+		if got[n-1] != 0 || got[n-2] != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("key %d: tail = %v, want [... 1 0]", key, got)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArrangeZeroSiblingWithoutZero(t *testing.T) {
+	// CPU 0 excluded (cpuset) but its sibling 1 remains: the sibling still
+	// tails the list when the topology knows which core CPU 0 lives on.
+	candidates := []int{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
+	topo := pairTopo([]int{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5})
+	got := arrange(candidates, topo, 2, splitmix64(7))
+	if got[len(got)-1] != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("CPU 0's sibling not demoted: %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArrangeRotatesByKey(t *testing.T) {
+	candidates := []int{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
+	seen := map[int]bool{}
+	for key := range uint64(64) {
+		seen[arrange(candidates, flatTopology(candidates), 4, splitmix64(key))[0]] = true
+	}
+	// 64 hashed keys over 8 slots must hit more than one starting CPU, or
+	// co-located instances would all stack again.
+	if len(seen) < 2 {
+		t.Errorf("rotation never varied across keys: %v", seen)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArrangeStableForSameKey(t *testing.T) {
+	candidates := []int{0, 2, 4, 6}
+	topo := flatTopology(candidates)
+	a := arrange(candidates, topo, 2, splitmix64(4242))
+	b := arrange(candidates, topo, 2, splitmix64(4242))
+	if !slices.Equal(a, b) {
+		t.Errorf("same key ordered differently: %v vs %v", a, b)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArrangeZeroOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	if got := arrange([]int{0}, flatTopology([]int{0}), 1, splitmix64(7)); !slices.Equal(got, []int{0}) {
+		t.Errorf("sole CPU 0 must survive: %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArrangeSMTSiblingsLast(t *testing.T) {
+	// Pairs (1,2),(3,4),(5,6),(7,8): the first four picks must cover four
+	// distinct physical cores before any sibling repeats.
+	candidates := []int{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
+	topo := pairTopo(candidates)
+	for key := range uint64(16) {
+		got := arrange(candidates, topo, 4, splitmix64(key))
+		seen := map[int]bool{}
+		for _, c := range got[:4] {
+			g := topo.coreOf[c]
+			if seen[g] {
+				t.Fatalf("key %d: sibling before all cores covered: %v", key, got)
+			}
+			seen[g] = true
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArrangeNUMAConfinesToOneNode(t *testing.T) {
+	// Two nodes of four; both fit routines=3, so the result must sit
+	// entirely inside one of them, and the hash must pick both across keys.
+	candidates := []int{1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13}
+	topo := flatTopology(candidates)
+	for _, c := range []int{10, 11, 12, 13} {
+		topo.nodeOf[c] = 1
+	}
+	nodesSeen := map[int]bool{}
+	for key := range uint64(32) {
+		got := arrange(candidates, topo, 3, splitmix64(key))
+		if len(got) != 4 {
+			t.Fatalf("key %d: not confined to one node: %v", key, got)
+		}
+		n := topo.nodeOf[got[0]]
+		for _, c := range got {
+			if topo.nodeOf[c] != n {
+				t.Fatalf("key %d: spans nodes: %v", key, got)
+			}
+		}
+		nodesSeen[n] = true
+	}
+	if len(nodesSeen) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("hash never spread instances across nodes: %v", nodesSeen)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestArrangeNUMASpansWhenNoNodeFits(t *testing.T) {
+	candidates := []int{1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13}
+	topo := flatTopology(candidates)
+	for _, c := range []int{10, 11, 12, 13} {
+		topo.nodeOf[c] = 1
+	}
+	got := arrange(candidates, topo, 6, splitmix64(1))
+	if len(got) != len(candidates) {
+		t.Errorf("undersized nodes must span, got %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPickCandidates(t *testing.T) {
+	allowed := []int{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
+	perf := []int{4, 5}
+
+	// Enough perf cores for every routine: only they are used.
+	if got := pickCandidates(allowed, perf, 2); !slices.Equal(got, perf) {
+		t.Errorf("perf filter not applied: %v", got)
+	}
+	// Perf filter too small for the routine count: discarded, everyone
+	// gets their own core from the full allowed set.
+	if got := pickCandidates(allowed, perf, 4); !slices.Equal(got, allowed) {
+		t.Errorf("undersized perf filter not discarded: %v", got)
+	}
+}

cpupick/perf_linux.go

@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package cpupick
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// capacityKeepPct is the cpu_capacity admission threshold, relative to the
+// fastest allowed core. LITTLE cores are normalized to ~250-400 of the big
+// core's 1024 while mid cores sit at ~75%+, so half of max separates little
+// from the rest without splitting prime from mid on three-tier parts.
+const capacityKeepPct = 50
+
+// freqKeepPct is the cpuinfo_max_freq admission threshold. Favored-core
+// turbo skew is 2-4% and ARM mid-vs-prime ~12%, while E-cores, LITTLE
+// cores, and AMD compact cores all sit >= 20% below their siblings' max.
+const freqKeepPct = 85
+
+// perfCPUs partitions allowed into the subset that are "performance" cores,
+// consulting (in order of authority):
+//
+//  1. cpu_capacity — arch_topology's normalized per-CPU capacity, exposed on
+//     arm/arm64/riscv; the scheduler's own view of big vs LITTLE.
+//  2. /sys/devices/cpu_core/cpus — the Intel hybrid P-core PMU mask, present
+//     only on P/E parts (x86 has no cpu_capacity) and naming P cores outright.
+//  3. cpuinfo_max_freq — the cross-vendor fallback; catches AMD compact
+//     cores, which neither of the above covers.
+//
+// Returns allowed unchanged (signal "") when nothing distinguishes the
+// cores: homogeneous parts, VMs without cpufreq, sysfs unavailable.
+func perfCPUs(allowed []int) ([]int, string) {
+	return perfCPUsFrom("/sys/devices/system/cpu", "/sys/devices/cpu_core/cpus", allowed)
+}
+
+func perfCPUsFrom(cpuDir, intelCoreMask string, allowed []int) ([]int, string) {
+	if cpus, ok := byPerCPUValue(cpuDir, "cpu_capacity", allowed, capacityKeepPct); ok {
+		return cpus, "cpu_capacity"
+	}
+	if cpus, ok := byIntelCoreMask(intelCoreMask, allowed); ok {
+		return cpus, "intel_core_pmu"
+	}
+	if cpus, ok := byPerCPUValue(cpuDir, "cpufreq/cpuinfo_max_freq", allowed, freqKeepPct); ok {
+		return cpus, "max_freq"
+	}
+	return allowed, ""
+}
+
+// byPerCPUValue keeps the allowed CPUs whose per-CPU sysfs value is at least
+// keepPct percent of the maximum across allowed. Inconclusive (ok=false)
+// when any CPU is missing the file or when every value is equal.
+func byPerCPUValue(cpuDir, file string, allowed []int, keepPct int) ([]int, bool) {
+	vals := make([]int, len(allowed))
+	minV, maxV := 0, 0
+	for i, cpu := range allowed {
+		v, err := readIntFile(filepath.Join(cpuDir, fmt.Sprintf("cpu%d", cpu), file))
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, false
+		}
+		vals[i] = v
+		if i == 0 || v < minV {
+			minV = v
+		}
+		if v > maxV {
+			maxV = v
+		}
+	}
+	if minV == maxV {
+		return nil, false // homogeneous by this signal; try the next one
+	}
+	keep := make([]int, 0, len(allowed))
+	for i, cpu := range allowed {
+		if vals[i]*100 >= maxV*keepPct {
+			keep = append(keep, cpu)
+		}
+	}
+	return keep, true
+}
+
+// byIntelCoreMask keeps the allowed CPUs named by the hybrid P-core PMU
+// mask. Inconclusive when the file is absent (non-hybrid x86, other arches)
+// or no allowed CPU is in the mask (the process was deliberately confined
+// to E-cores; nothing useful to prefer within that).
+func byIntelCoreMask(maskPath string, allowed []int) ([]int, bool) {
+	b, err := os.ReadFile(maskPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	set, err := parseCPUList(strings.TrimSpace(string(b)))
+	if err != nil || len(set) == 0 {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	pcore := make(map[int]bool, len(set))
+	for _, c := range set {
+		pcore[c] = true
+	}
+	keep := make([]int, 0, len(allowed))
+	for _, cpu := range allowed {
+		if pcore[cpu] {
+			keep = append(keep, cpu)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(keep) == 0 {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	return keep, true
+}
+
+// parseCPUList decodes the kernel's cpulist format ("0-7,16-23", "3") into
+// individual CPU IDs. Empty input yields an empty list.
+func parseCPUList(s string) ([]int, error) {
+	if s == "" {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	var out []int
+	for part := range strings.SplitSeq(s, ",") {
+		part = strings.TrimSpace(part)
+		if part == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		lo, hi, isRange := strings.Cut(part, "-")
+		a, err := strconv.Atoi(lo)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("bad cpulist entry %q: %w", part, err)
+		}
+		if !isRange {
+			out = append(out, a)
+			continue
+		}
+		b, err := strconv.Atoi(hi)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("bad cpulist entry %q: %w", part, err)
+		}
+		if b < a || b-a > 8192 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("bad cpulist range %q", part)
+		}
+		for v := a; v <= b; v++ {
+			out = append(out, v)
+		}
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func readIntFile(path string) (int, error) {
+	b, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	return strconv.Atoi(strings.TrimSpace(string(b)))
+}

cpupick/perf_linux_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package cpupick
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// fakeSysfs builds a cpuDir tree with the given per-CPU file values.
+// A nil map for a file means "file absent on every CPU".
+func fakeSysfs(t *testing.T, capacity, maxFreq map[int]int) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	write := func(cpu int, rel string, v int) {
+		p := filepath.Join(dir, fmt.Sprintf("cpu%d", cpu), rel)
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(p), 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(p, fmt.Appendf(nil, "%d\n", v), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	for cpu, v := range capacity {
+		write(cpu, "cpu_capacity", v)
+	}
+	for cpu, v := range maxFreq {
+		write(cpu, "cpufreq/cpuinfo_max_freq", v)
+	}
+	return dir
+}
+
+func writeCoreMask(t *testing.T, mask string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	p := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "cpus")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(p, []byte(mask+"\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return p
+}
+
+func TestPerfCPUsBigLittleCapacity(t *testing.T) {
+	// 4 big (1024) + 4 LITTLE (~290): capacity is authoritative on ARM.
+	dir := fakeSysfs(t, map[int]int{
+		0: 1024, 1: 1024, 2: 1024, 3: 1024,
+		4: 290, 5: 290, 6: 290, 7: 290,
+	}, nil)
+	got, signal := perfCPUsFrom(dir, filepath.Join(dir, "nope"), []int{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7})
+	if signal != "cpu_capacity" {
+		t.Fatalf("signal = %q", signal)
+	}
+	if !slices.Equal(got, []int{0, 1, 2, 3}) {
+		t.Errorf("got %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPerfCPUsThreeTierKeepsMid(t *testing.T) {
+	// prime (1024) + mid (~780) + little (~280): 50% keeps prime+mid.
+	dir := fakeSysfs(t, map[int]int{
+		0: 280, 1: 280, 2: 280, 3: 280,
+		4: 780, 5: 780, 6: 780,
+		7: 1024,
+	}, nil)
+	got, _ := perfCPUsFrom(dir, filepath.Join(dir, "nope"), []int{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7})
+	if !slices.Equal(got, []int{4, 5, 6, 7}) {
+		t.Errorf("got %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPerfCPUsIntelHybridMask(t *testing.T) {
+	// No cpu_capacity on x86; the P-core PMU mask decides.
+	dir := fakeSysfs(t, nil, nil)
+	mask := writeCoreMask(t, "0-7")
+	got, signal := perfCPUsFrom(dir, mask, []int{0, 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11})
+	if signal != "intel_core_pmu" {
+		t.Fatalf("signal = %q", signal)
+	}
+	if !slices.Equal(got, []int{0, 1, 2, 3}) {
+		t.Errorf("got %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPerfCPUsIntelMaskDisjointFallsThrough(t *testing.T) {
+	// Confined to E-cores only: the mask can't help, and equal freqs below
+	// mean nothing else distinguishes them either -> allowed unchanged.
+	dir := fakeSysfs(t, nil, map[int]int{8: 4300000, 9: 4300000})
+	mask := writeCoreMask(t, "0-7")
+	got, signal := perfCPUsFrom(dir, mask, []int{8, 9})
+	if signal != "" || !slices.Equal(got, []int{8, 9}) {
+		t.Errorf("got %v signal %q", got, signal)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPerfCPUsMaxFreqCompactCores(t *testing.T) {
+	// AMD-style compact cores: no capacity, no Intel mask; 3.3 vs 5.7 GHz.
+	dir := fakeSysfs(t, nil, map[int]int{
+		0: 5700000, 1: 5700000, 2: 3300000, 3: 3300000,
+	})
+	got, signal := perfCPUsFrom(dir, filepath.Join(dir, "nope"), []int{0, 1, 2, 3})
+	if signal != "max_freq" {
+		t.Fatalf("signal = %q", signal)
+	}
+	if !slices.Equal(got, []int{0, 1}) {
+		t.Errorf("got %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPerfCPUsFavoredCoreSkewKept(t *testing.T) {
+	// Turbo Boost Max favored cores run a few percent hot; they must not
+	// shrink the candidate set to one or two cores.
+	dir := fakeSysfs(t, nil, map[int]int{
+		0: 5800000, 1: 5700000, 2: 5700000, 3: 5600000,
+	})
+	got, _ := perfCPUsFrom(dir, filepath.Join(dir, "nope"), []int{0, 1, 2, 3})
+	if !slices.Equal(got, []int{0, 1, 2, 3}) {
+		t.Errorf("favored-core skew filtered CPUs: %v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPerfCPUsHomogeneousInconclusive(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := fakeSysfs(t, nil, map[int]int{0: 3000000, 1: 3000000})
+	got, signal := perfCPUsFrom(dir, filepath.Join(dir, "nope"), []int{0, 1})
+	if signal != "" || !slices.Equal(got, []int{0, 1}) {
+		t.Errorf("got %v signal %q", got, signal)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPerfCPUsNoSysfs(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	got, signal := perfCPUsFrom(dir, filepath.Join(dir, "nope"), []int{0, 1, 2})
+	if signal != "" || !slices.Equal(got, []int{0, 1, 2}) {
+		t.Errorf("got %v signal %q", got, signal)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestParseCPUList(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		in      string
+		want    []int
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{"0-3", []int{0, 1, 2, 3}, false},
+		{"0-1,16-17", []int{0, 1, 16, 17}, false},
+		{"5", []int{5}, false},
+		{"", nil, false},
+		{"3-1", nil, true},
+		{"a-b", nil, true},
+		{"1,x", nil, true},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		got, err := parseCPUList(c.in)
+		if (err != nil) != c.wantErr {
+			t.Errorf("%q: err=%v wantErr=%v", c.in, err, c.wantErr)
+			continue
+		}
+		if !c.wantErr && !slices.Equal(got, c.want) {
+			t.Errorf("%q: got %v want %v", c.in, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}

cpupick/perf_other.go

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+//go:build !linux
+
+package cpupick
+
+// perfCPUs is Linux-only sysfs walking; elsewhere report "no distinction".
+// Default already returns nil off-Linux (util.AllowedCPUs has no answer
+// there), so this exists to keep the package compiling everywhere.
+func perfCPUs(allowed []int) ([]int, string) {
+	return allowed, ""
+}

cpupick/topo_linux.go

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package cpupick
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// readTopology probes the NUMA node and physical-core layout of cpus from
+// sysfs. Anything sysfs won't say degrades toward flatTopology: an unknown
+// node becomes node 0, an unknown core becomes a core of its own — either
+// way the corresponding arrange rule becomes a no-op instead of a wrong
+// answer.
+func readTopology(cpus []int) topology {
+	return readTopologyFrom("/sys/devices/system/node", "/sys/devices/system/cpu", cpus)
+}
+
+func readTopologyFrom(nodeDir, cpuDir string, cpus []int) topology {
+	coreOf, zeroCore := coreGroups(cpuDir, cpus)
+	return topology{
+		nodeOf:   numaNodes(nodeDir, cpus),
+		coreOf:   coreOf,
+		zeroCore: zeroCore,
+	}
+}
+
+// numaNodes maps each cpu to its NUMA node via
+// /sys/devices/system/node/nodeN/cpulist. CPUs no node claims (or no node
+// dirs at all: VMs, non-NUMA kernels) land on node 0.
+func numaNodes(nodeDir string, cpus []int) map[int]int {
+	out := make(map[int]int, len(cpus))
+	for _, c := range cpus {
+		out[c] = 0
+	}
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(nodeDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out
+	}
+	want := make(map[int]bool, len(cpus))
+	for _, c := range cpus {
+		want[c] = true
+	}
+	for _, e := range entries {
+		id, ok := strings.CutPrefix(e.Name(), "node")
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		n, err := strconv.Atoi(id)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue // has_cpu, possible, ... share the prefix
+		}
+		b, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(nodeDir, e.Name(), "cpulist"))
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		list, err := parseCPUList(strings.TrimSpace(string(b)))
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, c := range list {
+			if want[c] {
+				out[c] = n
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// coreGroups maps each cpu to a dense physical-core id derived from its
+// (physical_package_id, core_id) pair — core_id alone repeats across
+// sockets. CPUs whose topology files are unreadable get a core of their own.
+// The second return is the group id of the core CPU 0 lives on, or -1 when
+// that can't be determined; CPU 0's own files are consulted even when 0 is
+// not a candidate, so its SMT siblings are recognized under cpusets that
+// exclude CPU 0 itself.
+func coreGroups(cpuDir string, cpus []int) (map[int]int, int) {
+	type pkgCore struct{ pkg, core int }
+	pairOf := func(cpu int) (pkgCore, bool) {
+		topoDir := filepath.Join(cpuDir, fmt.Sprintf("cpu%d", cpu), "topology")
+		pkg, err1 := readIntFile(filepath.Join(topoDir, "physical_package_id"))
+		core, err2 := readIntFile(filepath.Join(topoDir, "core_id"))
+		if err1 != nil || err2 != nil {
+			return pkgCore{}, false
+		}
+		return pkgCore{pkg, core}, true
+	}
+
+	ids := map[pkgCore]int{}
+	out := make(map[int]int, len(cpus))
+	next := 0
+	for _, cpu := range cpus {
+		k, ok := pairOf(cpu)
+		if !ok {
+			out[cpu] = next
+			next++
+			continue
+		}
+		id, ok := ids[k]
+		if !ok {
+			id = next
+			next++
+			ids[k] = id
+		}
+		out[cpu] = id
+	}
+
+	zeroCore := -1
+	if k, ok := pairOf(0); ok {
+		if id, ok := ids[k]; ok {
+			zeroCore = id
+		}
+	}
+	return out, zeroCore
+}

cpupick/topo_linux_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package cpupick
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// fakeTopoSysfs builds nodeDir/cpuDir trees. nodes maps node id -> cpulist
+// string; cores maps cpu -> (package, core) pair.
+func fakeTopoSysfs(t *testing.T, nodes map[int]string, cores map[int][2]int) (string, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	base := t.TempDir()
+	nodeDir := filepath.Join(base, "node")
+	cpuDir := filepath.Join(base, "cpu")
+	for n, list := range nodes {
+		d := filepath.Join(nodeDir, fmt.Sprintf("node%d", n))
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(d, 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "cpulist"), []byte(list+"\n"), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	for cpu, pc := range cores {
+		d := filepath.Join(cpuDir, fmt.Sprintf("cpu%d", cpu), "topology")
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(d, 0o755); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "physical_package_id"), fmt.Appendf(nil, "%d\n", pc[0]), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if err := os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(d, "core_id"), fmt.Appendf(nil, "%d\n", pc[1]), 0o644); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nodeDir, cpuDir
+}
+
+func TestReadTopology(t *testing.T) {
+	// Two nodes; SMT pairs (0,4),(1,5) on node 0 and (2,6),(3,7) on node 1.
+	// core_id repeats across packages on purpose: the pair must disambiguate.
+	nodeDir, cpuDir := fakeTopoSysfs(t,
+		map[int]string{0: "0-1,4-5", 1: "2-3,6-7"},
+		map[int][2]int{
+			0: {0, 0}, 4: {0, 0}, 1: {0, 1}, 5: {0, 1},
+			2: {1, 0}, 6: {1, 0}, 3: {1, 1}, 7: {1, 1},
+		})
+	cpus := []int{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
+	topo := readTopologyFrom(nodeDir, cpuDir, cpus)
+
+	for _, c := range []int{0, 1, 4, 5} {
+		if topo.nodeOf[c] != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("cpu %d on node %d, want 0", c, topo.nodeOf[c])
+		}
+	}
+	for _, c := range []int{2, 3, 6, 7} {
+		if topo.nodeOf[c] != 1 {
+			t.Errorf("cpu %d on node %d, want 1", c, topo.nodeOf[c])
+		}
+	}
+	pairs := [][2]int{{0, 4}, {1, 5}, {2, 6}, {3, 7}}
+	for _, p := range pairs {
+		if topo.coreOf[p[0]] != topo.coreOf[p[1]] {
+			t.Errorf("siblings %v not grouped: %d vs %d", p, topo.coreOf[p[0]], topo.coreOf[p[1]])
+		}
+	}
+	if topo.coreOf[0] == topo.coreOf[2] {
+		t.Error("cross-package cores with equal core_id must not merge")
+	}
+	if topo.zeroCore != topo.coreOf[0] {
+		t.Errorf("zeroCore = %d, want %d", topo.zeroCore, topo.coreOf[0])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReadTopologyZeroCoreWithoutZeroCandidate(t *testing.T) {
+	// CPU 0 is not a candidate (cpuset excludes it) but its sibling 4 is:
+	// zeroCore must still identify their shared core.
+	nodeDir, cpuDir := fakeTopoSysfs(t,
+		map[int]string{0: "0-7"},
+		map[int][2]int{0: {0, 0}, 4: {0, 0}, 1: {0, 1}, 5: {0, 1}})
+	topo := readTopologyFrom(nodeDir, cpuDir, []int{1, 4, 5})
+	if topo.zeroCore < 0 || topo.coreOf[4] != topo.zeroCore {
+		t.Errorf("zeroCore = %d, coreOf[4] = %d; sibling of CPU 0 not identified", topo.zeroCore, topo.coreOf[4])
+	}
+	if topo.coreOf[1] == topo.zeroCore {
+		t.Error("cpu 1 wrongly grouped with CPU 0's core")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReadTopologyMissingSysfs(t *testing.T) {
+	base := t.TempDir()
+	cpus := []int{0, 1, 2}
+	topo := readTopologyFrom(filepath.Join(base, "nope"), filepath.Join(base, "also-nope"), cpus)
+	seen := map[int]bool{}
+	for _, c := range cpus {
+		if topo.nodeOf[c] != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("cpu %d node = %d, want 0", c, topo.nodeOf[c])
+		}
+		if seen[topo.coreOf[c]] {
+			t.Errorf("cpu %d shares a fallback core group", c)
+		}
+		seen[topo.coreOf[c]] = true
+	}
+	if topo.zeroCore != -1 {
+		t.Errorf("zeroCore = %d, want -1 when unknown", topo.zeroCore)
+	}
+}

cpupick/topo_other.go

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+//go:build !linux
+
+package cpupick
+
+// readTopology has no sysfs to consult off Linux; the flat stand-in makes
+// arrange's NUMA and SMT rules no-ops. Default is already nil off Linux
+// (util.AllowedCPUs has no answer there) — this keeps the package compiling.
+func readTopology(cpus []int) topology {
+	return flatTopology(cpus)
+}

dist/wireshark/nebula.lua

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ function nebula.dissector(tvbuf, pktinfo, root)
     tree:add(pf_version, tvbuf:range(0,1))
     local type = tree:add(pf_type,    tvbuf:range(0,1))
 
-    local nebula_type = bit32.band(tvbuf:range(0,1):uint(), 0x0F)
+    local nebula_type = bit.band(tvbuf:range(0,1):uint(), 0x0F)
     if nebula_type == 0 then
         local stage = tvbuf(8,8):uint64()
         tree:add(pf_subtype_handshake, tvbuf:range(1,1))

dns_server.go

@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 
-	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/miekg/dns"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
 )
@@ -23,7 +22,10 @@ type dnsServer struct {
 	dnsMap4 map[string]netip.Addr
 	dnsMap6 map[string]netip.Addr
 	hostMap *HostMap
-	myVpnAddrsTable *bart.Lite
+	pki     *PKI
+
+	// selfHost is the cached FQDN we last seeded for ourselves
+	selfHost string
 
 	mux *dns.ServeMux
 
@@ -55,14 +57,14 @@ type dnsServer struct {
 // they no-op when DNS isn't enabled. Each Start invocation owns a ctx-cancel
 // watcher that tears the listener down on nebula shutdown. The returned
 // pointer is always non-nil, even on error.
-func newDnsServerFromConfig(ctx context.Context, l *slog.Logger, cs *CertState, hostMap *HostMap, c *config.C) (*dnsServer, error) {
+func newDnsServerFromConfig(ctx context.Context, l *slog.Logger, pki *PKI, hostMap *HostMap, c *config.C) (*dnsServer, error) {
 	ds := &dnsServer{
 		l:       l,
 		ctx:     ctx,
 		dnsMap4: make(map[string]netip.Addr),
 		dnsMap6: make(map[string]netip.Addr),
 		hostMap: hostMap,
-		myVpnAddrsTable: cs.myVpnAddrsTable,
+		pki:     pki,
 	}
 	ds.mux = dns.NewServeMux()
 	ds.mux.HandleFunc(".", ds.handleDnsRequest)
@@ -76,6 +78,7 @@ func newDnsServerFromConfig(ctx context.Context, l *slog.Logger, cs *CertState,
 	if err := ds.reload(c, true); err != nil {
 		return ds, err
 	}
+	ds.seedSelf()
 	return ds, nil
 }
 
@@ -94,8 +97,7 @@ func (d *dnsServer) reload(c *config.C, initial bool) error {
 	newAddr := getDnsServerAddr(c)
 
 	d.serverMu.Lock()
-	running := d.server
-	runningStarted := d.started
+	running := d.server != nil
 	sameAddr := d.addr == newAddr
 	d.addr = newAddr
 	d.enabled.Store(enabled)
@@ -109,29 +111,26 @@ func (d *dnsServer) reload(c *config.C, initial bool) error {
 	}
 
 	if !enabled {
-		if running != nil {
+		if running {
 			d.Stop()
 		}
 		// Drop any records that accumulated while enabled; a later re-enable
-		// will repopulate from fresh handshakes.
+		// will repopulate from fresh handshakes and a fresh seedSelf.
 		d.clearRecords()
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if running == nil {
+	if !running {
 		// Was disabled (or never started); bring it up now.
 		go d.Start()
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if sameAddr {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	d.shutdownServer(running, runningStarted, "reload")
-	// Old Start goroutine has now exited; bring up a fresh listener on the
-	// new address.
+	} else if !sameAddr {
+		// Stop clears the slot before shutting down, otherwise the Start below can find the dying server and refuse
+		d.Stop()
 		go d.Start()
+	}
+
+	// Refresh the self entry every enabled reload so cert renewals that change our name or VPN addresses are picked up.
+	d.seedSelf()
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -162,7 +161,9 @@ func (d *dnsServer) Start() {
 
 	started := make(chan struct{})
 	d.serverMu.Lock()
-	if d.ctx.Err() != nil {
+	// Re-check enabled under the lock, a disable that raced our check above snapshots the slot under it too.
+	// Two reloads in quick succession can both spawn a Start, the loser would orphan the live listener past Stop
+	if d.ctx.Err() != nil || d.server != nil || !d.enabled.Load() {
 		d.serverMu.Unlock()
 		return
 	}
@@ -200,6 +201,14 @@ func (d *dnsServer) Start() {
 		close(started)
 	}
 
+	// Release our slot, unless a reload already replaced us, so a dead listener can't block a future Start
+	d.serverMu.Lock()
+	if d.server == server {
+		d.server = nil
+		d.started = nil
+	}
+	d.serverMu.Unlock()
+
 	if err != nil {
 		d.l.Warn("Failed to run the DNS responder", "error", err)
 	}
@@ -249,6 +258,20 @@ func (d *dnsServer) QueryCert(data string) string {
 		return ""
 	}
 
+	// The hostmap only ever contains peers we have handshaked with, so it never carries an entry for ourselves.
+	// Answer self lookups straight from the local cert state.
+	if cs := d.certState(); cs != nil && cs.myVpnAddrsTable != nil && cs.myVpnAddrsTable.Contains(ip) {
+		c := cs.GetDefaultCertificate()
+		if c == nil {
+			return ""
+		}
+		b, err := c.MarshalJSON()
+		if err != nil {
+			return ""
+		}
+		return string(b)
+	}
+
 	hostinfo := d.hostMap.QueryVpnAddr(ip)
 	if hostinfo == nil {
 		return ""
@@ -266,12 +289,60 @@ func (d *dnsServer) QueryCert(data string) string {
 	return string(b)
 }
 
-// clearRecords drops all DNS records.
+// clearRecords drops all DNS records, including the self entry.
 func (d *dnsServer) clearRecords() {
 	d.Lock()
 	defer d.Unlock()
 	clear(d.dnsMap4)
 	clear(d.dnsMap6)
+	d.selfHost = ""
+}
+
+// seedSelf inserts (or refreshes) a record for our own cert name pointing at our VPN addresses,
+// so a single-lighthouse network can resolve the lighthouse's own hostname without the two-process workaround.
+func (d *dnsServer) seedSelf() {
+	if !d.enabled.Load() {
+		return
+	}
+	cs := d.certState()
+	if cs == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	c := cs.GetDefaultCertificate()
+	if c == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	newHost := strings.ToLower(c.Name()) + "."
+
+	d.Lock()
+	defer d.Unlock()
+	if d.selfHost != "" && d.selfHost != newHost {
+		delete(d.dnsMap4, d.selfHost)
+		delete(d.dnsMap6, d.selfHost)
+	}
+	d.selfHost = newHost
+	delete(d.dnsMap4, newHost)
+	delete(d.dnsMap6, newHost)
+	haveV4, haveV6 := false, false
+	for _, addr := range cs.myVpnAddrs {
+		if addr.Is4() && !haveV4 {
+			d.dnsMap4[newHost] = addr
+			haveV4 = true
+		} else if addr.Is6() && !haveV6 {
+			d.dnsMap6[newHost] = addr
+			haveV6 = true
+		}
+		if haveV4 && haveV6 {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (d *dnsServer) certState() *CertState {
+	if d.pki == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return d.pki.getCertState()
 }
 
 // Add adds the first IPv4 and IPv6 address that appears in `addresses` as the record for `host`
@@ -309,8 +380,12 @@ func (d *dnsServer) isSelfNebulaOrLocalhost(addr string) bool {
 		return true
 	}
 
+	cs := d.certState()
+	if cs == nil || cs.myVpnAddrsTable == nil {
+		return false
+	}
 	//if we found it in this table, it's good
-	return d.myVpnAddrsTable.Contains(b)
+	return cs.myVpnAddrsTable.Contains(b)
 }
 
 func (d *dnsServer) parseQuery(m *dns.Msg, w dns.ResponseWriter) {

dns_server_test.go

@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/miekg/dns"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert_test"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -191,14 +194,51 @@ func TestDnsServer_reload_initial_serveDnsWithoutLighthouse(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestDnsServer_reload_sameAddr_noOp(t *testing.T) {
+	port := freeUDPPort(t)
 	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
-	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", "0", true, true)
-
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", port, true, true)
 	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, true))
-	// No server running yet, no addr change. Reload should not spawn anything.
+
+	go ds.Start()
+	waitForBind(t, ds)
+
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+	before := ds.server
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+	require.NotNil(t, before)
+
+	// Same address, so the running listener must be left alone rather than rebuilt under live queries
 	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, false))
 	assert.True(t, ds.enabled.Load())
-	assert.Nil(t, ds.server)
+
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+	after := ds.server
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+	assert.Same(t, before, after, "a same-address reload must not restart the listener")
+
+	ds.Stop()
+}
+
+// The branch the old sameAddr test was accidentally hitting: enabled with nothing running means reload starts it.
+func TestDnsServer_reload_whenNotRunning_starts(t *testing.T) {
+	port := freeUDPPort(t)
+	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", port, true, true)
+
+	// initial only records config, it never starts anything
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, true))
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+	assert.Nil(t, ds.server, "the initial reload must not start a listener")
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, false))
+	waitForBind(t, ds)
+
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+	assert.NotNil(t, ds.server, "a reload with nothing running should bring DNS up")
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+
+	ds.Stop()
 }
 
 func TestDnsServer_StartStop_lifecycle(t *testing.T) {
@@ -276,6 +316,92 @@ func TestDnsServer_Stop_beforeBind_doesNotHang(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// newTestPKI builds a minimal *PKI with a single v1 cert whose name and
+// VPN addresses are caller-provided, suitable for exercising seedSelf and
+// QueryCert self handling.
+func newTestPKI(t *testing.T, name string, addrs []netip.Addr) *PKI {
+	t.Helper()
+	networks := make([]netip.Prefix, 0, len(addrs))
+	for _, a := range addrs {
+		bits := 32
+		if a.Is6() {
+			bits = 128
+		}
+		networks = append(networks, netip.PrefixFrom(a, bits))
+	}
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Time{}, time.Time{}, nil, nil, nil)
+	c, _, _, _ := cert_test.NewTestCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, ca, caKey, name, time.Time{}, time.Time{}, networks, nil, nil)
+
+	addrsTable := new(bart.Lite)
+	for _, a := range addrs {
+		addrsTable.Insert(netip.PrefixFrom(a, a.BitLen()))
+	}
+
+	cs := &CertState{
+		v2Cert:            c,
+		initiatingVersion: cert.Version2,
+		myVpnAddrs:        addrs,
+		myVpnAddrsTable:   addrsTable,
+	}
+	pki := &PKI{}
+	pki.cs.Store(cs)
+	return pki
+}
+
+func TestDnsServer_seedSelf_addsOwnRecord(t *testing.T) {
+	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
+	myV4 := netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.1")
+	myV6 := netip.MustParseAddr("fd00::1")
+	ds.pki = newTestPKI(t, "lighthouse", []netip.Addr{myV4, myV6})
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", "0", true, true)
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, true))
+
+	ds.seedSelf()
+	got4, exists := ds.Query(dns.TypeA, "lighthouse.")
+	assert.True(t, exists)
+	assert.Equal(t, myV4, got4)
+	got6, exists := ds.Query(dns.TypeAAAA, "lighthouse.")
+	assert.True(t, exists)
+	assert.Equal(t, myV6, got6)
+}
+
+func TestDnsServer_seedSelf_disabled_noOp(t *testing.T) {
+	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
+	ds.pki = newTestPKI(t, "lighthouse", []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.1")})
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", "0", true, false)
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, true))
+
+	ds.seedSelf()
+	_, exists := ds.Query(dns.TypeA, "lighthouse.")
+	assert.False(t, exists)
+}
+
+func TestDnsServer_clearRecords_dropsSelfHost(t *testing.T) {
+	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
+	ds.pki = newTestPKI(t, "lighthouse", []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.1")})
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", "0", true, true)
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, true))
+	ds.seedSelf()
+	require.NotEmpty(t, ds.selfHost)
+
+	ds.clearRecords()
+	assert.Empty(t, ds.selfHost)
+	_, exists := ds.Query(dns.TypeA, "lighthouse.")
+	assert.False(t, exists)
+}
+
+func TestDnsServer_QueryCert_returnsOwnCert(t *testing.T) {
+	ds, _ := newTestDnsServer(t)
+	myV4 := netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.1")
+	ds.pki = newTestPKI(t, "lighthouse", []netip.Addr{myV4})
+
+	got := ds.QueryCert(myV4.String() + ".")
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, got, "TXT lookup of our own VPN address should return our cert")
+
+	other := netip.MustParseAddr("10.0.0.99")
+	assert.Empty(t, ds.QueryCert(other.String()+"."), "unknown peer IP should return nothing")
+}
+
 func TestDnsServer_reload_disable_stopsRunningServer(t *testing.T) {
 	port := freeUDPPort(t)
 	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
@@ -338,3 +464,168 @@ func waitFor(t *testing.T, cond func() bool) {
 	}
 	t.Fatal("timed out waiting for condition")
 }
+
+// Two reloads in quick succession, or a HUP before Control.Start, can race two Starts at the same listener.
+func TestDnsServer_Start_isIdempotent(t *testing.T) {
+	port := freeUDPPort(t)
+	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", port, true, true)
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, true))
+
+	go ds.Start()
+	waitForBind(t, ds)
+
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+	first := ds.server
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+	require.NotNil(t, first)
+
+	// If the second Start replaces the tracked server, Stop kills the wrong one and the port leaks
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		ds.Start()
+		close(done)
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second * 5):
+		t.Fatal("second Start never returned")
+	}
+
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+	second := ds.server
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+	assert.Same(t, first, second, "a second Start must not replace the running server")
+
+	// The real proof, after Stop the port must actually be free
+	ds.Stop()
+	waitFor(t, func() bool {
+		pc, err := net.ListenPacket("udp", "127.0.0.1:"+port)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false
+		}
+		_ = pc.Close()
+		return true
+	})
+}
+
+// An address change must actually end up listening on the new port. Start's guard refuses when a server is already
+// installed, so reload has to clear the slot before shutting the old one down.
+func TestDnsServer_reload_addrChange_restarts(t *testing.T) {
+	first := freeUDPPort(t)
+	second := freeUDPPort(t)
+
+	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", first, true, true)
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, true))
+
+	go ds.Start()
+	waitForBind(t, ds)
+
+	// Cycle a few times, the failure this guards against depends on which goroutine wins serverMu
+	for i := range 8 {
+		want := second
+		if i%2 == 1 {
+			want = first
+		}
+		setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", want, true, true)
+		require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, false))
+		waitForBind(t, ds)
+
+		ds.serverMu.Lock()
+		srv := ds.server
+		ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+		require.NotNil(t, srv, "reload left DNS down instead of restarting it")
+		require.Equal(t, "127.0.0.1:"+want, srv.Addr, "reload should be serving the new address")
+	}
+
+	// Land back on second so the port assertions below are meaningful
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", second, true, true)
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, false))
+	waitForBind(t, ds)
+
+	// The old port must be released and the new one actually held
+	waitFor(t, func() bool {
+		pc, err := net.ListenPacket("udp", "127.0.0.1:"+first)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false
+		}
+		_ = pc.Close()
+		return true
+	})
+	_, err := net.ListenPacket("udp", "127.0.0.1:"+second)
+	require.Error(t, err, "the new address should be bound by the DNS responder")
+
+	ds.Stop()
+}
+
+// A listener that dies on its own must release the slot, or a later same-addr reload sees it as running and no-ops.
+func TestDnsServer_Start_bindFailure_releasesSlot(t *testing.T) {
+	port := freeUDPPort(t)
+	blocker, err := net.ListenPacket("udp", "127.0.0.1:"+port)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", port, true, true)
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, true))
+
+	ds.Start() // returns once the bind fails
+
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+	assert.Nil(t, ds.server, "a listener that failed to bind must not stay parked in the slot")
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+
+	// With the slot released, a reload can retry once the port frees up
+	require.NoError(t, blocker.Close())
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, false))
+	waitForBind(t, ds)
+
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+	assert.NotNil(t, ds.server, "a same-addr reload should retry after a failed bind")
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+
+	ds.Stop()
+}
+
+// A disable that lands while Start is between its unlocked check and the guard must not leave a listener behind.
+func TestDnsServer_Start_refusesWhenDisabledUnderLock(t *testing.T) {
+	port := freeUDPPort(t)
+	ds, c := newTestDnsServer(t)
+	setDnsConfig(c, "127.0.0.1", port, true, true)
+	require.NoError(t, ds.reload(c, true))
+	require.True(t, ds.enabled.Load())
+
+	// Holding serverMu parks Start on the lock, the only way to land the disable in that window on purpose
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		ds.Start()
+		close(done)
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+		ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+		t.Fatal("Start returned early, the test never exercised the window")
+	case <-time.After(time.Millisecond * 100):
+	}
+
+	// The disable reload's critical section. It sees nothing running, so it never calls Stop.
+	ds.enabled.Store(false)
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second * 5):
+		t.Fatal("Start never returned")
+	}
+
+	ds.serverMu.Lock()
+	assert.Nil(t, ds.server, "Start must not install a listener a disable already cancelled")
+	ds.serverMu.Unlock()
+
+	pc, err := net.ListenPacket("udp", "127.0.0.1:"+port)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "an orphaned listener is still holding the port")
+	_ = pc.Close()
+}

docker/Dockerfile

@@ -1,6 +1,16 @@
 FROM gcr.io/distroless/static:latest
 
 ARG TARGETOS TARGETARCH
+
+ARG VERSION=dev
+ARG REVISION=unknown
+LABEL org.opencontainers.image.title="nebula" \
+      org.opencontainers.image.description="A scalable overlay networking tool with a focus on performance, simplicity and security" \
+      org.opencontainers.image.vendor="Nebula OSS" \
+      org.opencontainers.image.source="https://github.com/slackhq/nebula" \
+      org.opencontainers.image.version="${VERSION}" \
+      org.opencontainers.image.revision="${REVISION}"
+
 COPY build/$TARGETOS-$TARGETARCH/nebula /nebula
 COPY build/$TARGETOS-$TARGETARCH/nebula-cert /nebula-cert
 

e2e/echo_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+//go:build e2e_testing
+// +build e2e_testing
+
+package e2e
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert_test"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/e2e/router"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func assertTestRequestEchoed(t *testing.T, cipher string) {
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version1, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
+	over := m{"cipher": cipher}
+	a, aNet, aUdp, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version1, ca, caKey, "a", "10.128.0.1/24", over)
+	b, bNet, bUdp, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version1, ca, caKey, "b", "10.128.0.2/24", over)
+
+	a.InjectLightHouseAddr(bNet[0].Addr(), bUdp)
+	b.InjectLightHouseAddr(aNet[0].Addr(), aUdp)
+	a.Start()
+	b.Start()
+	t.Cleanup(func() { a.Stop(); b.Stop() })
+	r := router.NewR(t, a, b)
+	defer r.RenderFlow()
+
+	assertTunnel(t, aNet[0].Addr(), bNet[0].Addr(), a, b, r)
+	drainUDPTx(a)
+	drainUDPTx(b)
+
+	payload := []byte("a test payload well over sixteen bytes long, wow it's so very long long long!")
+	require.Greater(t, len(payload), header.Len)
+	a.GetF().SendMessageToVpnAddr(header.Test, header.TestRequest, bNet[0].Addr(), payload, make([]byte, 12, 12), make([]byte, udp.MTU))
+
+	// Deliver A's request to B; B must echo a reply back
+	b.InjectUDPPacket(a.GetFromUDP(true))
+	reply := nextUDPTxOfType(t, b, header.Test, header.TestReply, 2*time.Second)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, aUdp, reply.To, "the reply must go back to the requester")
+	// header + echoed payload + 16-byte AEAD tag: proves the whole payload
+	// round-tripped rather than being dropped or truncated.
+	assert.Equal(t, header.Len+len(payload)+16, len(reply.Data), "the full payload must be echoed back")
+}
+
+func TestTestRequestEchoesLongPayloadAES(t *testing.T) {
+	assertTestRequestEchoed(t, "aes")
+}
+
+func TestTestRequestEchoesLongPayloadChaChaPoly(t *testing.T) {
+	assertTestRequestEchoed(t, "chachapoly")
+}
+
+// drainUDPTx empties a control's UDP tx queue without blocking.
+func drainUDPTx(c *nebula.Control) {
+	for c.GetFromUDP(false) != nil {
+	}
+}
+
+// nextUDPTxOfType returns the next packet a control transmits whose nebula
+// header matches (wantType, wantSub), skipping unrelated packets.
+// It fails the test if none arrives within the timeout.
+func nextUDPTxOfType(t *testing.T, c *nebula.Control, wantType header.MessageType, wantSub header.MessageSubType, within time.Duration) *udp.Packet {
+	t.Helper()
+	ch := c.GetUDPTxChan()
+	timeout := time.After(within)
+	for {
+		select {
+		case p := <-ch:
+			var h header.H
+			if err := h.Parse(p.Data); err == nil && h.Type == wantType && h.Subtype == wantSub {
+				return p
+			}
+		case <-timeout:
+			t.Fatalf("timed out waiting for a %v/%v packet on the udp tx queue", wantType, wantSub)
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+}

e2e/handshakes_test.go

@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ func TestStage1Race(t *testing.T) {
 
 	r.Log("Spin until connection manager tears down a tunnel")
 
-	for len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)+len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) > 2 {
+	for myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()+theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() > 2 {
 		assertTunnel(t, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
 		t.Log("Connection manager hasn't ticked yet")
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
@@ -453,9 +453,11 @@ func TestUncleanShutdownRaceLoser(t *testing.T) {
 
 	r.Log("Nuke my hostmap")
 	myHostmap := myControl.GetHostmap()
+	myHostmap.Lock()
 	myHostmap.Hosts = map[netip.Addr]*nebula.HostInfo{}
 	myHostmap.Indexes = map[uint32]*nebula.HostInfo{}
 	myHostmap.RemoteIndexes = map[uint32]*nebula.HostInfo{}
+	myHostmap.Unlock()
 
 	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me again")))
 	p = r.RouteForAllUntilTxTun(theirControl)
@@ -465,10 +467,10 @@ func TestUncleanShutdownRaceLoser(t *testing.T) {
 	assertTunnel(t, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
 
 	r.Log("Wait for the dead index to go away")
-	start := len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
+	start := theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
 	for {
 		assertTunnel(t, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
-		if len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) < start {
+		if theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() < start {
 			break
 		}
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
@@ -504,9 +506,11 @@ func TestUncleanShutdownRaceWinner(t *testing.T) {
 
 	r.Log("Nuke my hostmap")
 	theirHostmap := theirControl.GetHostmap()
+	theirHostmap.Lock()
 	theirHostmap.Hosts = map[netip.Addr]*nebula.HostInfo{}
 	theirHostmap.Indexes = map[uint32]*nebula.HostInfo{}
 	theirHostmap.RemoteIndexes = map[uint32]*nebula.HostInfo{}
+	theirHostmap.Unlock()
 
 	theirControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from them again")))
 	p = r.RouteForAllUntilTxTun(myControl)
@@ -517,10 +521,10 @@ func TestUncleanShutdownRaceWinner(t *testing.T) {
 	assertTunnel(t, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
 
 	r.Log("Wait for the dead index to go away")
-	start := len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
+	start := myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
 	for {
 		assertTunnel(t, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
-		if len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) < start {
+		if myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() < start {
 			break
 		}
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
@@ -628,10 +632,10 @@ func TestReestablishRelays(t *testing.T) {
 	r.Log("Close the tunnel")
 	relayControl.CloseTunnel(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), true)
 
-	start := len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
-	curIndexes := len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
+	start := myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
+	curIndexes := myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
 	for curIndexes >= start {
-		curIndexes = len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
+		curIndexes = myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
 		r.Logf("Wait for the dead index to go away:start=%v indexes, current=%v indexes", start, curIndexes)
 		myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me should fail")))
 
@@ -721,6 +725,70 @@ func TestReestablishRelays(t *testing.T) {
 
 }
 
+func TestRelayHandshakeOverDisestablishedEntry(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	// If them tears down the tunnel while me keeps Established relay state, me's next
+	// handshake flows through the relay with no fresh CreateRelayRequest and lands on
+	// them's Disestablished terminal relay entry. them must re-establish that entry, or
+	// its first transmit deletes its only relay and the tunnel is born transmit-dead:
+	// them can receive but every send is silently dropped.
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version1, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
+	myControl, myVpnIpNet, _, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version1, ca, caKey, "me     ", "10.128.0.1/24", m{"relay": m{"use_relays": true}})
+	relayControl, relayVpnIpNet, relayUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version1, ca, caKey, "relay  ", "10.128.0.128/24", m{"relay": m{"am_relay": true}})
+	theirControl, theirVpnIpNet, theirUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version1, ca, caKey, "them   ", "10.128.0.2/24", m{"relay": m{"use_relays": true}})
+
+	// Teach my how to get to the relay and that their can be reached via the relay
+	myControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(relayVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), relayUdpAddr)
+	myControl.InjectRelays(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), []netip.Addr{relayVpnIpNet[0].Addr()})
+	relayControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirUdpAddr)
+
+	// Build a router so we don't have to reason who gets which packet
+	r := router.NewR(t, myControl, relayControl, theirControl)
+	defer r.RenderFlow()
+
+	// Start the servers
+	myControl.Start()
+	relayControl.Start()
+	theirControl.Start()
+
+	t.Log("Trigger a handshake from me to them via the relay")
+	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me")))
+
+	p := r.RouteForAllUntilTxTun(theirControl)
+	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), p, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
+	oldIdx := myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), false).LocalIndex
+
+	t.Log("Close the tunnel on them only, marking their relay entry Disestablished")
+	theirControl.CloseTunnel(myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), true)
+
+	t.Log("Re-handshake from me, riding the still-Established relay state")
+	myControl.ReHandshake(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr())
+	for {
+		h := myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), false)
+		if h != nil && h.LocalIndex != oldIdx && h.RemoteIndex != 0 {
+			break
+		}
+		r.RouteForAllExitFunc(func(*udp.Packet, *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
+			return router.RouteAndExit
+		})
+	}
+
+	hAtThem := theirControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), false)
+	require.NotNil(t, hAtThem, "them should have completed the relayed handshake")
+	require.Equal(t, []netip.Addr{relayVpnIpNet[0].Addr()}, hAtThem.CurrentRelaysToMe, "them should know a relay for the new tunnel")
+
+	t.Log("Send from them to me; their only relay entry must survive the transmit")
+	theirControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from them")))
+	require.Never(t, func() bool {
+		h := theirControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), false)
+		return h == nil || len(h.CurrentRelaysToMe) == 0
+	}, time.Second, 10*time.Millisecond, "them deleted its only relay entry; the tunnel is permanently transmit-dead")
+
+	p = r.RouteForAllUntilTxTun(myControl)
+	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from them"), p, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, 80)
+	r.RenderHostmaps("Final hostmaps", myControl, relayControl, theirControl)
+}
+
 func TestStage1RaceRelays(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	//NOTE: this is a race between me and relay resulting in a full tunnel from me to them via relay
@@ -819,18 +887,18 @@ func TestStage1RaceRelays2(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Log("Wait until we remove extra tunnels")
 	t.Logf("Waiting for hostinfos to be removed... myControl=%d theirControl=%d relayControl=%d",
-		len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes),
-		len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes),
-		len(relayControl.GetHostmap().Indexes),
+		myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount(),
+		theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount(),
+		relayControl.GetHostmapIndexCount(),
 	)
-	hostInfos := len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) + len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) + len(relayControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
+	hostInfos := myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() + theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() + relayControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
 	retries := 60
 	for hostInfos > 6 && retries > 0 {
-		hostInfos = len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) + len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) + len(relayControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
+		hostInfos = myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() + theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() + relayControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
 		t.Logf("Waiting for hostinfos to be removed... myControl=%d theirControl=%d relayControl=%d",
-			len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes),
-			len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes),
-			len(relayControl.GetHostmap().Indexes),
+			myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount(),
+			theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount(),
+			relayControl.GetHostmapIndexCount(),
 		)
 		assertTunnel(t, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
 		t.Log("Connection manager hasn't ticked yet")
@@ -924,24 +992,24 @@ func TestRehandshakingRelays(t *testing.T) {
 	assertTunnel(t, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirControl, myControl, r)
 	r.RenderHostmaps("working hostmaps", myControl, relayControl, theirControl)
 	// We should have two hostinfos on all sides
-	for len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) != 2 {
-		t.Logf("Waiting for myControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes))
+	for myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() != 2 {
+		t.Logf("Waiting for myControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount())
 		r.Log("Assert the relay tunnel still works")
 		assertTunnel(t, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirControl, myControl, r)
 		r.Log("yupitdoes")
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
 	}
 	t.Logf("myControl hostinfos got cleaned up!")
-	for len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) != 2 {
-		t.Logf("Waiting for theirControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes))
+	for theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() != 2 {
+		t.Logf("Waiting for theirControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount())
 		r.Log("Assert the relay tunnel still works")
 		assertTunnel(t, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirControl, myControl, r)
 		r.Log("yupitdoes")
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
 	}
 	t.Logf("theirControl hostinfos got cleaned up!")
-	for len(relayControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) != 2 {
-		t.Logf("Waiting for relayControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", len(relayControl.GetHostmap().Indexes))
+	for relayControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() != 2 {
+		t.Logf("Waiting for relayControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", relayControl.GetHostmapIndexCount())
 		r.Log("Assert the relay tunnel still works")
 		assertTunnel(t, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirControl, myControl, r)
 		r.Log("yupitdoes")
@@ -1029,24 +1097,24 @@ func TestRehandshakingRelaysPrimary(t *testing.T) {
 	assertTunnel(t, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirControl, myControl, r)
 	r.RenderHostmaps("working hostmaps", myControl, relayControl, theirControl)
 	// We should have two hostinfos on all sides
-	for len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) != 2 {
-		t.Logf("Waiting for myControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes))
+	for myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() != 2 {
+		t.Logf("Waiting for myControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount())
 		r.Log("Assert the relay tunnel still works")
 		assertTunnel(t, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirControl, myControl, r)
 		r.Log("yupitdoes")
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
 	}
 	t.Logf("myControl hostinfos got cleaned up!")
-	for len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) != 2 {
-		t.Logf("Waiting for theirControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes))
+	for theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() != 2 {
+		t.Logf("Waiting for theirControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount())
 		r.Log("Assert the relay tunnel still works")
 		assertTunnel(t, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirControl, myControl, r)
 		r.Log("yupitdoes")
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
 	}
 	t.Logf("theirControl hostinfos got cleaned up!")
-	for len(relayControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) != 2 {
-		t.Logf("Waiting for relayControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", len(relayControl.GetHostmap().Indexes))
+	for relayControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() != 2 {
+		t.Logf("Waiting for relayControl hostinfos (%v != 2) to get cleaned up from lack of use...", relayControl.GetHostmapIndexCount())
 		r.Log("Assert the relay tunnel still works")
 		assertTunnel(t, theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirControl, myControl, r)
 		r.Log("yupitdoes")
@@ -1123,7 +1191,7 @@ func TestRehandshaking(t *testing.T) {
 	theirConfig.ReloadConfigString(string(rc))
 
 	r.Log("Spin until there is only 1 tunnel")
-	for len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)+len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) > 2 {
+	for myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()+theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() > 2 {
 		assertTunnel(t, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
 		t.Log("Connection manager hasn't ticked yet")
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
@@ -1223,7 +1291,7 @@ func TestRehandshakingLoser(t *testing.T) {
 	myConfig.ReloadConfigString(string(rc))
 
 	r.Log("Spin until there is only 1 tunnel")
-	for len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)+len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes) > 2 {
+	for myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()+theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount() > 2 {
 		assertTunnel(t, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myControl, theirControl, r)
 		t.Log("Connection manager hasn't ticked yet")
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
@@ -1535,3 +1603,78 @@ func TestGoodHandshakeUnsafeDest(t *testing.T) {
 	myControl.Stop()
 	theirControl.Stop()
 }
+
+func TestMultiVpnAddrDeletePrimaryKeepsSecondAddr(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	// Regression for the hostmap multi-vpnAddr delete bug. A dual-stack (v4+v6) V2-cert peer that
+	// handshakes twice at once ends up with two hostinfos linked in the shared next/prev chain, with the
+	// primary owning both addresses. Deleting that primary (e.g. connection manager dropping it, a
+	// CloseTunnel, a collision) must promote the surviving sibling for EVERY address. The pre-fix code
+	// unlinked the chain once per address, so it promoted the sibling for the first address and orphaned
+	// the second: the peer stayed reachable at its v4 addr but not its v6 addr despite a live tunnel.
+
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
+	myControl, myVpnIpNet, myUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "me  ", "10.128.0.1/24,fd00::1/64", nil)
+	theirControl, theirVpnIpNet, theirUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "them", "10.128.0.2/24,fd00::2/64", nil)
+
+	// This bug only exists for peers carrying more than one vpn address
+	require.Len(t, theirVpnIpNet, 2)
+	theirV4 := theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr()
+	theirV6 := theirVpnIpNet[1].Addr()
+
+	// Put their info in our lighthouse and vice versa
+	myControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(theirV4, theirUdpAddr)
+	theirControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myUdpAddr)
+
+	// Build a router so we don't have to reason who gets which packet
+	r := router.NewR(t, myControl, theirControl)
+	defer r.RenderFlow()
+
+	myControl.Start()
+	theirControl.Start()
+
+	// Race a handshake so both of us build a hostinfo for the other, leaving my hostmap with a single
+	// host (them) backed by two linked hostinfos, just like TestStage1Race.
+	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirV4, 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me")))
+	theirControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, theirV4, 80, []byte("Hi from them")))
+
+	myHsForThem := myControl.GetFromUDP(true)
+	theirHsForMe := theirControl.GetFromUDP(true)
+
+	r.InjectUDPPacket(theirControl, myControl, theirHsForMe)
+	r.InjectUDPPacket(myControl, theirControl, myHsForThem)
+
+	r.RouteForAllUntilTxTun(theirControl)
+	r.RouteForAllUntilTxTun(myControl)
+
+	r.RenderHostmaps("Racing hostmaps", myControl, theirControl)
+
+	// Two hostinfos for them means the shared next/prev chain has a sibling to promote. The Hosts map has
+	// one entry per vpn address (two, for dual stack), so the index count is what tells us there are two
+	// hostinfos.
+	require.Len(t, myControl.ListHostmapIndexes(false), 2)
+
+	// The primary owns both of their addresses
+	primaryV4 := myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirV4, false)
+	primaryV6 := myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirV6, false)
+	require.NotNil(t, primaryV4)
+	require.NotNil(t, primaryV6)
+	require.Equal(t, primaryV4.LocalIndex, primaryV6.LocalIndex, "both addrs should point at the same primary")
+
+	// Delete the primary tunnel. localOnly so we don't perturb their side, we only care about my hostmap.
+	require.True(t, myControl.CloseTunnel(theirV4, true))
+
+	// The surviving sibling must still serve BOTH addresses.
+	survivorV4 := myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirV4, false)
+	survivorV6 := myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirV6, false)
+	require.NotNil(t, survivorV4, "v4 addr should still resolve to the surviving tunnel")
+	// Pre-fix this is nil: the second address was orphaned when the primary was deleted.
+	require.NotNil(t, survivorV6, "v6 addr was orphaned after deleting the primary (multi-vpnAddr delete bug)")
+	assert.Equal(t, survivorV4.LocalIndex, survivorV6.LocalIndex, "both addrs should promote to the same survivor")
+	assert.NotEqual(t, primaryV4.LocalIndex, survivorV4.LocalIndex, "a different hostinfo should now be primary")
+
+	r.RenderHostmaps("Final hostmaps", myControl, theirControl)
+
+	myControl.Stop()
+	theirControl.Stop()
+}

e2e/helpers_test.go

@@ -4,15 +4,13 @@
 package e2e
 
 import (
-	"io"
+	"log/slog"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"log/slog"
-
 	"dario.cat/mergo"
 	"github.com/google/gopacket"
 	"github.com/google/gopacket/layers"
@@ -382,7 +380,7 @@ func getAddrs(ns []netip.Prefix) []netip.Addr {
 func NewTestLogger() *slog.Logger {
 	v := os.Getenv("TEST_LOGS")
 	if v == "" {
-		return slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(io.Discard, nil))
+		return slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler)
 	}
 
 	level := slog.LevelInfo

e2e/rebind_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,225 @@
+//go:build e2e_testing
+// +build e2e_testing
+
+package e2e
+
+import (
+	"net/netip"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert_test"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/e2e/router"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// reportedAddrs is what the lighthouse would hand a peer asking where vpnAddr is.
+func reportedAddrs(t *testing.T, lh *nebula.Control, vpnAddr netip.Addr) []netip.AddrPort {
+	t.Helper()
+	cm := lh.QueryLighthouse(vpnAddr)
+	if cm == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var out []netip.AddrPort
+	for _, c := range *cm {
+		out = append(out, c.Reported...)
+		out = append(out, c.Learned...)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// waitForLighthouseMsg routes until a lighthouse message lands on lh, or gives up. Reports whether one arrived.
+func waitForLighthouseMsg(t *testing.T, r *router.R, lh *nebula.Control, wait time.Duration) bool {
+	t.Helper()
+	h := &header.H{}
+	return r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(wait, func(p *udp.Packet, c *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
+		if c != lh {
+			return router.KeepRouting
+		}
+		// Punches are a single byte and never parse, they are just not what we are after
+		if err := h.Parse(p.Data); err != nil {
+			return router.KeepRouting
+		}
+		if h.Type == header.LightHouse {
+			return router.RouteAndExit
+		}
+		return router.KeepRouting
+	})
+}
+
+// A laptop that changes networks has to tell the lighthouse promptly, otherwise the lighthouse keeps handing peers
+// the old address and their punches land nowhere. On a long lighthouse interval the only thing that closes that
+// window is the rebind, which on darwin the network change monitor drives. The e2e build compiles the monitor out,
+// so we call RebindUDPServer directly, which is the same thing the monitor does.
+func TestRebindSendsLighthouseUpdate(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
+
+	lhControl, lhVpnIpNet, lhUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "lh", "10.128.0.1/24", m{
+		"lighthouse": m{"am_lighthouse": true},
+	})
+
+	// 600s interval, so nothing scheduled can send an update during this test. A rebind is the only thing that can.
+	myControl, _, _, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "me", "10.128.0.2/24", m{
+		"lighthouse": m{
+			"hosts":    []any{lhVpnIpNet[0].Addr().String()},
+			"interval": 600,
+		},
+		"static_host_map": m{
+			lhVpnIpNet[0].Addr().String(): []any{lhUdpAddr.String()},
+		},
+	})
+
+	r := router.NewR(t, lhControl, myControl)
+	defer r.RenderFlow()
+
+	lhControl.Start()
+	myControl.Start()
+
+	// Let the startup registration finish, then clear everything it left behind
+	require.True(t, waitForLighthouseMsg(t, r, lhControl, time.Second*5), "expected an initial registration")
+	r.RouteFor(time.Millisecond * 400)
+
+	// Nothing should be talking to the lighthouse on its own now
+	require.False(t, waitForLighthouseMsg(t, r, lhControl, time.Millisecond*200),
+		"nothing should reach the lighthouse before the rebind")
+
+	myControl.RebindUDPServer()
+
+	assert.True(t, waitForLighthouseMsg(t, r, lhControl, time.Second*5),
+		"a rebind should push an update to the lighthouse rather than waiting out the interval")
+
+	lhControl.Stop()
+	myControl.Stop()
+}
+
+// The other half of a rebind: every live tunnel requeries the lighthouse on its next send. That query is what makes
+// the lighthouse tell the peer to punch toward our new address, which is the part that actually revives a tunnel
+// whose remote NAT state died while we were on a different network.
+func TestRebindRequeriesPeersOnNextSend(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
+
+	lhControl, lhVpnIpNet, lhUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "lh", "10.128.0.1/24", m{
+		"lighthouse": m{"am_lighthouse": true},
+	})
+
+	lhCfg := m{
+		"lighthouse": m{
+			"hosts":    []any{lhVpnIpNet[0].Addr().String()},
+			"interval": 600,
+			// Without this the peers advertise this machine's real addresses and then try to punch at them,
+			// which the router has no route for.
+			"local_allow_list": m{
+				"10.0.0.0/24": true,
+				"::/0":        false,
+			},
+		},
+		"static_host_map": m{
+			lhVpnIpNet[0].Addr().String(): []any{lhUdpAddr.String()},
+		},
+	}
+
+	myControl, myVpnIpNet, myUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "me", "10.128.0.2/24", lhCfg)
+	theirControl, theirVpnIpNet, theirUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "them", "10.128.0.3/24", lhCfg)
+
+	r := router.NewR(t, lhControl, myControl, theirControl)
+	defer r.RenderFlow()
+
+	lhControl.Start()
+	myControl.Start()
+	theirControl.Start()
+	r.RouteFor(time.Millisecond * 500)
+
+	// Point the peers at each other directly, this test is about the rebind and not about lighthouse discovery
+	myControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirUdpAddr)
+	theirControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myUdpAddr)
+
+	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("initial")))
+	r.RouteFor(time.Second)
+	require.NotNil(t, myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), false), "expected a tunnel to them")
+	r.RouteFor(time.Millisecond * 300)
+
+	// Assert on what the peer sees rather than on lighthouse traffic. A query for them makes the lighthouse send
+	// them a punch notification, which is the whole point. Our own update to the lighthouse sends them nothing,
+	// so this cannot be satisfied by the update the rebind itself pushes.
+	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("quiet")))
+	require.False(t, waitForLighthouseMsg(t, r, theirControl, time.Millisecond*300),
+		"an ordinary send should not requery the lighthouse")
+
+	myControl.RebindUDPServer()
+	r.RouteFor(time.Millisecond * 300) // let the update the rebind itself sends pass by
+
+	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("after rebind")))
+	assert.True(t, waitForLighthouseMsg(t, r, theirControl, time.Second*5),
+		"the first send after a rebind should requery the lighthouse, which then tells the peer to punch at us")
+
+	lhControl.Stop()
+	myControl.Stop()
+	theirControl.Stop()
+}
+
+// The scenario this whole thing exists for: a laptop sleeps at the office and wakes up at home on a new address.
+// Until it tells the lighthouse, the lighthouse keeps handing peers the office address, so their punches land
+// nowhere and the tunnel stays dead. On a long interval the rebind is the only thing that closes that window.
+func TestRebindAdvertisesNewAddressAfterMove(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
+
+	lhControl, lhVpnIpNet, lhUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "lh", "10.128.0.1/24", m{
+		"lighthouse": m{"am_lighthouse": true},
+	})
+
+	myControl, myVpnIpNet, myUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "me", "10.128.0.2/24", m{
+		"lighthouse": m{
+			"hosts":    []any{lhVpnIpNet[0].Addr().String()},
+			"interval": 600,
+		},
+		"static_host_map": m{
+			lhVpnIpNet[0].Addr().String(): []any{lhUdpAddr.String()},
+		},
+	})
+
+	// Advertise wherever we currently are rather than this machine's real NICs, read fresh each time so a move
+	// is picked up.
+	myControl.SetLocalAddrsFn(func(*nebula.LocalAllowList) []netip.Addr {
+		return []netip.Addr{myControl.GetUDPAddr().Addr()}
+	})
+
+	r := router.NewR(t, lhControl, myControl)
+	defer r.RenderFlow()
+
+	lhControl.Start()
+	myControl.Start()
+
+	require.True(t, waitForLighthouseMsg(t, r, lhControl, time.Second*5), "expected an initial registration")
+	r.RouteFor(time.Millisecond * 400)
+
+	require.Contains(t, reportedAddrs(t, lhControl, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr()), myUdpAddr,
+		"the lighthouse should know the address we started on")
+
+	// Wake up somewhere else
+	newAddr := netip.MustParseAddrPort("10.0.0.99:4242")
+	myControl.SetUDPAddr(newAddr)
+	r.AddRoute(newAddr.Addr(), newAddr.Port(), myControl)
+
+	// Nothing has told the lighthouse, and with interval 600 nothing scheduled will
+	r.RouteFor(time.Millisecond * 400)
+	require.NotContains(t, reportedAddrs(t, lhControl, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr()), newAddr,
+		"the lighthouse should still be handing out the old address before the rebind")
+
+	myControl.RebindUDPServer()
+	require.True(t, waitForLighthouseMsg(t, r, lhControl, time.Second*5), "expected an update after the rebind")
+	r.RouteFor(time.Millisecond * 400)
+
+	assert.Contains(t, reportedAddrs(t, lhControl, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr()), newAddr,
+		"after the rebind the lighthouse should hand peers our new address")
+
+	lhControl.Stop()
+	myControl.Stop()
+}

e2e/recovery_timing_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+//go:build e2e_testing
+// +build e2e_testing
+
+package e2e
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert_test"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/e2e/router"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
+)
+
+// TestRecoveryTiming measures how long a tunnel takes to come back after the peer stops accepting our traffic,
+// which is what a laptop waking on a new network looks like from the peer's side: its NAT has no state for where
+// we are now, so everything we send disappears.
+//
+// It is a measurement, not a pass/fail assertion. Recovery is timed to the moment the peer punches back at us,
+// since that is when its NAT opens and the tunnel is usable again.
+//
+//	go test -tags e2e_testing -v -run TestRecoveryTiming ./e2e/
+func TestRecoveryTiming(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name   string
+		rebind bool
+	}{
+		{"no trigger", false},
+		{"rebind counter", true},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			d, lost := measureRecovery(t, tc.rebind)
+			t.Logf("RESULT %-16s recovered in %-9v (%d packets lost)", tc.name, d.Round(time.Millisecond), lost)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// measureRecovery returns how long until the peer punched back, and how many of our packets died meanwhile. When
+// rebind is true we call RebindUDPServer once the tunnel goes dark, which is what the darwin network change
+// monitor does and what iOS has always done. When false, nothing tells nebula anything is wrong.
+func measureRecovery(t *testing.T, rebind bool) (time.Duration, int) {
+	t.Helper()
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
+
+	lhControl, lhVpnIpNet, lhUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "lh", "10.128.0.1/24", m{
+		"lighthouse": m{"am_lighthouse": true},
+	})
+
+	peerCfg := m{
+		"lighthouse": m{
+			"hosts":    []any{lhVpnIpNet[0].Addr().String()},
+			"interval": 600,
+			"local_allow_list": m{
+				"10.0.0.0/24": true,
+				"::/0":        false,
+			},
+		},
+		"static_host_map": m{
+			lhVpnIpNet[0].Addr().String(): []any{lhUdpAddr.String()},
+		},
+	}
+
+	myControl, myVpnIpNet, myUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "me", "10.128.0.2/24", peerCfg)
+	theirControl, theirVpnIpNet, theirUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "them", "10.128.0.3/24", peerCfg)
+
+	r := router.NewR(t, lhControl, myControl, theirControl)
+	defer r.RenderFlow()
+	defer func() {
+		lhControl.Stop()
+		myControl.Stop()
+		theirControl.Stop()
+	}()
+
+	lhControl.Start()
+	myControl.Start()
+	theirControl.Start()
+	r.RouteFor(time.Millisecond * 500)
+
+	myControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), theirUdpAddr)
+	theirControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), myUdpAddr)
+
+	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("establish")))
+	r.RouteFor(time.Second)
+	if myControl.GetHostInfoByVpnAddr(theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), false) == nil {
+		t.Fatal("failed to establish the tunnel we are measuring")
+	}
+	r.RouteFor(time.Millisecond * 500)
+
+	// From here the peer's NAT has no state for us, everything we send it disappears
+	start := time.Now()
+	blackholed := 0
+	var recovered time.Duration
+
+	if rebind {
+		myControl.RebindUDPServer()
+	}
+
+	// Keep the tun busy the way someone retrying a stalled connection would
+	stop := make(chan struct{})
+	defer close(stop)
+	go func() {
+		tick := time.NewTicker(time.Millisecond * 200)
+		defer tick.Stop()
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-stop:
+				return
+			case <-tick.C:
+				myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(
+					theirVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, myVpnIpNet[0].Addr(), 80, []byte("retry")))
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(time.Second*30, func(p *udp.Packet, c *nebula.Control) router.ExitType {
+		if c == theirControl && p.From == myControl.GetUDPAddr() {
+			blackholed++
+			return router.Drop
+		}
+
+		// The peer reaching us directly is the moment its NAT opened, whether that is a punch or a handshake
+		if c == myControl && p.From == theirUdpAddr {
+			recovered = time.Since(start)
+			return router.RouteAndExit
+		}
+
+		return router.KeepRouting
+	})
+
+	if recovered == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("no recovery within 30s (%d packets blackholed)", blackholed)
+	}
+	return recovered, blackholed
+}

e2e/router/router.go

@@ -114,6 +114,28 @@ type packet struct {
 	packet *udp.Packet
 	tun    bool // a packet pulled off a tun device
 	rx     bool // the packet was received by a udp device
+
+	// h is the nebula header, parsed once when the packet is recorded. parseErr says why there isn't one, which
+	// the flow log reports rather than hiding. Punchy sends a single byte, so an unparseable packet is normal.
+	h        header.H
+	parseErr error
+}
+
+// fromAddr and toAddr are the addresses this packet actually travelled between. Reading them off the control
+// instead would misreport the whole history once a test moves a node. Tun packets are synthesized without
+// addresses, so they fall back to the control.
+func (p *packet) fromAddr() netip.AddrPort {
+	if p.tun || !p.packet.From.IsValid() {
+		return p.from.GetUDPAddr()
+	}
+	return p.packet.From
+}
+
+func (p *packet) toAddr() netip.AddrPort {
+	if p.tun || !p.packet.To.IsValid() {
+		return p.to.GetUDPAddr()
+	}
+	return p.packet.To
 }
 
 func (p *packet) WasReceived() {
@@ -131,6 +153,9 @@ const (
 	ExitNow ExitType = 1
 	// RouteAndExit routes this packet and exits immediately afterwards
 	RouteAndExit ExitType = 2
+	// Drop discards this packet without delivering it and keeps routing. Use it to simulate a blackhole, such as
+	// a restrictive NAT refusing traffic from an address it has not seen.
+	Drop ExitType = 3
 )
 
 type ExitFunc func(packet *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) ExitType
@@ -141,7 +166,9 @@ type ExitFunc func(packet *udp.Packet, receiver *nebula.Control) ExitType
 func NewR(t testing.TB, controls ...*nebula.Control) *R {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 
-	if err := os.MkdirAll("mermaid", 0755); err != nil {
+	// t.Name() contains a slash for subtests, so the flow log can land in a nested directory
+	fn := filepath.Join("mermaid", fmt.Sprintf("%s.md", t.Name()))
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(fn), 0755); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
@@ -152,7 +179,7 @@ func NewR(t testing.TB, controls ...*nebula.Control) *R {
 		outNat:       make(map[outNatKey]netip.AddrPort),
 		flow:         []flowEntry{},
 		ignoreFlows:  []ignoreFlow{},
-		fn:           filepath.Join("mermaid", fmt.Sprintf("%s.md", t.Name())),
+		fn:           fn,
 		t:            t,
 		cancelRender: cancel,
 	}
@@ -249,7 +276,7 @@ func (r *R) renderFlow() {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		addr := e.packet.from.GetUDPAddr()
+		addr := e.packet.fromAddr()
 		if _, ok := participants[addr]; ok {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -268,7 +295,6 @@ func (r *R) renderFlow() {
 	}
 
 	// Print packets
-	h := &header.H{}
 	for _, e := range r.flow {
 		if e.packet == nil {
 			//fmt.Fprintf(f, "    note over %s: %s\n", strings.Join(participantsVals, ", "), e.note)
@@ -280,21 +306,22 @@ func (r *R) renderFlow() {
 			fmt.Fprintln(f, r.formatUdpPacket(p))
 
 		} else {
-			if err := h.Parse(p.packet.Data); err != nil {
-				panic(err)
-			}
-
 			line := "--x"
 			if p.rx {
 				line = "->>"
 			}
 
-			fmt.Fprintf(f,
-				"    %s%s%s: %s(%s), index %v, counter: %v\n",
-				normalizeName(p.from.GetUDPAddr().String()),
+			detail := fmt.Sprintf("%s(%s), index %v, counter: %v",
+				p.h.TypeName(), p.h.SubTypeName(), p.h.RemoteIndex, p.h.MessageCounter)
+			if p.parseErr != nil {
+				detail = fmt.Sprintf("unparsed, %v (%d bytes)", p.parseErr, len(p.packet.Data))
+			}
+
+			fmt.Fprintf(f, "    %s%s%s: %s\n",
+				normalizeName(p.fromAddr().String()),
 				line,
-				normalizeName(p.to.GetUDPAddr().String()),
-				h.TypeName(), h.SubTypeName(), h.RemoteIndex, h.MessageCounter,
+				normalizeName(p.toAddr().String()),
+				detail,
 			)
 		}
 	}
@@ -408,21 +435,24 @@ func (r *R) unlockedInjectFlow(from, to *nebula.Control, p *udp.Packet, tun bool
 
 	r.renderHostmaps(fmt.Sprintf("Packet %v", len(r.flow)))
 
-	if len(r.ignoreFlows) > 0 {
 	var h header.H
-		err := h.Parse(p.Data)
-		if err != nil {
-			panic(err)
+	var parseErr error
+	if !tun {
+		parseErr = h.Parse(p.Data)
 	}
 
+	// Decide before copying, the copy comes from a freelist and an ignored packet would never be released
 	for _, i := range r.ignoreFlows {
-			if !tun {
-				if i.messageType == h.Type && i.subType == h.Subtype {
+		if tun {
+			if i.tun.HasValue && i.tun.IsTrue {
 				return nil
 			}
-			} else if i.tun.HasValue && i.tun.IsTrue {
-				return nil
+			continue
 		}
+
+		// A packet we could not parse has no type to match against, so no rule can ignore it
+		if parseErr == nil && i.messageType == h.Type && i.subType == h.Subtype {
+			return nil
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -431,6 +461,8 @@ func (r *R) unlockedInjectFlow(from, to *nebula.Control, p *udp.Packet, tun bool
 		to:       to,
 		packet:   p.Copy(),
 		tun:      tun,
+		h:        h,
+		parseErr: parseErr,
 	}
 
 	r.flow = append(r.flow, flowEntry{packet: fp})
@@ -660,6 +692,10 @@ func (r *R) RouteExitFunc(sender *nebula.Control, whatDo ExitFunc) {
 			p.Release()
 			return
 
+		case Drop:
+			// Record it so the flow log shows the attempt, but never hand it to the receiver
+			r.unlockedInjectFlow(sender, receiver, p, false)
+
 		case KeepRouting:
 			fp := r.unlockedInjectFlow(sender, receiver, p, false)
 			receiver.InjectUDPPacket(p)
@@ -690,6 +726,85 @@ func (r *R) RouteUntilAfterMsgType(sender *nebula.Control, msgType header.Messag
 	})
 }
 
+// RouteFor routes everything that shows up for the given duration and then returns. Use it to let a test settle
+// deterministically rather than sleeping and hoping: a single FlushAll races a completing handshake, which queues
+// more packets right behind it.
+func (r *R) RouteFor(d time.Duration) {
+	r.RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(d, func(*udp.Packet, *nebula.Control) ExitType {
+		return KeepRouting
+	})
+}
+
+// RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout is RouteForAllExitFunc with a deadline, reporting whether whatDo asked to exit
+// before time ran out. The unbounded version blocks forever on a quiet network, so this is what a test needs to
+// assert that something does NOT happen, or to route for a fixed settling period.
+func (r *R) RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout(timeout time.Duration, whatDo ExitFunc) bool {
+	sc := make([]reflect.SelectCase, 0, len(r.controls)+1)
+	cm := make([]*nebula.Control, 0, len(r.controls))
+
+	for _, c := range r.controls {
+		sc = append(sc, reflect.SelectCase{
+			Dir:  reflect.SelectRecv,
+			Chan: reflect.ValueOf(c.GetUDPTxChan()),
+			Send: reflect.Value{},
+		})
+		cm = append(cm, c)
+	}
+
+	timer := time.NewTimer(timeout)
+	defer timer.Stop()
+	sc = append(sc, reflect.SelectCase{
+		Dir:  reflect.SelectRecv,
+		Chan: reflect.ValueOf(timer.C),
+		Send: reflect.Value{},
+	})
+
+	for {
+		x, rx, _ := reflect.Select(sc)
+		if x == len(cm) {
+			return false
+		}
+
+		r.Lock()
+		p := rx.Interface().(*udp.Packet)
+		receiver := r.getControl(cm[x].GetUDPAddr(), p.To, p)
+		if receiver == nil {
+			r.Unlock()
+			panic("Can't RouteForAllExitFuncOrTimeout for host: " + p.To.String())
+		}
+
+		e := whatDo(p, receiver)
+		switch e {
+		case ExitNow:
+			r.Unlock()
+			p.Release()
+			return true
+
+		case RouteAndExit:
+			fp := r.unlockedInjectFlow(cm[x], receiver, p, false)
+			receiver.InjectUDPPacket(p)
+			fp.WasReceived()
+			r.Unlock()
+			p.Release()
+			return true
+
+		case Drop:
+			// Record it so the flow log shows the attempt, but never hand it to the receiver
+			r.unlockedInjectFlow(cm[x], receiver, p, false)
+
+		case KeepRouting:
+			fp := r.unlockedInjectFlow(cm[x], receiver, p, false)
+			receiver.InjectUDPPacket(p)
+			fp.WasReceived()
+
+		default:
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unknown exitFunc return: %v", e))
+		}
+		r.Unlock()
+		p.Release()
+	}
+}
+
 func (r *R) RouteForAllUntilAfterMsgTypeTo(receiver *nebula.Control, msgType header.MessageType, subType header.MessageSubType) {
 	h := &header.H{}
 	r.RouteForAllExitFunc(func(p *udp.Packet, r *nebula.Control) ExitType {
@@ -782,6 +897,10 @@ func (r *R) RouteForAllExitFunc(whatDo ExitFunc) {
 			p.Release()
 			return
 
+		case Drop:
+			// Record it so the flow log shows the attempt, but never hand it to the receiver
+			r.unlockedInjectFlow(cm[x], receiver, p, false)
+
 		case KeepRouting:
 			fp := r.unlockedInjectFlow(cm[x], receiver, p, false)
 			receiver.InjectUDPPacket(p)

e2e/tunnels_test.go

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
@@ -42,8 +43,8 @@ func TestDropInactiveTunnels(t *testing.T) {
 	r.Log("Go inactive and wait for the tunnels to get dropped")
 	waitStart := time.Now()
 	for {
-		myIndexes := len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
-		theirIndexes := len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
+		myIndexes := myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
+		theirIndexes := theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
 		if myIndexes == 0 && theirIndexes == 0 {
 			break
 		}
@@ -373,6 +374,100 @@ func TestCrossStackRelaysWork(t *testing.T) {
 	//relayControl.Stop()
 }
 
+// TestRelayReplayProtection asserts that a relay (forwarding-type) node rejects
+// replayed relay frames. A captured relay frame, re-injected with the same
+// message counter, must be dropped by the replay window rather than re-forwarded
+// to the relay target. Before the fix, handleOutsideRelayPacket authenticated the
+// frame but never advanced the replay window, so every replay was re-forwarded.
+func TestRelayReplayProtection(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version2, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
+	myControl, myVpnIpNet, _, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "me     ", "10.128.0.1/24,fc00::1/64", m{"relay": m{"use_relays": true}})
+	relayControl, relayVpnIpNet, relayUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServer(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "relay  ", "10.128.0.128/24,fc00::128/64", m{"relay": m{"am_relay": true}})
+	theirUdp := netip.MustParseAddrPort("10.0.0.2:4242")
+	theirControl, theirVpnIpNet, theirUdpAddr, _ := newSimpleServerWithUdp(cert.Version2, ca, caKey, "them   ", "fc00::2/64", theirUdp, m{"relay": m{"use_relays": true}})
+
+	myVpnV6 := myVpnIpNet[1]
+	relayVpnV4 := relayVpnIpNet[0]
+	relayVpnV6 := relayVpnIpNet[1]
+	theirVpnV6 := theirVpnIpNet[0]
+
+	// Teach me how to reach the relay and that them is reachable via the relay
+	myControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(relayVpnV4.Addr(), relayUdpAddr)
+	myControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(relayVpnV6.Addr(), relayUdpAddr)
+	myControl.InjectRelays(theirVpnV6.Addr(), []netip.Addr{relayVpnV6.Addr()})
+	relayControl.InjectLightHouseAddr(theirVpnV6.Addr(), theirUdpAddr)
+
+	r := router.NewR(t, myControl, relayControl, theirControl)
+	defer r.RenderFlow()
+
+	myControl.Start()
+	relayControl.Start()
+	theirControl.Start()
+
+	// Establish the relayed tunnel in both directions so all handshakes complete.
+	t.Log("Establish the relayed tunnel")
+	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnV6.Addr(), 80, myVpnV6.Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from me")))
+	p := r.RouteForAllUntilTxTun(theirControl)
+	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from me"), p, myVpnV6.Addr(), theirVpnV6.Addr(), 80, 80)
+	theirControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(myVpnV6.Addr(), 80, theirVpnV6.Addr(), 80, []byte("Hi from them")))
+	p = r.RouteForAllUntilTxTun(myControl)
+	assertUdpPacket(t, []byte("Hi from them"), p, theirVpnV6.Addr(), myVpnV6.Addr(), 80, 80)
+
+	// Drain anything still queued on me's UDP tx so the next packet we pull is the
+	// relay frame we are about to generate.
+	for myControl.GetFromUDP(false) != nil {
+	}
+
+	// Capture a single legitimate relay frame that me transmits toward the relay.
+	t.Log("Capture a relay frame from me -> relay")
+	myControl.InjectTunPacket(BuildTunUDPPacket(theirVpnV6.Addr(), 80, myVpnV6.Addr(), 80, []byte("replay me")))
+	relayFrame := myControl.GetFromUDP(true)
+	require.Equal(t, relayUdpAddr, relayFrame.To, "captured frame should be addressed to the relay")
+	var fh header.H
+	require.NoError(t, fh.Parse(relayFrame.Data))
+	require.Equal(t, header.Message, fh.Type)
+	require.Equal(t, header.MessageRelay, fh.Subtype)
+
+	// drainForwards counts relay frames the relay forwards toward them within the
+	// settle window. We match on destination + (Message, MessageRelay) so the
+	// relay's own direct traffic to them can't be miscounted.
+	drainForwards := func(settle time.Duration) int {
+		ch := relayControl.GetUDPTxChan()
+		count := 0
+		for {
+			select {
+			case pkt := <-ch:
+				var ph header.H
+				if pkt.To == theirUdpAddr && ph.Parse(pkt.Data) == nil &&
+					ph.Type == header.Message && ph.Subtype == header.MessageRelay {
+					count++
+				}
+				pkt.Release()
+			case <-time.After(settle):
+				return count
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// First delivery of the captured frame: the relay should forward it once.
+	t.Log("Deliver the captured frame once; relay forwards it to them")
+	relayControl.InjectUDPPacket(relayFrame)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, drainForwards(200*time.Millisecond), "relay should forward the first, legitimate copy")
+
+	// Replay the exact same frame several times. A correct replay window rejects
+	// these duplicates so the relay forwards none of them.
+	t.Log("Replay the captured frame; relay must drop the duplicates")
+	const replays = 3
+	for i := 0; i < replays; i++ {
+		relayControl.InjectUDPPacket(relayFrame)
+	}
+	forwarded := drainForwards(200 * time.Millisecond)
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, forwarded, "relay re-forwarded %d/%d replayed relay frames; replay protection is ineffective on relay tunnels", forwarded, replays)
+
+	r.RenderHostmaps("Final hostmaps", myControl, relayControl, theirControl)
+}
+
 func TestCloseTunnelAuthenticated(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	ca, _, caKey, _ := cert_test.NewTestCaCert(cert.Version1, cert.Curve_CURVE25519, time.Now(), time.Now().Add(10*time.Minute), nil, nil, []string{})
@@ -398,8 +493,8 @@ func TestCloseTunnelAuthenticated(t *testing.T) {
 
 	waitStart := time.Now()
 	for {
-		myIndexes := len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
-		theirIndexes := len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
+		myIndexes := myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
+		theirIndexes := theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
 		if myIndexes == 0 && theirIndexes == 0 {
 			break
 		}
@@ -453,8 +548,8 @@ func TestCloseTunnelAuthenticated(t *testing.T) {
 	r.Log("Injected bogus close tunnel. Let's see!")
 	waitStart = time.Now()
 	for {
-		myIndexes := len(myControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
-		theirIndexes := len(theirControl.GetHostmap().Indexes)
+		myIndexes := myControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
+		theirIndexes := theirControl.GetHostmapIndexCount()
 		if myIndexes == 0 {
 			t.Fatal("myIndexes should not be 0")
 		}

examples/config.yml

@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ listen:
   port: 4242
   # Sets the max number of packets to pull from the kernel for each syscall (under systems that support recvmmsg)
   # default is 64, does not support reload
+  # Note: on Linux with UDP GRO (kernel 5.10+), each receive slot is sized for a full 64KiB coalesced
+  # superpacket, so the receive scratch is batch * 64KiB per listening socket (~4MiB per routine at the
+  # default of 64). Lower this to trade peak per-syscall throughput for memory on constrained hosts.
   #batch: 64
   # Configure socket buffers for the udp side (outside), leave unset to use the system defaults. Values will be doubled by the kernel
   # Default is net.core.rmem_default and net.core.wmem_default (/proc/sys/net/core/rmem_default and /proc/sys/net/core/rmem_default)
@@ -146,6 +149,14 @@ listen:
   # Default true; set to false to leave WDF in charge of inbound decisions on the listener port. Not reloadable.
   #windows_bypass_wdf: true
 
+  # On macOS only
+  # macOS scopes the udp socket to the interface it was created on, so moving between networks (wifi to wired,
+  # office to home) leaves Nebula sending out an interface that no longer has a route. When true, Nebula watches
+  # the routing socket and rebinds the listener once the change settles.
+  # iOS does not use this, the host app drives the same rebind itself.
+  # Default true. Not reloadable.
+  #rebind_on_network_change: true
+
   # By default, Nebula replies to packets it has no tunnel for with a "recv_error" packet. This packet helps speed up reconnection
   # in the case that Nebula on either side did not shut down cleanly. This response can be abused as a way to discover if Nebula is running
   # on a host though. This option lets you configure if you want to send "recv_error" packets always, never, or only to private network remotes.
@@ -254,6 +265,25 @@ tun:
   # Default MTU for every packet, safe setting is (and the default) 1300 for internet based traffic
   mtu: 1300
 
+  # Linux only. pin_threads pins each tun reader/encrypt OS thread to a single CPU. This keeps every goroutine's
+  # batched sends flowing through one XPS-selected NIC TX ring, so packets within a flow stay ordered on the wire
+  # instead of being sprayed across multiple TX rings and reordered. Not reloadable. Coerced to false if routines <= 1.
+  #pin_threads: true
+
+  # Linux only. cpu_affinity overrides which CPUs the tun reader threads pin to: a list of CPU IDs, one per routine
+  # (see the top-level `routines` setting). Lists shorter than `routines` are modulo-cycled across the queues; extra
+  # entries are ignored. IDs must be within the process's allowed CPU set, so this respects taskset / cgroup cpusets;
+  # a non-integer or not-allowed entry disables the override and falls back to spreading queues across the allowed
+  # CPUs. Only meaningful while pin_threads is true. Not reloadable.
+  # When unset, the default spread prefers performance cores on heterogeneous CPUs (ARM big.LITTLE, Intel P/E
+  # hybrids, AMD compact cores), keeps all readers on one NUMA node and on distinct physical cores when the
+  # topology allows (SMT siblings last), leaves CPU 0's physical core as a last resort, and rotates its starting
+  # point per instance (keyed by the bound UDP port) so co-located nebulas don't stack their readers onto the
+  # same cores.
+  #cpu_affinity:
+  #  - 2
+  #  - 4
+
   # Route based MTU overrides, you have known vpn ip paths that can support larger MTUs you can increase/decrease them here
   routes:
     #- mtu: 8800
@@ -397,7 +427,7 @@ firewall:
   #   `drop` (default): silently drop the packet.
   #   `reject`: send a reject reply.
   #     - For TCP, this will be a RST "Connection Reset" packet.
-  #     - For other protocols, this will be an ICMP port unreachable packet.
+  #     - For other protocols, this will be an ICMP "Destination unreachable: Communication administratively prohibited" packet.
   outbound_action: drop
   inbound_action: drop
 

examples/service_scripts/nebula.service

@@ -8,6 +8,15 @@ Before=sshd.service
 Type=notify
 NotifyAccess=main
 SyslogIdentifier=nebula
+
+# Uncomment to run as an unprivileged user with only CAP_NET_ADMIN. Requires a
+# nebula user that owns the config directory. Add CAP_NET_BIND_SERVICE to both
+# lines if any listener (lighthouse DNS, listen.port, stats, sshd) binds <1024.
+#User=nebula
+#Group=nebula
+#CapabilityBoundingSet=CAP_NET_ADMIN
+#AmbientCapabilities=CAP_NET_ADMIN
+
 ExecReload=/bin/kill -HUP $MAINPID
 ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/nebula -config /etc/nebula/config.yml
 Restart=always

firewall.go

@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ type Firewall struct {
 	InRules  *FirewallTable
 	OutRules *FirewallTable
 
-	InSendReject  bool
-	OutSendReject bool
+	InboundSendReject  bool
+	OutboundSendReject bool
 
 	//TODO: we should have many more options for TCP, an option for ICMP, and mimic the kernel a bit better
 	// https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/networking/nf_conntrack-sysctl.txt
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ type Firewall struct {
 
 	// assignedNetworks is a list of vpn networks assigned to us in the certificate.
 	assignedNetworks []netip.Prefix
-	hasUnsafeNetworks bool
+	// unsafeNetworks is the list of unsafe networks issued to us in the certificate
+	unsafeNetworks []netip.Prefix
 
 	rules        string
 	rulesVersion uint16
@@ -158,10 +159,9 @@ func NewFirewall(l *slog.Logger, tcpTimeout, UDPTimeout, defaultTimeout time.Dur
 		assignedNetworks = append(assignedNetworks, network)
 	}
 
-	hasUnsafeNetworks := false
-	for _, n := range c.UnsafeNetworks() {
+	unsafeNetworks := c.UnsafeNetworks()
+	for _, n := range unsafeNetworks {
 		routableNetworks.Insert(n)
-		hasUnsafeNetworks = true
 	}
 
 	return &Firewall{
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func NewFirewall(l *slog.Logger, tcpTimeout, UDPTimeout, defaultTimeout time.Dur
 		DefaultTimeout:   defaultTimeout,
 		routableNetworks: routableNetworks,
 		assignedNetworks: assignedNetworks,
-		hasUnsafeNetworks: hasUnsafeNetworks,
+		unsafeNetworks:   unsafeNetworks,
 		l:                l,
 
 		incomingMetrics: firewallMetrics{
@@ -216,23 +216,23 @@ func NewFirewallFromConfig(l *slog.Logger, cs *CertState, c *config.C) (*Firewal
 	inboundAction := c.GetString("firewall.inbound_action", "drop")
 	switch inboundAction {
 	case "reject":
-		fw.InSendReject = true
+		fw.InboundSendReject = true
 	case "drop":
-		fw.InSendReject = false
+		fw.InboundSendReject = false
 	default:
 		l.Warn("invalid firewall.inbound_action, defaulting to `drop`", "action", inboundAction)
-		fw.InSendReject = false
+		fw.InboundSendReject = false
 	}
 
 	outboundAction := c.GetString("firewall.outbound_action", "drop")
 	switch outboundAction {
 	case "reject":
-		fw.OutSendReject = true
+		fw.OutboundSendReject = true
 	case "drop":
-		fw.OutSendReject = false
+		fw.OutboundSendReject = false
 	default:
 		l.Warn("invalid firewall.outbound_action, defaulting to `drop`", "action", outboundAction)
-		fw.OutSendReject = false
+		fw.OutboundSendReject = false
 	}
 
 	err := AddFirewallRulesFromConfig(l, false, c, fw)
@@ -423,11 +423,6 @@ var ErrNoMatchingRule = errors.New("no matching rule in firewall table")
 // Drop returns an error if the packet should be dropped, explaining why. It
 // returns nil if the packet should not be dropped.
 func (f *Firewall) Drop(fp firewall.Packet, incoming bool, h *HostInfo, caPool *cert.CAPool, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) error {
-	// Check if we spoke to this tuple, if we did then allow this packet
-	if f.inConns(fp, h, caPool, localCache) {
-		return nil
-	}
-
 	// Make sure remote address matches nebula certificate, and determine how to treat it
 	if h.networks == nil {
 		// Simple case: Certificate has one address and no unsafe networks
@@ -461,6 +456,11 @@ func (f *Firewall) Drop(fp firewall.Packet, incoming bool, h *HostInfo, caPool *
 		return ErrInvalidLocalIP
 	}
 
+	// Check if we spoke to this tuple, if we did then allow this packet
+	if f.inConns(fp, h, caPool, localCache) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	table := f.OutRules
 	if incoming {
 		table = f.InRules
@@ -897,7 +897,7 @@ func (flc *firewallLocalCIDR) addRule(f *Firewall, localCidr string) error {
 	}
 
 	if localCidr == "" {
-		if !f.hasUnsafeNetworks || f.defaultLocalCIDRAny {
+		if len(f.unsafeNetworks) == 0 || f.defaultLocalCIDRAny {
 			flc.Any = true
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -1055,7 +1055,6 @@ func (r *rule) sanity() error {
 }
 
 func parsePort(s string) (int32, int32, error) {
-	var err error
 	const notAPort int32 = -2
 	if s == "any" {
 		return firewall.PortAny, firewall.PortAny, nil
@@ -1064,11 +1063,11 @@ func parsePort(s string) (int32, int32, error) {
 		return firewall.PortFragment, firewall.PortFragment, nil
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(s, `-`) {
-		rPort, err := strconv.Atoi(s)
+		rPort, err := parsePortValue("", s)
 		if err != nil {
-			return notAPort, notAPort, fmt.Errorf("was not a number; `%s`", s)
+			return notAPort, notAPort, err
 		}
-		return int32(rPort), int32(rPort), nil
+		return rPort, rPort, nil
 	}
 
 	sPorts := strings.SplitN(s, `-`, 2)
@@ -1079,22 +1078,40 @@ func parsePort(s string) (int32, int32, error) {
 		return notAPort, notAPort, fmt.Errorf("appears to be a range but could not be parsed; `%s`", s)
 	}
 
-	rStartPort, err := strconv.Atoi(sPorts[0])
+	startPort, err := parsePortValue("beginning range ", sPorts[0])
 	if err != nil {
-		return notAPort, notAPort, fmt.Errorf("beginning range was not a number; `%s`", sPorts[0])
+		return notAPort, notAPort, err
 	}
 
-	rEndPort, err := strconv.Atoi(sPorts[1])
+	endPort, err := parsePortValue("ending range ", sPorts[1])
 	if err != nil {
-		return notAPort, notAPort, fmt.Errorf("ending range was not a number; `%s`", sPorts[1])
+		return notAPort, notAPort, err
 	}
 
-	startPort := int32(rStartPort)
-	endPort := int32(rEndPort)
-
 	if startPort == firewall.PortAny {
 		endPort = firewall.PortAny
 	}
 
 	return startPort, endPort, nil
 }
+
+// parsePortValue accepts a base-10 decimal in [0, 65535] and returns it
+// widened to int32. Using strconv.ParseUint with bitSize 16 rejects
+// negative input, out-of-range input (>65535), and any non-decimal byte
+// by construction, so the int32 widening that follows is provably safe
+// and cannot collide with firewall.PortAny (0) or firewall.PortFragment
+// (-1) via integer truncation.
+//
+// prefix is prepended to both error messages so callers can disambiguate
+// the single-port path (prefix="") from the range bounds (prefix="beginning
+// range " / "ending range "), preserving the historical error strings.
+func parsePortValue(prefix, s string) (int32, error) {
+	n, err := strconv.ParseUint(s, 10, 16)
+	if err == nil {
+		return int32(n), nil
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, strconv.ErrRange) {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("%sout of range [0,65535]; `%s`", prefix, s)
+	}
+	return 0, fmt.Errorf("%swas not a number; `%s`", prefix, s)
+}

firewall/cache.go

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/logging"
 )
 
 // ConntrackCache is used as a local routine cache to know if a given flow
@@ -56,8 +58,8 @@ func (c *ConntrackCacheTicker) Get() ConntrackCache {
 	if tick := c.cacheTick.Load(); tick != c.cacheV {
 		c.cacheV = tick
 		if ll := len(c.cache); ll > 0 {
-			if c.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
-				c.l.Debug("resetting conntrack cache", "len", ll)
+			if c.l.Enabled(context.Background(), logging.LevelTrace) {
+				c.l.Log(context.Background(), logging.LevelTrace, "resetting conntrack cache", "len", ll)
 			}
 			c.cache = make(ConntrackCache, ll)
 		}

firewall/cache_test.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/logging"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
@@ -30,27 +31,27 @@ func newFixedTicker(t *testing.T, l *slog.Logger, cacheLen int) *ConntrackCacheT
 
 func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_TextFormat(t *testing.T) {
 	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(buf, slog.LevelDebug)
+	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(buf, logging.LevelTrace)
 
 	c := newFixedTicker(t, l, 3)
 	c.Get()
 
-	assert.Equal(t, "level=DEBUG msg=\"resetting conntrack cache\" len=3\n", buf.String())
+	assert.Equal(t, "level=DEBUG-4 msg=\"resetting conntrack cache\" len=3\n", buf.String())
 }
 
 func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_JSONFormat(t *testing.T) {
 	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	l := test.NewJSONLoggerWithOutput(buf, slog.LevelDebug)
+	l := test.NewJSONLoggerWithOutput(buf, logging.LevelTrace)
 
 	c := newFixedTicker(t, l, 2)
 	c.Get()
 
-	assert.JSONEq(t, `{"level":"DEBUG","msg":"resetting conntrack cache","len":2}`, strings.TrimSpace(buf.String()))
+	assert.JSONEq(t, `{"level":"DEBUG-4","msg":"resetting conntrack cache","len":2}`, strings.TrimSpace(buf.String()))
 }
 
-func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_QuietBelowDebug(t *testing.T) {
+func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_QuietBelowTrace(t *testing.T) {
 	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(buf, slog.LevelInfo)
+	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(buf, slog.LevelDebug)
 
 	c := newFixedTicker(t, l, 5)
 	c.Get()
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_QuietBelowDebug(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestConntrackCacheTicker_Get_QuietWhenCacheEmpty(t *testing.T) {
 	buf := &bytes.Buffer{}
-	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(buf, slog.LevelDebug)
+	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutputAndLevel(buf, logging.LevelTrace)
 
 	c := newFixedTicker(t, l, 0)
 	c.Get()

firewall/packet.go

@@ -65,3 +65,12 @@ func (fp Packet) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 		"Fragment":   fp.Fragment,
 	})
 }
+
+// ParsedPacket is a Packet plus the parse byproducts the RX path reuses
+type ParsedPacket struct {
+	Packet
+	IPHdrLen int
+	// FragAny reports any fragmentation at all: MF flag or nonzero offset for IPv4, a fragment extension header for IPv6.
+	// Distinct from Packet.Fragment, which is true only for NON-FIRST fragments
+	FragAny bool
+}

firewall_test.go

@@ -916,6 +916,159 @@ func TestFirewall_DropIPSpoofing(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, fw.Drop(p, true, &h1, cp, nil), ErrInvalidRemoteIP)
 }
 
+func TestFirewall_ConntrackSourceSpoofingAcrossPeers(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutput(&bytes.Buffer{})
+
+	myVpnNetworksTable := new(bart.Lite)
+	myVpnNetworksTable.Insert(netip.MustParsePrefix("192.0.2.1/24"))
+
+	owner := &dummyCert{
+		name:     "owner",
+		networks: []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("192.0.2.1/24")},
+	}
+
+	victim := &cert.CachedCertificate{
+		Certificate: &dummyCert{
+			name:     "victim",
+			networks: []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("192.0.2.2/24")},
+		},
+	}
+	victimHI := HostInfo{
+		ConnectionState: &ConnectionState{peerCert: victim},
+		vpnAddrs:        []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.2")},
+	}
+	victimHI.buildNetworks(myVpnNetworksTable, victim.Certificate)
+
+	attacker := &cert.CachedCertificate{
+		Certificate: &dummyCert{
+			name:     "attacker",
+			networks: []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("192.0.2.3/24")},
+		},
+	}
+	attackerHI := HostInfo{
+		ConnectionState: &ConnectionState{peerCert: attacker},
+		vpnAddrs:        []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.3")},
+	}
+	attackerHI.buildNetworks(myVpnNetworksTable, attacker.Certificate)
+
+	fw := NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, owner)
+	// Allow any inbound traffic that passes the cert / source-IP checks.
+	require.NoError(t, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"any"}, "", "", "", "", ""))
+	cp := cert.NewCAPool()
+
+	flow := firewall.Packet{
+		LocalAddr:  netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.1"),
+		RemoteAddr: netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.2"),
+		LocalPort:  443,
+		RemotePort: 55000,
+		Protocol:   firewall.ProtoUDP,
+	}
+
+	require.NoError(t, fw.Drop(flow, true, &victimHI, cp, nil),
+		"victim's own traffic from its own overlay IP must be allowed")
+
+	unseen := flow
+	unseen.RemotePort = 55001
+	assert.Equal(t, ErrInvalidRemoteIP, fw.Drop(unseen, true, &attackerHI, cp, nil),
+		"sanity: attacker forging victim's source IP must be rejected when no conntrack entry exists")
+
+	got := fw.Drop(flow, true, &attackerHI, cp, nil)
+	t.Logf("attacker replaying victim's 4-tuple: Drop returned %v (nil == packet ALLOWED == spoof succeeded)", got)
+	assert.Equal(t, ErrInvalidRemoteIP, got,
+		"SECURITY: attacker spoofed victim's overlay source IP (192.0.2.2) by reusing an existing conntrack 4-tuple; Drop returned %v instead of rejecting", got)
+}
+
+// BenchmarkFirewallDropConntrackHit measures Drop on an already-established flow
+// (a conntrack hit). This is the fast path that the source-IP<->cert binding
+// reordering adds work to, so it quantifies the cost of moving the address checks
+// ahead of the conntrack lookup. Cases:
+//   - simple:  peer cert has one address, no unsafe networks (h.networks == nil),
+//     so the remote-address check is a single netip.Addr compare.
+//   - complex: peer cert has unsafe networks (h.networks populated), so the
+//     remote-address check is a BART lookup.
+//   - noCache/localCache: whether a per-batch ConntrackCache is supplied, which in
+//     the original code let the fast path skip straight past the address checks.
+func BenchmarkFirewallDropConntrackHit(b *testing.B) {
+	l := test.NewLoggerWithOutput(&bytes.Buffer{})
+
+	myVpnNetworksTable := new(bart.Lite)
+	myVpnNetworksTable.Insert(netip.MustParsePrefix("192.0.2.1/24"))
+
+	owner := &dummyCert{
+		name:     "owner",
+		networks: []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("192.0.2.1/24")},
+	}
+
+	simpleCert := &cert.CachedCertificate{
+		Certificate: &dummyCert{
+			name:     "simple",
+			networks: []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("192.0.2.2/24")},
+		},
+	}
+	simpleHost := &HostInfo{
+		ConnectionState: &ConnectionState{peerCert: simpleCert},
+		vpnAddrs:        []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.2")},
+	}
+	simpleHost.buildNetworks(myVpnNetworksTable, simpleCert.Certificate)
+
+	complexCert := &cert.CachedCertificate{
+		Certificate: &dummyCert{
+			name:           "complex",
+			networks:       []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("192.0.2.2/24")},
+			unsafeNetworks: []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("198.51.100.0/24")},
+		},
+	}
+	complexHost := &HostInfo{
+		ConnectionState: &ConnectionState{peerCert: complexCert},
+		vpnAddrs:        []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.2")},
+	}
+	complexHost.buildNetworks(myVpnNetworksTable, complexCert.Certificate)
+
+	cp := cert.NewCAPool()
+
+	flow := firewall.Packet{
+		LocalAddr:  netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.1"),
+		RemoteAddr: netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.2"),
+		LocalPort:  443,
+		RemotePort: 55000,
+		Protocol:   firewall.ProtoUDP,
+	}
+
+	cases := []struct {
+		name     string
+		host     *HostInfo
+		useCache bool
+	}{
+		{"simple/noCache", simpleHost, false},
+		{"simple/localCache", simpleHost, true},
+		{"complex/noCache", complexHost, false},
+		{"complex/localCache", complexHost, true},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		b.Run(tc.name, func(b *testing.B) {
+			fw := NewFirewall(l, time.Second, time.Minute, time.Hour, owner)
+			require.NoError(b, fw.AddRule(true, firewall.ProtoAny, 0, 0, []string{"any"}, "", "", "", "", ""))
+
+			// Establish the conntrack entry so every benchmarked Drop is a hit.
+			require.NoError(b, fw.Drop(flow, true, tc.host, cp, nil))
+
+			var cache firewall.ConntrackCache
+			if tc.useCache {
+				cache = firewall.ConntrackCache{}
+			}
+
+			b.ReportAllocs()
+			b.ResetTimer()
+			for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+				if err := fw.Drop(flow, true, tc.host, cp, cache); err != nil {
+					b.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func BenchmarkLookup(b *testing.B) {
 	ml := func(m map[string]struct{}, a [][]string) {
 		for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
@@ -1029,6 +1182,75 @@ func Test_parsePort(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
+// Test_parsePort_invalid covers inputs that must error. The named bug is
+// that int32(strconv.Atoi("4294967296")) truncates to 0 == firewall.PortAny,
+// silently turning a typo into a match-all-ports rule; the rest are
+// representative syntax/range probes.
+func Test_parsePort_invalid(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name            string
+		input           string
+		wantErrContains string
+	}{
+		// Numeric overflow (the named bug + boundary).
+		{"named bug: 2^32 truncates to PortAny", "4294967296", "out of range"},
+		{"just above max real port", "65536", "out of range"},
+
+		// Negatives route through the range branch and hit the empty-half
+		// guard; included as defense in depth so a future refactor cannot
+		// accidentally reach the int32 cast.
+		{"negative", "-1", "could not be parsed"},
+
+		// Syntax probes.
+		{"NUL between digits", "4\x002", "was not a number"},
+		{"hex notation", "0x10", "was not a number"},
+		{"scientific notation", "1e3", "was not a number"},
+		{"leading whitespace", " 42", "was not a number"},
+		{"fullwidth digits", "４２", "was not a number"},
+
+		// Range branch.
+		{"range upper out of range", "1-65536", "ending range out of range"},
+		{"range lower out of range", "65536-65537", "beginning range out of range"},
+		{"range with negative upper", "1--1", "ending range was not a number"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, _, err := parsePort(tc.input)
+			require.Error(t, err, "input %q must error", tc.input)
+			require.ErrorContains(t, err, tc.wantErrContains)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// Test_parsePort_valid_boundaries locks in success cases at 0, 1, and 65535
+// so a future refactor cannot regress the boundaries.
+func Test_parsePort_valid_boundaries(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name      string
+		input     string
+		wantStart int32
+		wantEnd   int32
+	}{
+		{"zero is PortAny", "0", 0, 0},
+		{"min real port", "1", 1, 1},
+		{"max real port", "65535", 65535, 65535},
+		{"range zero to max forces end to zero", "0-65535", 0, 0},
+		{"range max to max", "65535-65535", 65535, 65535},
+		{"range one to max", "1-65535", 1, 65535},
+		{"range with whitespace inside", " 1 - 2    ", 1, 2},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			s, e, err := parsePort(tc.input)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.wantStart, s, "start port")
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.wantEnd, e, "end port")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestNewFirewallFromConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	l := test.NewLogger()
 	// Test a bad rule definition

go.mod

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/slackhq/nebula
 
-go 1.25.0
+go 1.26.0
 
 require (
 	dario.cat/mergo v1.0.2
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ require (
 	github.com/armon/go-radix v1.0.0
 	github.com/cyberdelia/go-metrics-graphite v0.0.0-20161219230853-39f87cc3b432
 	github.com/flynn/noise v1.1.0
-	github.com/gaissmai/bart v0.26.1
+	github.com/gaissmai/bart v0.28.0
 	github.com/gogo/protobuf v1.3.2
 	github.com/google/gopacket v1.1.19
-	github.com/kardianos/service v1.2.4
+	github.com/kardianos/service v1.3.0
 	github.com/miekg/dns v1.1.72
 	github.com/miekg/pkcs11 v1.1.2
 	github.com/nbrownus/go-metrics-prometheus v0.0.0-20210712211119-974a6260965f
@@ -24,15 +24,15 @@ require (
 	github.com/vishvananda/netlink v1.3.1
 	go.uber.org/goleak v1.3.0
 	go.yaml.in/yaml/v3 v3.0.4
-	golang.org/x/crypto v0.50.0
+	golang.org/x/crypto v0.54.0
 	golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20230725093048-515e97ebf090
-	golang.org/x/net v0.53.0
-	golang.org/x/sync v0.20.0
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.43.0
-	golang.org/x/term v0.42.0
+	golang.org/x/net v0.57.0
+	golang.org/x/sync v0.22.0
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.47.0
+	golang.org/x/term v0.45.0
 	golang.zx2c4.com/wintun v0.0.0-20230126152724-0fa3db229ce2
 	golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard v0.0.0-20230325221338-052af4a8072b
-	golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/windows v0.6.1
+	golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/windows v1.0.1
 	google.golang.org/protobuf v1.36.11
 	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
 	gvisor.dev/gvisor v0.0.0-20240423190808-9d7a357edefe
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/prometheus/procfs v0.16.1 // indirect
 	github.com/vishvananda/netns v0.0.5 // indirect
 	go.yaml.in/yaml/v2 v2.4.2 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/mod v0.34.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/mod v0.36.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/time v0.5.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/tools v0.43.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/tools v0.45.0 // indirect
 )

go.sum

@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 h1:vj9j/u1bqnvCEfJOwUhtlOARqs3+rkHYY13jYWTU97c
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
 github.com/flynn/noise v1.1.0 h1:KjPQoQCEFdZDiP03phOvGi11+SVVhBG2wOWAorLsstg=
 github.com/flynn/noise v1.1.0/go.mod h1:xbMo+0i6+IGbYdJhF31t2eR1BIU0CYc12+BNAKwUTag=
-github.com/gaissmai/bart v0.26.1 h1:+w4rnLGNlA2GDVn382Tfe3jOsK5vOr5n4KmigJ9lbTo=
-github.com/gaissmai/bart v0.26.1/go.mod h1:GREWQfTLRWz/c5FTOsIw+KkscuFkIV5t8Rp7Nd1Td5c=
+github.com/gaissmai/bart v0.28.0 h1:89yZLo8NmyqD0RYgJ3QO9HhqqGGw+oWhf90cZm69Lko=
+github.com/gaissmai/bart v0.28.0/go.mod h1:GREWQfTLRWz/c5FTOsIw+KkscuFkIV5t8Rp7Nd1Td5c=
 github.com/go-kit/kit v0.8.0/go.mod h1:xBxKIO96dXMWWy0MnWVtmwkA9/13aqxPnvrjFYMA2as=
 github.com/go-kit/kit v0.9.0/go.mod h1:xBxKIO96dXMWWy0MnWVtmwkA9/13aqxPnvrjFYMA2as=
 github.com/go-kit/log v0.1.0/go.mod h1:zbhenjAZHb184qTLMA9ZjW7ThYL0H2mk7Q6pNt4vbaY=
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ github.com/json-iterator/go v1.1.10/go.mod h1:KdQUCv79m/52Kvf8AW2vK1V8akMuk1QjK/
 github.com/json-iterator/go v1.1.11/go.mod h1:KdQUCv79m/52Kvf8AW2vK1V8akMuk1QjK/uOdHXbAo4=
 github.com/julienschmidt/httprouter v1.2.0/go.mod h1:SYymIcj16QtmaHHD7aYtjjsJG7VTCxuUUipMqKk8s4w=
 github.com/julienschmidt/httprouter v1.3.0/go.mod h1:JR6WtHb+2LUe8TCKY3cZOxFyyO8IZAc4RVcycCCAKdM=
-github.com/kardianos/service v1.2.4 h1:XNlGtZOYNx2u91urOdg/Kfmc+gfmuIo1Dd3rEi2OgBk=
-github.com/kardianos/service v1.2.4/go.mod h1:E4V9ufUuY82F7Ztlu1eN9VXWIQxg8NoLQlmFe0MtrXc=
+github.com/kardianos/service v1.3.0 h1:/LGy+xPP2TM+GLTiCZ2di7cy0Jd/qrawlTUfqKYFdTI=
+github.com/kardianos/service v1.3.0/go.mod h1:E4V9ufUuY82F7Ztlu1eN9VXWIQxg8NoLQlmFe0MtrXc=
 github.com/kisielk/errcheck v1.5.0/go.mod h1:pFxgyoBC7bSaBwPgfKdkLd5X25qrDl4LWUI2bnpBCr8=
 github.com/kisielk/gotool v1.0.0/go.mod h1:XhKaO+MFFWcvkIS/tQcRk01m1F5IRFswLeQ+oQHNcck=
 github.com/klauspost/compress v1.18.0 h1:c/Cqfb0r+Yi+JtIEq73FWXVkRonBlf0CRNYc8Zttxdo=
@@ -162,16 +162,16 @@ golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20190308221718-c2843e01d9a2/go.mod h1:djNgcEr1/C05ACk
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20191011191535-87dc89f01550/go.mod h1:yigFU9vqHzYiE8UmvKecakEJjdnWj3jj499lnFckfCI=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20200622213623-75b288015ac9/go.mod h1:LzIPMQfyMNhhGPhUkYOs5KpL4U8rLKemX1yGLhDgUto=
 golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20210322153248-0c34fe9e7dc2/go.mod h1:T9bdIzuCu7OtxOm1hfPfRQxPLYneinmdGuTeoZ9dtd4=
-golang.org/x/crypto v0.50.0 h1:zO47/JPrL6vsNkINmLoo/PH1gcxpls50DNogFvB5ZGI=
-golang.org/x/crypto v0.50.0/go.mod h1:3muZ7vA7PBCE6xgPX7nkzzjiUq87kRItoJQM1Yo8S+Q=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.54.0 h1:YLIA59K4fiNzHzjnZt2tUJQjQtUWfWbeHBqKtk3eScw=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.54.0/go.mod h1:KWL8ny2AZdGR2cWmzeHrp2azQPGogOv+HeQaVEXC2dk=
 golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20230725093048-515e97ebf090 h1:Di6/M8l0O2lCLc6VVRWhgCiApHV8MnQurBnFSHsQtNY=
 golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20230725093048-515e97ebf090/go.mod h1:FXUEEKJgO7OQYeo8N01OfiKP8RXMtf6e8aTskBGqWdc=
 golang.org/x/lint v0.0.0-20200302205851-738671d3881b/go.mod h1:3xt1FjdF8hUf6vQPIChWIBhFzV8gjjsPE/fR3IyQdNY=
 golang.org/x/mod v0.1.1-0.20191105210325-c90efee705ee/go.mod h1:QqPTAvyqsEbceGzBzNggFXnrqF1CaUcvgkdR5Ot7KZg=
 golang.org/x/mod v0.2.0/go.mod h1:s0Qsj1ACt9ePp/hMypM3fl4fZqREWJwdYDEqhRiZZUA=
 golang.org/x/mod v0.3.0/go.mod h1:s0Qsj1ACt9ePp/hMypM3fl4fZqREWJwdYDEqhRiZZUA=
-golang.org/x/mod v0.34.0 h1:xIHgNUUnW6sYkcM5Jleh05DvLOtwc6RitGHbDk4akRI=
-golang.org/x/mod v0.34.0/go.mod h1:ykgH52iCZe79kzLLMhyCUzhMci+nQj+0XkbXpNYtVjY=
+golang.org/x/mod v0.36.0 h1:JJjpVx6myfUsUdAzZuOSTTmRE0PfZeNWzzvKrP7amb4=
+golang.org/x/mod v0.36.0/go.mod h1:moc6ELqsWcOw5Ef3xVprK5ul/MvtVvkIXLziUOICjUQ=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20180724234803-3673e40ba225/go.mod h1:mL1N/T3taQHkDXs73rZJwtUhF3w3ftmwwsq0BUmARs4=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20181114220301-adae6a3d119a/go.mod h1:mL1N/T3taQHkDXs73rZJwtUhF3w3ftmwwsq0BUmARs4=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20190108225652-1e06a53dbb7e/go.mod h1:mL1N/T3taQHkDXs73rZJwtUhF3w3ftmwwsq0BUmARs4=
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20200226121028-0de0cce0169b/go.mod h1:z5CRVTTTmAJ677TzLL
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20200625001655-4c5254603344/go.mod h1:/O7V0waA8r7cgGh81Ro3o1hOxt32SMVPicZroKQ2sZA=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20201021035429-f5854403a974/go.mod h1:sp8m0HH+o8qH0wwXwYZr8TS3Oi6o0r6Gce1SSxlDquU=
 golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20210226172049-e18ecbb05110/go.mod h1:m0MpNAwzfU5UDzcl9v0D8zg8gWTRqZa9RBIspLL5mdg=
-golang.org/x/net v0.53.0 h1:d+qAbo5L0orcWAr0a9JweQpjXF19LMXJE8Ey7hwOdUA=
-golang.org/x/net v0.53.0/go.mod h1:JvMuJH7rrdiCfbeHoo3fCQU24Lf5JJwT9W3sJFulfgs=
+golang.org/x/net v0.57.0 h1:K5+3DljvIuDG9/Jv9rvyMywYNFCQ9RSUY6OOTTkT+tE=
+golang.org/x/net v0.57.0/go.mod h1:KpXc8iv+r3XplLAG/f7Jsf9RPszJzdR0f58q9vGOuEU=
 golang.org/x/oauth2 v0.0.0-20190226205417-e64efc72b421/go.mod h1:gOpvHmFTYa4IltrdGE7lF6nIHvwfUNPOp7c8zoXwtLw=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20181108010431-42b317875d0f/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJTE5uejpjVlOe/izrB70Jof72aM=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20181221193216-37e7f081c4d4/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJTE5uejpjVlOe/izrB70Jof72aM=
@@ -191,8 +191,8 @@ golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20190423024810-112230192c58/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJ
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20190911185100-cd5d95a43a6e/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJTE5uejpjVlOe/izrB70Jof72aM=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20201020160332-67f06af15bc9/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJTE5uejpjVlOe/izrB70Jof72aM=
 golang.org/x/sync v0.0.0-20201207232520-09787c993a3a/go.mod h1:RxMgew5VJxzue5/jJTE5uejpjVlOe/izrB70Jof72aM=
-golang.org/x/sync v0.20.0 h1:e0PTpb7pjO8GAtTs2dQ6jYa5BWYlMuX047Dco/pItO4=
-golang.org/x/sync v0.20.0/go.mod h1:9xrNwdLfx4jkKbNva9FpL6vEN7evnE43NNNJQ2LF3+0=
+golang.org/x/sync v0.22.0 h1:SZjpbeLmrCk4xhRSZFNZW5gFUeCeFgjekvI/+gfScek=
+golang.org/x/sync v0.22.0/go.mod h1:9xrNwdLfx4jkKbNva9FpL6vEN7evnE43NNNJQ2LF3+0=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20180905080454-ebe1bf3edb33/go.mod h1:STP8DvDyc/dI5b8T5hshtkjS+E42TnysNCUPdjciGhY=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20181116152217-5ac8a444bdc5/go.mod h1:STP8DvDyc/dI5b8T5hshtkjS+E42TnysNCUPdjciGhY=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190215142949-d0b11bdaac8a/go.mod h1:STP8DvDyc/dI5b8T5hshtkjS+E42TnysNCUPdjciGhY=
@@ -208,11 +208,11 @@ golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210124154548-22da62e12c0c/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7w
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210603081109-ebe580a85c40/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.2.0/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.10.0/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.43.0 h1:Rlag2XtaFTxp19wS8MXlJwTvoh8ArU6ezoyFsMyCTNI=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.43.0/go.mod h1:4GL1E5IUh+htKOUEOaiffhrAeqysfVGipDYzABqnCmw=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.47.0 h1:o7XGOvZQCADBQQ4Y7VNq2dRWQR7JmOUW8Kxx4ZsNgWs=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.47.0/go.mod h1:4GL1E5IUh+htKOUEOaiffhrAeqysfVGipDYzABqnCmw=
 golang.org/x/term v0.0.0-20201126162022-7de9c90e9dd1/go.mod h1:bj7SfCRtBDWHUb9snDiAeCFNEtKQo2Wmx5Cou7ajbmo=
-golang.org/x/term v0.42.0 h1:UiKe+zDFmJobeJ5ggPwOshJIVt6/Ft0rcfrXZDLWAWY=
-golang.org/x/term v0.42.0/go.mod h1:Dq/D+snpsbazcBG5+F9Q1n2rXV8Ma+71xEjTRufARgY=
+golang.org/x/term v0.45.0 h1:NwWyBmoJCbfTHpxrWoZ9C6/VxOf7ic219I8xZZFdrf0=
+golang.org/x/term v0.45.0/go.mod h1:9aqxs0blBcrm/n0L9QW0aRVD+ktan8ssZromtqJC43w=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.0/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.2/go.mod h1:bEr9sfX3Q8Zfm5fL9x+3itogRgK3+ptLWKqgva+5dAk=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.3/go.mod h1:5Zoc/QRtKVWzQhOtBMvqHzDpF6irO9z98xDceosuGiQ=
@@ -223,8 +223,8 @@ golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20191119224855-298f0cb1881e/go.mod h1:b+2E5dAYhXwXZwtn
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20200130002326-2f3ba24bd6e7/go.mod h1:TB2adYChydJhpapKDTa4BR/hXlZSLoq2Wpct/0txZ28=
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20200619180055-7c47624df98f/go.mod h1:EkVYQZoAsY45+roYkvgYkIh4xh/qjgUK9TdY2XT94GE=
 golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20210106214847-113979e3529a/go.mod h1:emZCQorbCU4vsT4fOWvOPXz4eW1wZW4PmDk9uLelYpA=
-golang.org/x/tools v0.43.0 h1:12BdW9CeB3Z+J/I/wj34VMl8X+fEXBxVR90JeMX5E7s=
-golang.org/x/tools v0.43.0/go.mod h1:uHkMso649BX2cZK6+RpuIPXS3ho2hZo4FVwfoy1vIk0=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.45.0 h1:18qN3FAooORvApf5XjCXgsuayZOEtXf6JK18I3+ONa8=
+golang.org/x/tools v0.45.0/go.mod h1:LuUGqqaXcXMEFEruIVJVm5mgDD8vww/z/SR1gQ4uE/0=
 golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20190717185122-a985d3407aa7/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
 golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20191011141410-1b5146add898/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
 golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20191204190536-9bdfabe68543/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
@@ -233,8 +233,8 @@ golang.zx2c4.com/wintun v0.0.0-20230126152724-0fa3db229ce2 h1:B82qJJgjvYKsXS9jeu
 golang.zx2c4.com/wintun v0.0.0-20230126152724-0fa3db229ce2/go.mod h1:deeaetjYA+DHMHg+sMSMI58GrEteJUUzzw7en6TJQcI=
 golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard v0.0.0-20230325221338-052af4a8072b h1:J1CaxgLerRR5lgx3wnr6L04cJFbWoceSK9JWBdglINo=
 golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard v0.0.0-20230325221338-052af4a8072b/go.mod h1:tqur9LnfstdR9ep2LaJT4lFUl0EjlHtge+gAjmsHUG4=
-golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/windows v0.6.1 h1:XMaKojH1Hs/raMrmnir4n35nTvzvWj7NmSYzHn2F4qU=
-golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/windows v0.6.1/go.mod h1:04aqInu5GYuTFvMuDw/rKBAF7mHrltW/3rekpfbbZDM=
+golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/windows v1.0.1 h1:eOxiDVbywPC+ZQqvdCK7x+ZwWXKbYv50TtH8ysFIbw8=
+golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/windows v1.0.1/go.mod h1:+fbT3FFdX4zzYDLwJh5+HPEcNN/3HyNdzhNSVsQM+zs=
 google.golang.org/appengine v1.4.0/go.mod h1:xpcJRLb0r/rnEns0DIKYYv+WjYCduHsrkT7/EB5XEv4=
 google.golang.org/protobuf v0.0.0-20200109180630-ec00e32a8dfd/go.mod h1:DFci5gLYBciE7Vtevhsrf46CRTquxDuWsQurQQe4oz8=
 google.golang.org/protobuf v0.0.0-20200221191635-4d8936d0db64/go.mod h1:kwYJMbMJ01Woi6D6+Kah6886xMZcty6N08ah7+eCXa0=

handshake/errors.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ var (
 	ErrUnknownSubtype          = errors.New("unknown handshake subtype")
 	ErrMissingContent          = errors.New("expected handshake content but message was empty")
 	ErrUnexpectedContent       = errors.New("received unexpected handshake content")
+	ErrInvalidRemoteIndex      = errors.New("peer sent an invalid index in handshake payload")
 	ErrIndexAllocation         = errors.New("failed to allocate local index")
 	ErrNoCredential            = errors.New("no handshake credential available for cert version")
 	ErrAsymmetricCipherKeys    = errors.New("noise produced only one cipher key")

handshake/machine.go

@@ -312,11 +312,19 @@ func (m *Machine) processPayload(msg []byte, flags msgFlags) error {
 
 	// Process payload
 	if flags.expectsPayload {
+		var remoteIndex uint32
 		if m.result.Initiator {
-			m.result.RemoteIndex = payload.ResponderIndex
+			remoteIndex = payload.ResponderIndex
 		} else {
-			m.result.RemoteIndex = payload.InitiatorIndex
+			remoteIndex = payload.InitiatorIndex
 		}
+		// The payload presence check above can be satisfied by Time alone, so a payload
+		// could still carry a zero index here. We need to reject it.
+		if remoteIndex == 0 {
+			m.failed = true
+			return ErrInvalidRemoteIndex
+		}
+		m.result.RemoteIndex = remoteIndex
 		m.result.HandshakeTime = payload.Time
 		m.payloadSet = true
 	}

handshake/machine_test.go

@@ -229,6 +229,24 @@ func TestMachineProcessPayload(t *testing.T) {
 		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrUnexpectedContent)
 		assert.True(t, m.Failed())
 	})
+
+	t.Run("zero initiator index on responder is fatal", func(t *testing.T) {
+		m := newTestMachine(t, cs, v, false, 100)
+		bytes := MarshalPayload(nil, Payload{InitiatorIndex: 0, Time: 1})
+		err := m.processPayload(bytes, msgFlags{expectsPayload: true})
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrInvalidRemoteIndex)
+		assert.True(t, m.Failed())
+		assert.Zero(t, m.result.RemoteIndex)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("zero responder index on initiator is fatal", func(t *testing.T) {
+		m := newTestMachine(t, cs, v, true, 100)
+		bytes := MarshalPayload(nil, Payload{InitiatorIndex: 100, ResponderIndex: 0, Time: 1})
+		err := m.processPayload(bytes, msgFlags{expectsPayload: true})
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrInvalidRemoteIndex)
+		assert.True(t, m.Failed())
+		assert.Zero(t, m.result.RemoteIndex)
+	})
 }
 
 // TestMachineRequireComplete checks the fail-on-incomplete-handshake path

handshake_manager.go

@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ type HandshakeHostInfo struct {
 	initiatingVersionOverride cert.Version     // Should we use a non-default cert version for this handshake?
 	counter                   int64            // How many attempts have we made so far
 	lastRemotes               []netip.AddrPort // Remotes that we sent to during the previous attempt
+	lastRelays                []netip.Addr     // Relays we attempted to use during the previous attempt
 	packetStore               []*cachedPacket  // A set of packets to be transmitted once the handshake completes
 
 	hostinfo *HostInfo
@@ -217,7 +218,6 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) handleOutbound(vpnIp netip.Addr, lighthouseTriggered
 		fields := []any{
 			"udpAddrs", hh.hostinfo.remotes.CopyAddrs(hm.mainHostMap.GetPreferredRanges()),
 			"initiatorIndex", hh.hostinfo.localIndexId,
-			"remoteIndex", hh.hostinfo.remoteIndexId,
 			"durationNs", time.Since(hh.startTime).Nanoseconds(),
 		}
 		// hh.machine can be nil here if buildStage0Packet never succeeded
@@ -295,7 +295,13 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) handleOutbound(vpnIp netip.Addr, lighthouseTriggered
 		hm.messageMetrics.Tx(header.Handshake, hh.machine.Subtype(), 1)
 		err := hm.outside.WriteTo(stage0, addr)
 		if err != nil {
-			hostinfo.logger(hm.l).Error("Failed to send handshake message",
+			// These repeat every attempt, so match the success log below and only shout when the remotes changed
+			level := slog.LevelDebug
+			if remotesHaveChanged {
+				level = slog.LevelError
+			}
+
+			hostinfo.logger(hm.l).Log(context.Background(), level, "Failed to send handshake message",
 				"udpAddr", addr,
 				"initiatorIndex", hostinfo.localIndexId,
 				"handshake", hsFields,
@@ -323,7 +329,7 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) handleOutbound(vpnIp netip.Addr, lighthouseTriggered
 		)
 	}
 
-	hm.f.relayManager.StartRelays(hm.f, vpnIp, hostinfo, stage0)
+	hm.f.relayManager.StartRelays(hm.f, vpnIp, hh, stage0)
 
 	// If a lighthouse triggered this attempt then we are still in the timer wheel and do not need to re-add
 	if !lighthouseTriggered {
@@ -430,14 +436,11 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) CheckAndComplete(hostinfo *HostInfo, handshakePacket
 	// Check if we already have a tunnel with this vpn ip
 	existingHostInfo, found := hm.mainHostMap.Hosts[hostinfo.vpnAddrs[0]]
 	if found && existingHostInfo != nil {
-		testHostInfo := existingHostInfo
-		for testHostInfo != nil {
-			// Is it just a delayed handshake packet?
+		// Is it just a delayed handshake packet? Check every hostinfo we hold for this address.
+		for _, testHostInfo := range hm.mainHostMap.unlockedGetHostList(hostinfo.vpnAddrs[0]) {
 			if bytes.Equal(hostinfo.HandshakePacket[handshakePacket], testHostInfo.HandshakePacket[handshakePacket]) {
 				return testHostInfo, ErrAlreadySeen
 			}
-
-			testHostInfo = testHostInfo.next
 		}
 
 		// Is this a newer handshake?
@@ -465,7 +468,6 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) CheckAndComplete(hostinfo *HostInfo, handshakePacket
 		// We have a collision, but this can happen since we can't control
 		// the remote ID. Just log about the situation as a note.
 		hostinfo.logger(hm.l).Info("New host shadows existing host remoteIndex",
-			"remoteIndex", hostinfo.remoteIndexId,
 			"collision", existingRemoteIndex.vpnAddrs,
 		)
 	}
@@ -488,7 +490,6 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) Complete(hostinfo *HostInfo, f *Interface) {
 		// We have a collision, but this can happen since we can't control
 		// the remote ID. Just log about the situation as a note.
 		hostinfo.logger(hm.l).Info("New host shadows existing host remoteIndex",
-			"remoteIndex", hostinfo.remoteIndexId,
 			"collision", existingRemoteIndex.vpnAddrs,
 		)
 	}
@@ -534,8 +535,10 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) DeleteHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
 
 func (hm *HandshakeManager) unlockedDeleteHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
 	for _, addr := range hostinfo.vpnAddrs {
+		if cur, ok := hm.vpnIps[addr]; ok && cur.hostinfo == hostinfo {
 			delete(hm.vpnIps, addr)
 		}
+	}
 
 	if len(hm.vpnIps) == 0 {
 		hm.vpnIps = map[netip.Addr]*HandshakeHostInfo{}
@@ -798,7 +801,6 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) beginHandshake(via ViaSender, packet []byte, h *head
 	}
 
 	hm.sendHandshakeResponse(via, response, hostinfo, false)
-	f.connectionManager.AddTrafficWatch(hostinfo)
 	hostinfo.remotes.RefreshFromHandshake(vpnAddrs)
 
 	// Don't wait for UpdateWorker
@@ -965,7 +967,6 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) continueHandshake(via ViaSender, hh *HandshakeHostIn
 	hostinfo.buildNetworks(f.myVpnNetworksTable, remoteCert.Certificate)
 
 	hm.Complete(hostinfo, f)
-	f.connectionManager.AddTrafficWatch(hostinfo)
 
 	if len(hh.packetStore) > 0 {
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
@@ -974,6 +975,9 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) continueHandshake(via ViaSender, hh *HandshakeHostIn
 		nb := make([]byte, 12, 12)
 		out := make([]byte, mtu)
 		for _, cp := range hh.packetStore {
+			// TODO: use a SendBatch here. Each callback lands in
+			// sendNoMetrics -> WriteTo: one syscall per cached packet,
+			// where one sendmmsg could flush the whole store.
 			cp.callback(cp.messageType, cp.messageSubType, hostinfo, cp.packet, nb, out)
 		}
 		f.cachedPacketMetrics.sent.Inc(int64(len(hh.packetStore)))
@@ -1084,8 +1088,8 @@ func (hm *HandshakeManager) sendHandshakeResponse(via ViaSender, msg []byte, hos
 		hostinfo.relayState.InsertRelayTo(via.relayHI.vpnAddrs[0])
 		// We received a valid handshake on this relay, so make sure the relay
 		// state reflects that, in case it had been marked Disestablished.
-		via.relayHI.relayState.UpdateRelayForByIdxState(via.remoteIdx, Established)
-		f.SendVia(via.relayHI, via.relay, msg, make([]byte, 12), make([]byte, mtu), false)
+		via.relayHI.relayState.UpdateRelayForByIdxState(via.relay.LocalIndex, Established)
+		f.SendVia(via.relayHI, via.relay, msg, make([]byte, 12), make([]byte, mtu), false, 0)
 		f.l.Info("Handshake message sent", append(logFields, "relay", via.relayHI.vpnAddrs[0])...)
 	}
 }

handshake_manager_test.go

@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func (mw *mockEncWriter) SendMessageToVpnAddr(_ header.MessageType, _ header.Mes
 	return
 }
 
-func (mw *mockEncWriter) SendVia(_ *HostInfo, _ *Relay, _, _, _ []byte, _ bool) {
+func (mw *mockEncWriter) SendVia(via *HostInfo, relay *Relay, ad, nb, out []byte, nocopy bool, q int) {
 	return
 }
 

header/header.go

@@ -190,13 +190,18 @@ func SubTypeName(t MessageType, s MessageSubType) string {
 }
 
 func IsValidSubType(t MessageType, s MessageSubType) bool {
-	if n, ok := subTypeMap[t]; ok {
-		if _, ok := (*n)[s]; ok {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-
+	switch t {
+	case Message:
+		return s == MessageNone || s == MessageRelay
+	case Handshake:
+		return s == HandshakeIXPSK0
+	case Test:
+		return s == TestReply || s == TestRequest
+	case Control, CloseTunnel, RecvError, LightHouse:
+		return s == 0
+	default:
 		return false
+	}
 }
 
 // NewHeader turns bytes into a header

header/header_test.go

@@ -102,6 +102,57 @@ func TestTypeMap(t *testing.T) {
 	}, subTypeMap)
 }
 
+// mapIsValidSubType is the pre-refactor, map-driven definition of a valid
+// subtype. IsValidSubType was reimplemented as an explicit switch; this keeps
+// the original behavior around so we can prove the switch is equivalent to it.
+func mapIsValidSubType(t MessageType, s MessageSubType) bool {
+	if n, ok := subTypeMap[t]; ok {
+		if _, ok := (*n)[s]; ok {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func TestIsValidSubType(t *testing.T) {
+	// Explicit intent table: documents exactly which subtypes are valid so the
+	// test stays meaningful even if both the switch and subTypeMap change.
+	assert.True(t, IsValidSubType(Message, MessageNone))
+	assert.True(t, IsValidSubType(Message, MessageRelay))
+	assert.False(t, IsValidSubType(Message, 2))
+
+	assert.True(t, IsValidSubType(Handshake, HandshakeIXPSK0))
+	// HandshakeXXPSK0 is defined but not a wire-valid subtype.
+	assert.False(t, IsValidSubType(Handshake, HandshakeXXPSK0))
+
+	assert.True(t, IsValidSubType(Test, TestRequest))
+	assert.True(t, IsValidSubType(Test, TestReply))
+	assert.False(t, IsValidSubType(Test, 2))
+
+	// These types only ever carry subtype 0.
+	for _, mt := range []MessageType{Control, CloseTunnel, RecvError, LightHouse} {
+		assert.True(t, IsValidSubType(mt, 0), "type %d subtype 0 should be valid", mt)
+		assert.False(t, IsValidSubType(mt, 1), "type %d subtype 1 should be invalid", mt)
+	}
+
+	// Unknown/unassigned types are never valid.
+	assert.False(t, IsValidSubType(99, 0))
+
+	// Exhaustive proof of equivalence with the original map-driven logic across
+	// the entire (type, subtype) input space.
+	for ti := 0; ti <= 0xff; ti++ {
+		for si := 0; si <= 0xff; si++ {
+			mt, mst := MessageType(ti), MessageSubType(si)
+			assert.Equalf(t, mapIsValidSubType(mt, mst), IsValidSubType(mt, mst),
+				"IsValidSubType(%d, %d) diverged from map-driven definition", ti, si)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// H method must delegate to the package function.
+	assert.True(t, (&H{Type: Test, Subtype: TestReply}).IsValidSubType())
+	assert.False(t, (&H{Type: Handshake, Subtype: HandshakeXXPSK0}).IsValidSubType())
+}
+
 func TestHeader_String(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(
 		t,

hostmap.go

@@ -60,7 +60,16 @@ type HostMap struct {
 	Indexes       map[uint32]*HostInfo
 	Relays        map[uint32]*HostInfo // Maps a Relay IDX to a Relay HostInfo object
 	RemoteIndexes map[uint32]*HostInfo
+	// Hosts maps a vpn address to its primary hostinfo, one entry per address we hold a tunnel
+	// for. moreHosts only has an entry while an address is held by 2 or more hostinfos and stores
+	// the full most-recent-first list; moreHosts[a][0] is always the same hostinfo as Hosts[a].
+	// Each address gets its own independent list, so a hostinfo owning multiple addresses can
+	// never corrupt another address's ordering the way the old shared next/prev chain could.
+	// Entries in moreHosts are only ever written by unlockedSetHostsForAddr; Hosts is written
+	// directly only in the single-hostinfo fast paths where moreHosts is known to have no entry,
+	// and unlockedDeleteHostInfo swaps either map for a fresh one when it fully drains.
 	Hosts           map[netip.Addr]*HostInfo
+	moreHosts       map[netip.Addr][]*HostInfo
 	preferredRanges atomic.Pointer[[]netip.Prefix]
 	l               *slog.Logger
 }
@@ -138,9 +147,9 @@ func (rs *RelayState) InsertRelayTo(ip netip.Addr) {
 }
 
 func (rs *RelayState) CopyRelayIps() []netip.Addr {
-	ret := make([]netip.Addr, len(rs.relays))
 	rs.RLock()
 	defer rs.RUnlock()
+	ret := make([]netip.Addr, len(rs.relays))
 	copy(ret, rs.relays)
 	return ret
 }
@@ -229,7 +238,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 type HostInfo struct {
-	remote          netip.AddrPort
+	remote          atomic.Pointer[netip.AddrPort]
 	remotes         *RemoteList
 	promoteCounter  atomic.Uint32
 	ConnectionState *ConnectionState
@@ -266,10 +275,6 @@ type HostInfo struct {
 	lastRoam       time.Time
 	lastRoamRemote netip.AddrPort
 
-	// Used to track other hostinfos for this vpn ip since only 1 can be primary
-	// Synchronised via hostmap lock and not the hostinfo lock.
-	next, prev *HostInfo
-
 	//TODO: in, out, and others might benefit from being an atomic.Int32. We could collapse connectionManager pendingDeletion, relayUsed, and in/out into this 1 thing
 	in, out, pendingDeletion atomic.Bool
 
@@ -282,7 +287,6 @@ type HostInfo struct {
 type ViaSender struct {
 	UdpAddr   netip.AddrPort
 	relayHI   *HostInfo // relayHI is the host info object of the relay
-	remoteIdx uint32    // remoteIdx is the index included in the header of the received packet
 	relay     *Relay    // relay contains the rest of the relay information, including the PeerIP of the host trying to communicate with us.
 	IsRelayed bool      // IsRelayed is true if the packet was sent through a relay
 }
@@ -334,6 +338,7 @@ func newHostMap(l *slog.Logger) *HostMap {
 		Relays:        map[uint32]*HostInfo{},
 		RemoteIndexes: map[uint32]*HostInfo{},
 		Hosts:         map[netip.Addr]*HostInfo{},
+		moreHosts:     map[netip.Addr][]*HostInfo{},
 		l:             l,
 	}
 }
@@ -382,13 +387,55 @@ func (hm *HostMap) EmitStats() {
 	metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("hostmap.main.relayIndexes", nil).Update(int64(relaysLen))
 }
 
-// DeleteHostInfo will fully unlink the hostinfo and return true if it was the final hostinfo for this vpn ip
+// unlockedSetHostsForAddr stores the per-address hostinfo list (list[0] is the primary). An empty
+// list removes the address. This is the one place Hosts and moreHosts are written together, keep
+// it that way. Callers must hold the write lock.
+func (hm *HostMap) unlockedSetHostsForAddr(addr netip.Addr, list []*HostInfo) {
+	if len(list) == 0 {
+		delete(hm.Hosts, addr)
+		delete(hm.moreHosts, addr)
+		return
+	}
+	hm.Hosts[addr] = list[0]
+	if len(list) > 1 {
+		hm.moreHosts[addr] = list
+	} else {
+		delete(hm.moreHosts, addr)
+	}
+}
+
+// unlockedGetHostList returns every hostinfo holding addr, primary first, or nil if we have no
+// tunnel for addr. The common single-hostinfo case builds a fresh one element list, so keep this
+// off the packet hot path; the primary is a direct Hosts read. Callers must hold the lock (read
+// or write).
+func (hm *HostMap) unlockedGetHostList(addr netip.Addr) []*HostInfo {
+	if list, ok := hm.moreHosts[addr]; ok {
+		return list
+	}
+	if h, ok := hm.Hosts[addr]; ok {
+		return []*HostInfo{h}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// removeHostInfo returns list with hi removed (order preserved), or list unchanged if hi is
+// absent. It deletes in place: every mutator holds the hostmap write lock and no reader ever
+// retains a slice across a mutation (readers iterate under RLock), so there is no snapshot to
+// invalidate.
+func removeHostInfo(list []*HostInfo, hi *HostInfo) []*HostInfo {
+	idx := slices.Index(list, hi)
+	if idx < 0 {
+		return list
+	}
+	return slices.Delete(list, idx, idx+1)
+}
+
+// DeleteHostInfo will fully unlink the hostinfo and return true if no other hostinfo still holds
+// any of its vpn addrs, meaning we no longer have a tunnel to the peer
 func (hm *HostMap) DeleteHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo) bool {
 	// Delete the host itself, ensuring it's not modified anymore
 	hm.Lock()
-	// If we have a previous or next hostinfo then we are not the last one for this vpn ip
-	final := (hostinfo.next == nil && hostinfo.prev == nil)
-	hm.unlockedDeleteHostInfo(hostinfo)
+	final := hm.unlockedDeleteHostInfo(hostinfo)
 	hm.Unlock()
 
 	return final
@@ -400,86 +447,67 @@ func (hm *HostMap) MakePrimary(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
 	hm.unlockedMakePrimary(hostinfo)
 }
 
-func (hm *HostMap) unlockedMakePrimary(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
-	// Get the current primary, if it exists
-	oldHostinfo := hm.Hosts[hostinfo.vpnAddrs[0]]
-
-	// Every address in the hostinfo gets elevated to primary
-	for _, vpnAddr := range hostinfo.vpnAddrs {
-		//NOTE: It is possible that we leave a dangling hostinfo here but connection manager works on
-		// indexes so it should be fine.
-		hm.Hosts[vpnAddr] = hostinfo
+// unlockedMakePrimary reports whether hostinfo is (now) the primary for each of its addresses,
+// false only when it is no longer in the hostmap at all.
+func (hm *HostMap) unlockedMakePrimary(hostinfo *HostInfo) bool {
+	// A hostinfo that is no longer in the hostmap must not be re-inserted here. Callers can race
+	// tunnel teardown, deciding to promote under the read lock and only taking the write lock
+	// after a delete fully unlinked the hostinfo (connection manager swapPrimary, AddRelay). Every
+	// live hostinfo is registered in Indexes by unlockedAddHostInfo, so this is a membership test.
+	if hm.Indexes[hostinfo.localIndexId] != hostinfo {
+		return false
 	}
 
-	// If we are already primary then we won't bother re-linking
-	if oldHostinfo == hostinfo {
-		return
-	}
-
-	// Unlink this hostinfo
-	if hostinfo.prev != nil {
-		hostinfo.prev.next = hostinfo.next
-	}
-	if hostinfo.next != nil {
-		hostinfo.next.prev = hostinfo.prev
-	}
-
-	// If there wasn't a previous primary then clear out any links
-	if oldHostinfo == nil {
-		hostinfo.next = nil
-		hostinfo.prev = nil
-		return
-	}
-
-	// Relink the hostinfo as primary
-	hostinfo.next = oldHostinfo
-	oldHostinfo.prev = hostinfo
-	hostinfo.prev = nil
-}
-
-func (hm *HostMap) unlockedDeleteHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo) {
+	// Move hostinfo to the front (primary) of each of its address lists. The lists are
+	// independent per address, so this can never leave a dangling entry the way promoting
+	// against a single shared chain could.
 	for _, addr := range hostinfo.vpnAddrs {
-		h := hm.Hosts[addr]
-		for h != nil {
-			if h == hostinfo {
-				hm.unlockedInnerDeleteHostInfo(h, addr)
-			}
-			h = h.next
+		if hm.Hosts[addr] == hostinfo {
+			// Already primary for this address, the list is already in the right order
+			continue
 		}
+		list := removeHostInfo(hm.unlockedGetHostList(addr), hostinfo)
+		list = append([]*HostInfo{hostinfo}, list...)
+		hm.unlockedSetHostsForAddr(addr, list)
 	}
+	return true
 }
 
-func (hm *HostMap) unlockedInnerDeleteHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo, addr netip.Addr) {
-	primary, ok := hm.Hosts[addr]
-	isLastHostinfo := hostinfo.next == nil && hostinfo.prev == nil
-	if ok && primary == hostinfo {
-		// The vpn addr pointer points to the same hostinfo as the local index id, we can remove it
+// unlockedDeleteHostInfo removes hostinfo from every one of its address lists and from the index
+// maps. It returns true if this was the last hostinfo for all of its addresses (we no longer have
+// any tunnel to the peer), which the caller uses to decide whether to clear learned lighthouse
+// state and disestablish relays.
+func (hm *HostMap) unlockedDeleteHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo) bool {
+	// Remove this hostinfo from each of its address lists. The lists are independent, so a
+	// sibling is never promoted to an address it does not own and no other list is touched.
+	final := true
+	for _, addr := range hostinfo.vpnAddrs {
+		if list, ok := hm.moreHosts[addr]; ok {
+			list = removeHostInfo(list, hostinfo)
+			hm.unlockedSetHostsForAddr(addr, list)
+			if len(list) > 0 {
+				final = false
+			}
+		} else if existing, ok := hm.Hosts[addr]; ok {
+			if existing == hostinfo {
+				// Common case, the only hostinfo for this address. moreHosts has no entry to clean up.
 				delete(hm.Hosts, addr)
+			} else {
+				// We don't hold this address but another hostinfo does, we still have a tunnel to the peer
+				final = false
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Go maps never shrink their buckets, replace fully drained maps so a node that churned
+	// through a large peer count gives the memory back. Same idiom as the index maps below.
 	if len(hm.Hosts) == 0 {
 		hm.Hosts = map[netip.Addr]*HostInfo{}
 	}
-
-		if hostinfo.next != nil {
-			// We had more than 1 hostinfo at this vpn addr, promote the next in the list to primary
-			hm.Hosts[addr] = hostinfo.next
-			// It is primary, there is no previous hostinfo now
-			hostinfo.next.prev = nil
+	if len(hm.moreHosts) == 0 {
+		hm.moreHosts = map[netip.Addr][]*HostInfo{}
 	}
 
-	} else {
-		// Relink if we were in the middle of multiple hostinfos for this vpn addr
-		if hostinfo.prev != nil {
-			hostinfo.prev.next = hostinfo.next
-		}
-
-		if hostinfo.next != nil {
-			hostinfo.next.prev = hostinfo.prev
-		}
-	}
-
-	hostinfo.next = nil
-	hostinfo.prev = nil
-
 	// The remote index uses index ids outside our control so lets make sure we are only removing
 	// the remote index pointer here if it points to the hostinfo we are deleting
 	hostinfo2, ok := hm.RemoteIndexes[hostinfo.remoteIndexId]
@@ -502,7 +530,7 @@ func (hm *HostMap) unlockedInnerDeleteHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo, addr netip.Ad
 		)
 	}
 
-	if isLastHostinfo {
+	if final {
 		// I have lost connectivity to my peers. My relay tunnel is likely broken. Mark the next
 		// hops as 'Requested' so that new relay tunnels are created in the future.
 		hm.unlockedDisestablishVpnAddrRelayFor(hostinfo)
@@ -511,6 +539,19 @@ func (hm *HostMap) unlockedInnerDeleteHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo, addr netip.Ad
 	for _, localRelayIdx := range hostinfo.relayState.CopyRelayForIdxs() {
 		delete(hm.Relays, localRelayIdx)
 	}
+
+	return final
+}
+
+func (hm *HostMap) QueryIndexCached(index uint32, cache map[uint32]*HostInfo) *HostInfo {
+	if out, ok := cache[index]; ok {
+		return out
+	}
+	out := hm.QueryIndex(index)
+	if out != nil {
+		cache[index] = out
+	}
+	return out
 }
 
 func (hm *HostMap) QueryIndex(index uint32) *HostInfo {
@@ -554,19 +595,30 @@ func (hm *HostMap) QueryVpnAddrsRelayFor(targetIps []netip.Addr, relayHostIp net
 	hm.RLock()
 	defer hm.RUnlock()
 
+	// This runs per relayed packet, so check the primary with a single map probe and only consult
+	// moreHosts when the primary can't relay for us.
 	h, ok := hm.Hosts[relayHostIp]
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, nil, errors.New("unable to find host")
 	}
 
-	for h != nil {
 	for _, targetIp := range targetIps {
 		r, ok := h.relayState.QueryRelayForByIp(targetIp)
 		if ok && r.State == Established {
 			return h, r, nil
 		}
 	}
-		h = h.next
+
+	if list, ok := hm.moreHosts[relayHostIp]; ok {
+		// list[0] is the primary we already checked
+		for _, h := range list[1:] {
+			for _, targetIp := range targetIps {
+				r, ok := h.relayState.QueryRelayForByIp(targetIp)
+				if ok && r.State == Established {
+					return h, r, nil
+				}
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	return nil, nil, errors.New("unable to find host with relay")
@@ -574,20 +626,14 @@ func (hm *HostMap) QueryVpnAddrsRelayFor(targetIps []netip.Addr, relayHostIp net
 
 func (hm *HostMap) unlockedDisestablishVpnAddrRelayFor(hi *HostInfo) {
 	for _, relayHostIp := range hi.relayState.CopyRelayIps() {
-		if h, ok := hm.Hosts[relayHostIp]; ok {
-			for h != nil {
+		for _, h := range hm.unlockedGetHostList(relayHostIp) {
 			h.relayState.UpdateRelayForByIpState(hi.vpnAddrs[0], Disestablished)
-				h = h.next
-			}
 		}
 	}
 	for _, rs := range hi.relayState.CopyAllRelayFor() {
 		if rs.Type == ForwardingType {
-			if h, ok := hm.Hosts[rs.PeerAddr]; ok {
-				for h != nil {
+			for _, h := range hm.unlockedGetHostList(rs.PeerAddr) {
 				h.relayState.UpdateRelayForByIpState(hi.vpnAddrs[0], Disestablished)
-					h = h.next
-				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -623,6 +669,11 @@ func (hm *HostMap) unlockedAddHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo, f *Interface) {
 	hm.Indexes[hostinfo.localIndexId] = hostinfo
 	hm.RemoteIndexes[hostinfo.remoteIndexId] = hostinfo
 
+	hostinfo.out.Store(true)
+	if f.connectionManager != nil { // f.connectionManager is only nil in some unit tests
+		f.connectionManager.trafficTimer.Add(hostinfo.localIndexId, f.connectionManager.checkInterval)
+	}
+
 	if hm.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 		hm.l.Debug("Hostmap vpnIp added",
 			"hostMap", m{"vpnAddrs": hostinfo.vpnAddrs, "mapTotalSize": len(hm.Hosts),
@@ -632,22 +683,27 @@ func (hm *HostMap) unlockedAddHostInfo(hostinfo *HostInfo, f *Interface) {
 }
 
 func (hm *HostMap) unlockedInnerAddHostInfo(vpnAddr netip.Addr, hostinfo *HostInfo, f *Interface) {
-	existing := hm.Hosts[vpnAddr]
+	existing, ok := hm.Hosts[vpnAddr]
+	if !ok {
+		// Common case, the first hostinfo for this address. moreHosts stays empty.
 		hm.Hosts[vpnAddr] = hostinfo
-
-	if existing != nil && existing != hostinfo {
-		hostinfo.next = existing
-		existing.prev = hostinfo
+		return
 	}
 
-	i := 1
-	check := hostinfo
-	for check != nil {
-		if i > MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp {
-			hm.unlockedDeleteHostInfo(check)
+	// The new hostinfo becomes the primary for this address. Remove any stale copy of it first so
+	// we never hold a duplicate, then prepend.
+	list, ok := hm.moreHosts[vpnAddr]
+	if !ok {
+		list = []*HostInfo{existing}
 	}
-		check = check.next
-		i++
+	list = removeHostInfo(list, hostinfo)
+	list = append([]*HostInfo{hostinfo}, list...)
+	hm.unlockedSetHostsForAddr(vpnAddr, list)
+
+	// Enforce the per-address cap by fully retiring the oldest hostinfo once we exceed it.
+	// Deleting it removes it from all of its addresses and the index maps, matching prior behavior.
+	if len(list) > MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp {
+		hm.unlockedDeleteHostInfo(list[len(list)-1])
 	}
 }
 
@@ -679,7 +735,7 @@ func (hm *HostMap) ForEachIndex(f controlEach) {
 func (i *HostInfo) TryPromoteBest(preferredRanges []netip.Prefix, ifce *Interface) {
 	c := i.promoteCounter.Add(1)
 	if c%ifce.tryPromoteEvery.Load() == 0 {
-		remote := i.remote
+		remote := i.GetRemote()
 
 		// return early if we are already on a preferred remote
 		if remote.IsValid() {
@@ -721,11 +777,18 @@ func (i *HostInfo) GetCert() *cert.CachedCertificate {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (i *HostInfo) GetRemote() netip.AddrPort {
+	if p := i.remote.Load(); p != nil {
+		return *p
+	}
+	return netip.AddrPort{}
+}
+
 // TODO: Maybe use ViaSender here?
 func (i *HostInfo) SetRemote(remote netip.AddrPort) {
 	// We copy here because we likely got this remote from a source that reuses the object
-	if i.remote != remote {
-		i.remote = remote
+	if i.GetRemote() != remote {
+		i.remote.Store(&remote)
 		i.remotes.LearnRemote(i.vpnAddrs[0], remote)
 	}
 }
@@ -737,7 +800,7 @@ func (i *HostInfo) SetRemoteIfPreferred(hm *HostMap, via ViaSender) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	currentRemote := i.remote
+	currentRemote := i.GetRemote()
 	if !currentRemote.IsValid() {
 		i.SetRemote(via.UdpAddr)
 		return true

hostmap_test.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package nebula
 
 import (
 	"net/netip"
+	"slices"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
@@ -10,78 +11,84 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
+// chainIds returns the localIndexIds of the hostinfos holding addr, primary (index 0) first. It
+// also validates the Hosts/moreHosts sync contract on every call so a mutation that broke it
+// fails fast.
+func chainIds(t *testing.T, hm *HostMap, addr netip.Addr) []uint32 {
+	t.Helper()
+	assertHostMapInvariants(t, hm)
+	list := hm.unlockedGetHostList(addr)
+	ids := make([]uint32, len(list))
+	for i, h := range list {
+		ids[i] = h.localIndexId
+	}
+	return ids
+}
+
+// assertHostMapInvariants checks the Hosts/moreHosts contract: moreHosts only holds addresses
+// with 2 or more hostinfos, its first entry is always the primary in Hosts, lists never hold
+// duplicates, every hostinfo in a list owns the address and is registered in Indexes, and every
+// indexed hostinfo is reachable through each of its addresses.
+func assertHostMapInvariants(t *testing.T, hm *HostMap) {
+	t.Helper()
+	for addr, list := range hm.moreHosts {
+		require.GreaterOrEqualf(t, len(list), 2, "moreHosts[%s] must hold at least 2 hostinfos", addr)
+		require.Samef(t, hm.Hosts[addr], list[0], "moreHosts[%s][0] must match the primary in Hosts", addr)
+		seen := map[*HostInfo]bool{}
+		for _, h := range list {
+			require.NotNilf(t, h, "moreHosts[%s] must never hold a nil hostinfo", addr)
+			require.Falsef(t, seen[h], "moreHosts[%s] holds hostinfo %d twice", addr, h.localIndexId)
+			seen[h] = true
+			require.Samef(t, hm.Indexes[h.localIndexId], h, "moreHosts[%s] member %d is not registered in Indexes", addr, h.localIndexId)
+			require.Truef(t, slices.Contains(h.vpnAddrs, addr), "moreHosts[%s] member %d does not own the address", addr, h.localIndexId)
+		}
+	}
+	for addr, h := range hm.Hosts {
+		require.NotNilf(t, h, "Hosts[%s] must never be nil", addr)
+		require.Samef(t, hm.Indexes[h.localIndexId], h, "Hosts[%s] primary %d is not registered in Indexes", addr, h.localIndexId)
+		require.Truef(t, slices.Contains(h.vpnAddrs, addr), "Hosts[%s] primary (index %d) does not own the address", addr, h.localIndexId)
+	}
+	for idx, h := range hm.Indexes {
+		require.Equalf(t, idx, h.localIndexId, "Indexes[%d] holds hostinfo with localIndexId %d", idx, h.localIndexId)
+		for _, va := range h.vpnAddrs {
+			require.Truef(t, slices.Contains(hm.unlockedGetHostList(va), h), "indexed hostinfo %d is missing from the list for %s", idx, va)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestHostMap_MakePrimary(t *testing.T) {
 	l := test.NewLogger()
 	hm := newHostMap(l)
 
 	f := &Interface{}
+	a := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")
 
-	h1 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 1}
-	h2 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 2}
-	h3 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 3}
-	h4 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 4}
+	h1 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 1}
+	h2 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 2}
+	h3 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 3}
+	h4 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 4}
 
 	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h4, f)
 	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h3, f)
 	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h2, f)
 	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h1, f)
 
-	// Make sure we go h1 -> h2 -> h3 -> h4
-	prim := hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, prim.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, prim.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.prev)
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, h2.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, h2.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, h3.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h3.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, h4.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, h4.next)
+	// Most-recently-added is primary: h1, h2, h3, h4
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{1, 2, 3, 4}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Equal(t, h1, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a))
 
-	// Swap h3/middle to primary
+	// Swap the middle to primary: h3, h1, h2, h4
 	hm.MakePrimary(h3)
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{3, 1, 2, 4}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Equal(t, h3, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a))
 
-	// Make sure we go h3 -> h1 -> h2 -> h4
-	prim = hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, prim.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, prim.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.prev)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, h1.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, h1.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h2.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, h2.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, h4.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, h4.next)
-
-	// Swap h4/tail to primary
+	// Swap the tail to primary: h4, h3, h1, h2
 	hm.MakePrimary(h4)
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{4, 3, 1, 2}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
 
-	// Make sure we go h4 -> h3 -> h1 -> h2
-	prim = hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, prim.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, prim.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.prev)
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, h3.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h3.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, h1.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, h1.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, h2.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, h2.next)
-
-	// Swap h4 again should be no-op
+	// Swapping the current primary again is a no-op
 	hm.MakePrimary(h4)
-
-	// Make sure we go h4 -> h3 -> h1 -> h2
-	prim = hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, prim.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, prim.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.prev)
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, h3.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h3.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, h1.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, h1.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, h2.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, h2.next)
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{4, 3, 1, 2}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
 }
 
 func TestHostMap_DeleteHostInfo(t *testing.T) {
@@ -89,13 +96,14 @@ func TestHostMap_DeleteHostInfo(t *testing.T) {
 	hm := newHostMap(l)
 
 	f := &Interface{}
+	a := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")
 
-	h1 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 1}
-	h2 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 2}
-	h3 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 3}
-	h4 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 4}
-	h5 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 5}
-	h6 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")}, localIndexId: 6}
+	h1 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 1}
+	h2 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 2}
+	h3 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 3}
+	h4 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 4}
+	h5 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 5}
+	h6 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 6}
 
 	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h6, f)
 	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h5, f)
@@ -104,94 +112,243 @@ func TestHostMap_DeleteHostInfo(t *testing.T) {
 	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h2, f)
 	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h1, f)
 
-	// h6 should be deleted
-	assert.Nil(t, h6.next)
-	assert.Nil(t, h6.prev)
-	h := hm.QueryIndex(h6.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, h)
+	// h6 is evicted by the MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp cap; the rest are newest-first.
+	assert.Nil(t, hm.QueryIndex(h6.localIndexId))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
 
-	// Make sure we go h1 -> h2 -> h3 -> h4 -> h5
-	prim := hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, prim.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, prim.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.prev)
-	assert.Equal(t, h1.localIndexId, h2.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, h2.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, h3.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h3.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, h4.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h5.localIndexId, h4.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h5.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, h5.next)
+	// Delete primary; not final since siblings remain.
+	assert.False(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(h1))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2, 3, 4, 5}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
 
-	// Delete primary
-	hm.DeleteHostInfo(h1)
-	assert.Nil(t, h1.prev)
-	assert.Nil(t, h1.next)
+	// Deleting the same hostinfo again must not report final while siblings remain and must not
+	// disturb the list. The old chain code got this wrong: the first delete nil'd next/prev, so a
+	// second delete looked final and wiped lighthouse state out from under the live sibling.
+	assert.False(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(h1))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2, 3, 4, 5}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
 
-	// Make sure we go h2 -> h3 -> h4 -> h5
-	prim = hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, prim.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, prim.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.prev)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, h2.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, h3.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h3.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h3.localIndexId, h4.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h5.localIndexId, h4.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h5.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, h5.next)
+	// Delete a middle node.
+	assert.False(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(h3))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2, 4, 5}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
 
-	// Delete in the middle
-	hm.DeleteHostInfo(h3)
-	assert.Nil(t, h3.prev)
-	assert.Nil(t, h3.next)
+	// Delete the tail.
+	assert.False(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(h5))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2, 4}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
 
-	// Make sure we go h2 -> h4 -> h5
-	prim = hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, prim.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, prim.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.prev)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h2.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, h4.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h5.localIndexId, h4.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h5.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, h5.next)
+	// Delete the head; h4 remains and becomes primary.
+	assert.False(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(h2))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{4}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Equal(t, h4, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a))
 
-	// Delete the tail
-	hm.DeleteHostInfo(h5)
-	assert.Nil(t, h5.prev)
-	assert.Nil(t, h5.next)
+	// Delete the only remaining item; final is true and the address is gone.
+	assert.True(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(h4))
+	assert.Empty(t, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Nil(t, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a))
 
-	// Make sure we go h2 -> h4
-	prim = hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, prim.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, prim.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.prev)
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, h2.next.localIndexId)
-	assert.Equal(t, h2.localIndexId, h4.prev.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, h4.next)
+	// Deleting an already-gone hostinfo is still final; nothing holds the address anymore.
+	assert.True(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(h4))
+	assert.Empty(t, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+}
 
-	// Delete the head
-	hm.DeleteHostInfo(h2)
-	assert.Nil(t, h2.prev)
-	assert.Nil(t, h2.next)
+// TestHostMap_MakePrimary_DeletedHostInfo covers promoting a hostinfo that lost a race with
+// tunnel teardown: swapPrimary and AddRelay decide to promote while holding a stale pointer and
+// only take the write lock after a delete fully unlinked the hostinfo. MakePrimary must be a
+// no-op, not a resurrection that installs an unmanaged primary.
+func TestHostMap_MakePrimary_DeletedHostInfo(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	hm := newHostMap(l)
+	f := &Interface{}
+	a := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")
 
-	// Make sure we only have h4
-	prim = hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Equal(t, h4.localIndexId, prim.localIndexId)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.prev)
-	assert.Nil(t, prim.next)
-	assert.Nil(t, h4.next)
+	h1 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 1}
+	h2 := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 2}
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h1, f)
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(h2, f)
 
-	// Delete the only item
-	hm.DeleteHostInfo(h4)
-	assert.Nil(t, h4.prev)
-	assert.Nil(t, h4.next)
+	// h1 is fully deleted while another goroutine still holds a pointer to it.
+	assert.False(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(h1))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
 
-	// Make sure we have nil
-	prim = hm.QueryVpnAddr(netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1"))
-	assert.Nil(t, prim)
+	// The stale promote must not bring it back.
+	hm.MakePrimary(h1)
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Equal(t, h2, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a))
+	assert.Nil(t, hm.QueryIndex(h1.localIndexId))
+}
+
+// TestHostMap_QueryVpnAddrsRelayFor_NonPrimary makes sure a relay established on an older
+// hostinfo is still found after a newer tunnel without relay state takes primary for the same
+// address. The lookup checks the primary first and falls back to the rest of the list.
+func TestHostMap_QueryVpnAddrsRelayFor_NonPrimary(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	hm := newHostMap(l)
+	f := &Interface{}
+	relayAddr := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.9")
+	target := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")
+
+	older := &HostInfo{
+		vpnAddrs:     []netip.Addr{relayAddr},
+		localIndexId: 1,
+		relayState: RelayState{
+			relayForByAddr: map[netip.Addr]*Relay{},
+			relayForByIdx:  map[uint32]*Relay{},
+		},
+	}
+	older.relayState.InsertRelay(target, 100, &Relay{Type: ForwardingType, State: Established, LocalIndex: 100, PeerAddr: target})
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(older, f)
+
+	// The relay is found on the primary.
+	h, r, err := hm.QueryVpnAddrsRelayFor([]netip.Addr{target}, relayAddr)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, older, h)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint32(100), r.LocalIndex)
+
+	// A re-handshake with no relay state takes primary; the established relay on the older
+	// hostinfo must still be found through the fallback.
+	newer := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{relayAddr}, localIndexId: 2}
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(newer, f)
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2, 1}, chainIds(t, hm, relayAddr))
+
+	h, r, err = hm.QueryVpnAddrsRelayFor([]netip.Addr{target}, relayAddr)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, older, h)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint32(100), r.LocalIndex)
+
+	// No hostinfo at all is a plain miss.
+	_, _, err = hm.QueryVpnAddrsRelayFor([]netip.Addr{target}, netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.42"))
+	require.Error(t, err)
+}
+
+// TestHostMap_DeleteHostInfo_MultipleVpnAddrs exercises the case where a hostinfo carries more than one
+// vpnAddr and shares its next/prev chain with a live sibling. Deleting the head must not corrupt the
+// sibling: every address the sibling owns has to keep pointing at it. The pre-fix code unlinked the shared
+// chain once per vpnAddr, so on the first address it nil'd next/prev, and on the second address the node
+// looked already-detached: it dropped the map entry instead of promoting the sibling (and tripped the
+// isLastHostinfo relay teardown). See unlockedDeleteHostInfo.
+func TestHostMap_DeleteHostInfo_MultipleVpnAddrs(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	hm := newHostMap(l)
+
+	f := &Interface{}
+
+	a := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")
+	b := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.2")
+
+	// Two tunnels for the same peer, each reachable at both a and b.
+	other := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a, b}, localIndexId: 1}
+	head := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a, b}, localIndexId: 2}
+
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(other, f)
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(head, f)
+
+	// head is primary for both addresses, other is next in each address's list.
+	assert.Equal(t, head, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a))
+	assert.Equal(t, head, hm.QueryVpnAddr(b))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2, 1}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2, 1}, chainIds(t, hm, b))
+
+	// Delete the head. other is still live, so it must become primary for BOTH addresses.
+	assert.False(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(head))
+	assert.Equal(t, other, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a))
+	assert.Equal(t, other, hm.QueryVpnAddr(b))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{1}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{1}, chainIds(t, hm, b))
+
+	// head is fully removed from the index map.
+	assert.Nil(t, hm.QueryIndex(head.localIndexId))
+}
+
+// TestHostMap_DeleteHostInfo_DivergentVpnAddrs covers chained hostinfos for the same peer whose
+// vpnAddrs sets differ (a re-handshake cert added a second address). Deleting the superset node
+// must not promote a sibling to an address it does not own.
+func TestHostMap_DeleteHostInfo_DivergentVpnAddrs(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	hm := newHostMap(l)
+	f := &Interface{}
+	a := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")
+	b := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.2")
+
+	// sub owns only a; super (a newer handshake) owns a and b.
+	sub := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 1}
+	super := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a, b}, localIndexId: 2}
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(sub, f)
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(super, f)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2, 1}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{2}, chainIds(t, hm, b))
+
+	// Delete super: a promotes to sub (which owns it); b has no remaining owner and must be
+	// removed, not dangled at sub (which does not own b).
+	assert.False(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(super))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{1}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Empty(t, chainIds(t, hm, b))
+	assert.Equal(t, sub, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a))
+	assert.Nil(t, hm.QueryVpnAddr(b))
+	assert.Nil(t, hm.QueryIndex(super.localIndexId))
+
+	// Deleting sub cleans up fully.
+	assert.True(t, hm.DeleteHostInfo(sub))
+	assert.Nil(t, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a))
+	assertHostMapInvariants(t, hm)
+}
+
+// TestHostMap_AddDivergentOverlap covers a new hostinfo claiming addresses currently owned by two
+// DIFFERENT hostinfos. The old single shared next/prev chain overwrote a pointer and orphaned one
+// of them (in Indexes but unreachable via its address); independent per-address lists cannot.
+func TestHostMap_AddDivergentOverlap(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	hm := newHostMap(l)
+	f := &Interface{}
+	a := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")
+	b := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.2")
+
+	hiA := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a}, localIndexId: 1}
+	hiP := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{b}, localIndexId: 2}
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(hiA, f)
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(hiP, f)
+
+	hiB := &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a, b}, localIndexId: 3}
+	hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(hiB, f)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{3, 1}, chainIds(t, hm, a))
+	assert.Equal(t, []uint32{3, 2}, chainIds(t, hm, b))
+	// hiA is still reachable via its address (not orphaned) and still indexed.
+	assert.Contains(t, chainIds(t, hm, a), hiA.localIndexId)
+	assert.NotNil(t, hm.QueryIndex(hiA.localIndexId))
+}
+
+// TestHostMap_MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp_MultipleVpnAddrs verifies the MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp overflow prune
+// (unlockedInnerAddHostInfo calls unlockedDeleteHostInfo on the oldest node once the chain is too long)
+// still behaves when hostinfos carry more than one vpnAddr. The pruned node is always the tail, so it is
+// primary for none of the addresses, and both address chains must stay consistent afterwards.
+func TestHostMap_MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp_MultipleVpnAddrs(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	hm := newHostMap(l)
+
+	f := &Interface{}
+
+	a := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.1")
+	b := netip.MustParseAddr("0.0.0.2")
+
+	// Add one more than the cap, newest last so it becomes head. Every hostinfo owns both a and b.
+	hostinfos := make([]*HostInfo, 0, MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp+1)
+	for i := 0; i <= MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp; i++ {
+		hostinfos = append(hostinfos, &HostInfo{vpnAddrs: []netip.Addr{a, b}, localIndexId: uint32(i + 1)})
+	}
+	// Add oldest first (highest index in our slice) so the very first one added is the overflow victim.
+	for i := len(hostinfos) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		hm.unlockedAddHostInfo(hostinfos[i], f)
+	}
+
+	oldest := hostinfos[len(hostinfos)-1]
+
+	// The oldest hostinfo was pruned from both lists and the index map.
+	assert.Nil(t, hm.QueryIndex(oldest.localIndexId))
+
+	// Both addresses hold exactly MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp survivors in the same order; oldest is absent.
+	require.Len(t, chainIds(t, hm, a), MaxHostInfosPerVpnIp)
+	assert.Equal(t, chainIds(t, hm, a), chainIds(t, hm, b), "both addresses must list the same survivors in the same order")
+	assert.NotContains(t, chainIds(t, hm, a), oldest.localIndexId)
+	assert.Equal(t, hm.QueryVpnAddr(a), hm.QueryVpnAddr(b))
 }
 
 func TestHostMap_reload(t *testing.T) {

inside.go

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package nebula
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"io"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/netip"
 
@@ -9,10 +10,24 @@ import (
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/iputil"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/noiseutil"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/batch"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/routing"
 )
 
-func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet, nb, out []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
+func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(pkt tio.Packet, fwPacket *firewall.ParsedPacket, nb []byte, sendBatch *batch.SendBatch, rejectBuf []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
+	// borrowed: pkt.Bytes is owned by the originating tio.Queue and is
+	// only valid until the next Read on that queue. Every consumer below
+	// (parse, self-forward, handshake cache, sendInsideMessage) reads it
+	// synchronously; do not retain pkt outside this call. If a future
+	// caller needs to keep the packet, use pkt.Clone() to detach it from
+	// the borrow.
+	//
+	// pkt.Bytes is either one IP datagram (GSO zero) or a TSO/USO
+	// superpacket. In both cases the L3+L4 headers at the start describe
+	// the same 5-tuple every segment will share, so a single newPacket /
+	// firewall check covers the whole superpacket.
+	packet := pkt.Bytes
 	err := newPacket(packet, false, fwPacket)
 	if err != nil {
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
@@ -37,7 +52,14 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet
 		// routes packets from the Nebula addr to the Nebula addr through the Nebula
 		// TUN device.
 		if immediatelyForwardToSelf {
-			_, err := f.readers[q].Write(packet)
+			// Write copies into the kernel queue synchronously, so seg's lifetime ends at return.
+			// A self-forwarded superpacket would be re-handed to the
+			// kernel as one giant blob; segment first so the loopback
+			// path sees one IP datagram per Write.
+			err := tio.SegmentSuperpacket(pkt, func(seg []byte) error {
+				_, werr := f.queues[q].Write(seg)
+				return werr
+			})
 			if err != nil {
 				f.l.Error("Failed to forward to tun", "error", err)
 			}
@@ -52,12 +74,24 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet
 		return
 	}
 
-	hostinfo, ready := f.getOrHandshakeConsiderRouting(fwPacket, func(hh *HandshakeHostInfo) {
-		hh.cachePacket(f.l, header.Message, 0, packet, f.sendMessageNow, f.cachedPacketMetrics)
+	hostinfo, ready := f.getOrHandshakeConsiderRouting(&fwPacket.Packet, func(hh *HandshakeHostInfo) {
+		// borrowed: SegmentSuperpacket builds each segment in the kernel-supplied pkt
+		// bytes underneath. cachePacket explicitly copies its argument (handshake_manager.go cachePacket),
+		// so retaining segments past the loop is safe.
+		err := tio.SegmentSuperpacket(pkt, func(seg []byte) error {
+			hh.cachePacket(f.l, header.Message, 0, seg, f.sendMessageNow, f.cachedPacketMetrics)
+			return nil
+		})
+		if err != nil && f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+			f.l.Debug("Failed to segment superpacket for handshake cache",
+				"error", err,
+				"vpnAddr", fwPacket.RemoteAddr,
+			)
+		}
 	})
 
 	if hostinfo == nil {
-		f.rejectInside(packet, out, q)
+		f.rejectInside(packet, rejectBuf, q)
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 			f.l.Debug("dropping outbound packet, vpnAddr not in our vpn networks or in unsafe networks",
 				"vpnAddr", fwPacket.RemoteAddr,
@@ -71,12 +105,11 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet
 		return
 	}
 
-	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(*fwPacket, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), localCache)
+	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(fwPacket.Packet, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), localCache)
 	if dropReason == nil {
-		f.sendNoMetrics(header.Message, 0, hostinfo.ConnectionState, hostinfo, netip.AddrPort{}, packet, nb, out, q)
-
+		f.sendInsideMessage(hostinfo, pkt, nb, sendBatch)
 	} else {
-		f.rejectInside(packet, out, q)
+		f.rejectInside(packet, rejectBuf, q)
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("dropping outbound packet",
 				"fwPacket", fwPacket,
@@ -86,8 +119,127 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet
 	}
 }
 
+func (f *Interface) sendInsideEncrypt(hostinfo *HostInfo, ci *ConnectionState, seg, scratch, nb []byte) []byte {
+	if noiseutil.EncryptLockNeeded {
+		ci.writeLock.Lock()
+	}
+	c := ci.messageCounter.Add(1)
+
+	out := header.Encode(scratch, header.Version, header.Message, 0, hostinfo.remoteIndexId, c)
+
+	out, encErr := ci.eKey.EncryptDanger(out, out, seg, c, nb)
+	if noiseutil.EncryptLockNeeded {
+		ci.writeLock.Unlock()
+	}
+	if encErr != nil {
+		hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("Failed to encrypt outgoing packet",
+			"error", encErr,
+			"udpAddr", hostinfo.GetRemote(),
+			"counter", c,
+		)
+		// Skip this segment; the rest of the superpacket can still go out. TCP will retransmit anything we drop here.
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return out
+}
+
+// sendInsideMessage encrypts a firewall-approved inside packet (or every
+// segment of a TSO/USO superpacket) into the caller's batch slot for
+// later sendmmsg flush. Segmentation is fused with encryption here so the
+// kernel-supplied superpacket bytes never get written into a separate
+// scratch arena: SegmentSuperpacket builds each segment's plaintext in
+// segScratch[:segLen] in turn, and we encrypt directly into a fresh SendBatch slot.
+func (f *Interface) sendInsideMessage(hostinfo *HostInfo, pkt tio.Packet, nb []byte, sendBatch *batch.SendBatch) {
+	ci := hostinfo.ConnectionState
+	if ci.eKey == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// One traffic-out mark covers every segment of the superpacket; doing it
+	// per segment in sendInsideEncrypt paid an atomic store up to ~45 extra
+	// times per TSO packet, inside writeLock under boring crypto.
+	f.connectionManager.Out(hostinfo)
+
+	remote := hostinfo.GetRemote()
+	if hostinfo.lastRebindCount != f.rebindCount {
+		//NOTE: there is an update hole if a tunnel isn't used and exactly 256 rebinds occur before the tunnel is
+		// finally used again. This tunnel would eventually be torn down and recreated if this action didn't help.
+		f.lightHouse.QueryServer(hostinfo.vpnAddrs[0])
+		hostinfo.lastRebindCount = f.rebindCount
+		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("Lighthouse update triggered for punch due to rebind counter",
+				"vpnAddrs", hostinfo.vpnAddrs,
+			)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if !remote.IsValid() { //the relay path
+		//first, find our relay hostinfo:
+		var relayHostInfo *HostInfo
+		var relay *Relay
+		var err error
+		for _, relayIP := range hostinfo.relayState.CopyRelayIps() {
+			relayHostInfo, relay, err = f.hostMap.QueryVpnAddrsRelayFor(hostinfo.vpnAddrs, relayIP)
+			if err != nil {
+				hostinfo.relayState.DeleteRelay(relayIP)
+				hostinfo.logger(f.l).Info("sendNoMetrics failed to find HostInfo",
+					"relay", relayIP,
+					"error", err,
+				)
+				continue
+			}
+			break
+		}
+		if relayHostInfo == nil || relay == nil {
+			//failure already logged
+			return
+		}
+
+		err = tio.SegmentSuperpacket(pkt, func(seg []byte) error {
+			//relay header + header + plaintext + AEAD tag (16 bytes for both AES-GCM and ChaCha20-Poly1305) + relay tag
+			scratch := sendBatch.Reserve(header.Len + header.Len + len(seg) + 16 + 16)
+
+			innerPacket := f.sendInsideEncrypt(hostinfo, ci, seg, scratch[header.Len:], nb)
+			if innerPacket == nil {
+				return nil
+			}
+
+			//now we need to do a relay-encrypt:
+			toSend, err := f.prepareSendVia(relayHostInfo, relay, innerPacket, nb, scratch, true)
+			if err != nil {
+				//already logged
+				return nil
+			}
+
+			sendBatch.Commit(toSend, relayHostInfo.GetRemote())
+			return nil
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("Failed to segment superpacket for relay send", "error", err)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+
+	err := tio.SegmentSuperpacket(pkt, func(seg []byte) error {
+		// header + plaintext + AEAD tag (16 bytes for both AES-GCM and ChaCha20-Poly1305)
+		scratch := sendBatch.Reserve(header.Len + len(seg) + 16)
+
+		out := f.sendInsideEncrypt(hostinfo, ci, seg, scratch, nb)
+		if out == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		sendBatch.Commit(out, remote)
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("Failed to segment superpacket for send", "error", err)
+	}
+}
+
 func (f *Interface) rejectInside(packet []byte, out []byte, q int) {
-	if !f.firewall.InSendReject {
+	if !f.firewall.OutboundSendReject {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -96,33 +248,36 @@ func (f *Interface) rejectInside(packet []byte, out []byte, q int) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	_, err := f.readers[q].Write(out)
+	_, err := f.queues[q].Write(out)
 	if err != nil {
 		f.l.Error("Failed to write to tun", "error", err)
 	}
 }
 
-func (f *Interface) rejectOutside(packet []byte, ci *ConnectionState, hostinfo *HostInfo, nb, out []byte, q int) {
-	if !f.firewall.OutSendReject {
+func (f *Interface) rejectOutside(packet []byte, ci *ConnectionState, hostinfo *HostInfo, nb, rejectBuf []byte, q int) {
+	if !f.firewall.InboundSendReject {
 		return
 	}
 
-	out = iputil.CreateRejectPacket(packet, out)
+	// split rejectBuf to make sure we have room to write the plaintext rejection, then encrypt it, without trampling anything
+	// we can't re-use packet, if we need to send an icmp reject, it won't be long enough.
+	half := len(rejectBuf) / 2
+	encryptBuf := rejectBuf[0:0:half] //the first half of rejectBuf's capacity, len set to 0
+	buildBuf := rejectBuf[half:]
+
+	out := iputil.CreateRejectPacket(packet, buildBuf)
 	if len(out) == 0 {
 		return
 	}
 
 	if len(out) > iputil.MaxRejectPacketSize {
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelInfo) {
-			f.l.Info("rejectOutside: packet too big, not sending",
-				"packet", packet,
-				"outPacket", out,
-			)
+			f.l.Info("rejectOutside: packet too big, not sending", "packet", packet, "outPacket", out)
 		}
 		return
 	}
 
-	f.sendNoMetrics(header.Message, 0, ci, hostinfo, netip.AddrPort{}, out, nb, packet, q)
+	f.sendNoMetrics(header.Message, 0, ci, hostinfo, netip.AddrPort{}, out, nb, encryptBuf, q)
 }
 
 // Handshake will attempt to initiate a tunnel with the provided vpn address. This is a no-op if the tunnel is already established or being established
@@ -216,7 +371,7 @@ func (f *Interface) getOrHandshakeConsiderRouting(fwPacket *firewall.Packet, cac
 }
 
 func (f *Interface) sendMessageNow(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubType, hostinfo *HostInfo, p, nb, out []byte) {
-	fp := &firewall.Packet{}
+	fp := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
 	err := newPacket(p, false, fp)
 	if err != nil {
 		f.l.Warn("error while parsing outgoing packet for firewall check", "error", err)
@@ -224,7 +379,7 @@ func (f *Interface) sendMessageNow(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubTyp
 	}
 
 	// check if packet is in outbound fw rules
-	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(*fp, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), nil)
+	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(fp.Packet, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), nil)
 	if dropReason != nil {
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 			f.l.Debug("dropping cached packet",
@@ -275,21 +430,13 @@ func (f *Interface) sendTo(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubType, ci *C
 	f.sendNoMetrics(t, st, ci, hostinfo, remote, p, nb, out, 0)
 }
 
-// SendVia sends a payload through a Relay tunnel. No authentication or encryption is done
-// to the payload for the ultimate target host, making this a useful method for sending
-// handshake messages to peers through relay tunnels.
-// via is the HostInfo through which the message is relayed.
-// ad is the plaintext data to authenticate, but not encrypt
-// nb is a buffer used to store the nonce value, re-used for performance reasons.
-// out is a buffer used to store the result of the Encrypt operation
-// q indicates which writer to use to send the packet.
-func (f *Interface) SendVia(via *HostInfo,
+func (f *Interface) prepareSendVia(via *HostInfo,
 	relay *Relay,
 	ad,
 	nb,
 	out []byte,
 	nocopy bool,
-) {
+) ([]byte, error) {
 	if noiseutil.EncryptLockNeeded {
 		// NOTE: for goboring AESGCMTLS we need to lock because of the nonce check
 		via.ConnectionState.writeLock.Lock()
@@ -311,7 +458,7 @@ func (f *Interface) SendVia(via *HostInfo,
 			"headerLen", len(out),
 			"cipherOverhead", via.ConnectionState.eKey.Overhead(),
 		)
-		return
+		return nil, io.ErrShortBuffer
 	}
 
 	// The header bytes are written to the 'out' slice; Grow the slice to hold the header and associated data payload.
@@ -331,20 +478,38 @@ func (f *Interface) SendVia(via *HostInfo,
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		via.logger(f.l).Info("Failed to EncryptDanger in sendVia", "error", err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	f.connectionManager.RelayUsed(relay.LocalIndex)
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// SendVia sends a payload through a Relay tunnel. No authentication or encryption is done
+// to the payload for the ultimate target host, making this a useful method for sending
+// handshake messages to peers through relay tunnels.
+// via is the HostInfo through which the message is relayed.
+// ad is the plaintext data to authenticate, but not encrypt
+// nb is a buffer used to store the nonce value, re-used for performance reasons.
+// out is a buffer used to store the result of the Encrypt operation
+// q indicates which writer to use to send the packet.
+func (f *Interface) SendVia(via *HostInfo, relay *Relay, ad, nb, out []byte, nocopy bool, q int) {
+	toSend, err := f.prepareSendVia(via, relay, ad, nb, out, nocopy)
+	if err != nil {
+		// already logged by prepareSendVia
 		return
 	}
-	err = f.writers[0].WriteTo(out, via.remote)
+
+	err = f.writers[q].WriteTo(toSend, via.GetRemote())
 	if err != nil {
 		via.logger(f.l).Info("Failed to WriteTo in sendVia", "error", err)
 	}
-	f.connectionManager.RelayUsed(relay.LocalIndex)
 }
 
 func (f *Interface) sendNoMetrics(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubType, ci *ConnectionState, hostinfo *HostInfo, remote netip.AddrPort, p, nb, out []byte, q int) {
 	if ci.eKey == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	useRelay := !remote.IsValid() && !hostinfo.remote.IsValid()
+	useRelay := !remote.IsValid() && !hostinfo.GetRemote().IsValid()
 	fullOut := out
 
 	if useRelay {
@@ -391,7 +556,6 @@ func (f *Interface) sendNoMetrics(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubType
 			"error", err,
 			"udpAddr", remote,
 			"counter", c,
-			"attemptedCounter", c,
 		)
 		return
 	}
@@ -404,12 +568,12 @@ func (f *Interface) sendNoMetrics(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubType
 				"udpAddr", remote,
 			)
 		}
-	} else if hostinfo.remote.IsValid() {
-		err = f.writers[q].WriteTo(out, hostinfo.remote)
+	} else if hr := hostinfo.GetRemote(); hr.IsValid() {
+		err = f.writers[q].WriteTo(out, hr)
 		if err != nil {
 			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("Failed to write outgoing packet",
 				"error", err,
-				"udpAddr", remote,
+				"udpAddr", hr,
 			)
 		}
 	} else {
@@ -424,7 +588,7 @@ func (f *Interface) sendNoMetrics(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubType
 				)
 				continue
 			}
-			f.SendVia(relayHostInfo, relay, out, nb, fullOut[:header.Len+len(out)], true)
+			f.SendVia(relayHostInfo, relay, out, nb, fullOut[:header.Len+len(out)], true, q)
 			break
 		}
 	}

interface.go

@@ -4,20 +4,25 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/netip"
+	"runtime"
+	"slices"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gaissmai/bart"
 	"github.com/rcrowley/go-metrics"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
 
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/batch"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
 )
 
@@ -47,6 +52,18 @@ type InterfaceConfig struct {
 	reQueryWait     time.Duration
 
 	ConntrackCacheTimeout time.Duration
+
+	// CpuAffinity, when non-empty, names the CPUs each TUN reader goroutine
+	// should pin to. Queue i pins to CpuAffinity[i % len(CpuAffinity)] —
+	// shorter lists than `routines` cycle. Empty list keeps the default
+	// pin-to-(i % NumCPU) behavior. Only consulted when PinThreads is true.
+	CpuAffinity []int
+	// PinThreads controls whether each TUN reader OS thread is pinned to a
+	// single CPU (via tun.pin_threads, default true). Pinning keeps each
+	// goroutine's sendmmsg on one XPS-selected NIC TX ring so per-flow
+	// packets stay ordered on the wire.
+	PinThreads bool
+
 	l *slog.Logger
 }
 
@@ -71,6 +88,15 @@ type Interface struct {
 	routines              int
 	disconnectInvalid     atomic.Bool
 	closed                atomic.Bool
+	// cpuAffinity, when non-empty, names the CPUs each TUN reader goroutine
+	// should pin to. Queue i pins to cpuAffinity[i % len(cpuAffinity)].
+	// Empty falls back to the default pin-to-(allowed CPU) behavior.
+	// Only consulted when pinThreads is true.
+	cpuAffinity []int
+	// pinThreads controls whether listenIn pins each TUN reader OS thread to
+	// a CPU at all (tun.pin_threads, default true). When false, threads are
+	// left free to migrate as on stock nebula.
+	pinThreads   bool
 	relayManager *relayManager
 
 	tryPromoteEvery atomic.Uint32
@@ -88,7 +114,13 @@ type Interface struct {
 
 	ctx     context.Context
 	writers []udp.Conn
-	readers []io.ReadWriteCloser
+	queues  []tio.Queue
+	// batchers is one per tun queue, wrapping queues[i]. readOutsidePackets
+	// commits plaintext into the batcher; the plaintext is decrypted
+	// in place inside the UDP receive buffers, so listenOut must call Flush
+	// at the end of each UDP recvmmsg batch, before those buffers are
+	// reused (every udp.Conn ListenOut guarantees that ordering).
+	batchers []*batch.MultiCoalescer
 	wg       sync.WaitGroup
 
 	// fatalErr holds the first unexpected reader error that caused shutdown.
@@ -100,18 +132,13 @@ type Interface struct {
 	metricHandshakes    metrics.Histogram
 	messageMetrics      *MessageMetrics
 	cachedPacketMetrics *cachedPacketMetrics
+	metricTxDropped     metrics.Counter
 
 	l *slog.Logger
 }
 
 type EncWriter interface {
-	SendVia(via *HostInfo,
-		relay *Relay,
-		ad,
-		nb,
-		out []byte,
-		nocopy bool,
-	)
+	SendVia(via *HostInfo, relay *Relay, ad, nb, out []byte, nocopy bool, q int)
 	SendMessageToVpnAddr(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubType, vpnAddr netip.Addr, p, nb, out []byte)
 	SendMessageToHostInfo(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubType, hostinfo *HostInfo, p, nb, out []byte)
 	Handshake(vpnAddr netip.Addr)
@@ -170,6 +197,10 @@ func NewInterface(ctx context.Context, c *InterfaceConfig) (*Interface, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("no connection manager")
 	}
 
+	if c.routines <= 1 {
+		c.PinThreads = false //pinning is not useful unless there's more than one tun reader
+	}
+
 	cs := c.pki.getCertState()
 	ifce := &Interface{
 		ctx:                   ctx,
@@ -187,7 +218,7 @@ func NewInterface(ctx context.Context, c *InterfaceConfig) (*Interface, error) {
 		routines:              c.routines,
 		version:               c.version,
 		writers:               make([]udp.Conn, c.routines),
-		readers:               make([]io.ReadWriteCloser, c.routines),
+		batchers:              make([]*batch.MultiCoalescer, c.routines),
 		myVpnNetworks:         cs.myVpnNetworks,
 		myVpnNetworksTable:    cs.myVpnNetworksTable,
 		myVpnAddrs:            cs.myVpnAddrs,
@@ -196,8 +227,11 @@ func NewInterface(ctx context.Context, c *InterfaceConfig) (*Interface, error) {
 		relayManager:          c.relayManager,
 		connectionManager:     c.connectionManager,
 		conntrackCacheTimeout: c.ConntrackCacheTimeout,
+		cpuAffinity:           c.CpuAffinity,
+		pinThreads:            c.PinThreads,
 
 		metricHandshakes: metrics.GetOrRegisterHistogram("handshakes", nil, metrics.NewExpDecaySample(1028, 0.015)),
+		metricTxDropped:  metrics.GetOrRegisterCounter("udp.tx.dropped", nil),
 		messageMetrics:   c.MessageMetrics,
 		cachedPacketMetrics: &cachedPacketMetrics{
 			sent:    metrics.GetOrRegisterCounter("hostinfo.cached_packets.sent", nil),
@@ -213,6 +247,9 @@ func NewInterface(ctx context.Context, c *InterfaceConfig) (*Interface, error) {
 
 	ifce.connectionManager.intf = ifce
 
+	// Held until Close so waiting on the interface blocks until the resources are actually released
+	ifce.wg.Add(1)
+
 	return ifce, nil
 }
 
@@ -235,38 +272,48 @@ func (f *Interface) activate() error {
 		"boringcrypto", boringEnabled(),
 	)
 
-	if f.routines > 1 {
-		if !f.inside.SupportsMultiqueue() || !f.outside.SupportsMultipleReaders() {
+	if f.routines > 1 && !f.outside.SupportsMultipleReaders() {
 		f.routines = 1
-			f.l.Warn("routines is not supported on this platform, falling back to a single routine")
-		}
+		f.l.Warn("multiple udp readers are not supported on this platform, falling back to a single routine")
 	}
 
-	metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("routines", nil).Update(int64(f.routines))
-
-	// Prepare n tun queues
-	var reader io.ReadWriteCloser = f.inside
-	for i := 0; i < f.routines; i++ {
-		if i > 0 {
-			reader, err = f.inside.NewMultiQueueReader()
+	// Prepare the tun queues. A device that can't open that many hands back
+	// fewer (a single queue on platforms without multiqueue support) and we
+	// size the reader routines to what we actually got.
+	queues, err := f.inside.Queues(f.routines)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if len(queues) < f.routines {
+		// TODO: this clamp is only safe because it is unreachable when the
+		// udp side has multiple readers (linux Queues opens exactly n or
+		// errors; every other platform already clamped routines to 1 above).
+		// If a platform ever returns fewer queues than routines with
+		// SO_REUSEPORT sockets already bound, the surplus sockets get no
+		// listenOut and the kernel blackholes every flow it hashes to them —
+		// fail loudly or close the extra sockets instead.
+		f.l.Warn("tun multiqueue is not supported on this platform, falling back to fewer routines",
+			"requested", f.routines, "opened", len(queues))
+		f.routines = len(queues)
 	}
-		f.readers[i] = reader
+	f.queues = queues
+
+	metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("routines", nil).Update(int64(f.routines))
+
+	for i := range f.queues {
+		f.batchers[i] = batch.NewMultiCoalescer(f.queues[i], f.l)
 	}
 
-	f.wg.Add(1) // for us to wait on Close() to return
+	// On error the caller owns the cleanup, Control.Start cancels the service context
+	// before releasing our resources so a waiter never observes a live context
 	if err = f.inside.Activate(); err != nil {
-		f.wg.Done()
-		f.inside.Close()
 		return err
 	}
 
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (f *Interface) run() (func() error, error) {
+func (f *Interface) run() {
 	// Launch n queues to read packets from udp
 	for i := 0; i < f.routines; i++ {
 		f.wg.Go(func() {
@@ -277,17 +324,18 @@ func (f *Interface) run() (func() error, error) {
 	// Launch n queues to read packets from tun dev
 	for i := 0; i < f.routines; i++ {
 		f.wg.Go(func() {
-			f.listenIn(f.readers[i], i)
+			f.listenIn(f.queues[i], i)
 		})
 	}
 
-	return func() error {
+}
+
+func (f *Interface) wait() error {
 	f.wg.Wait()
 	if e := f.fatalErr.Load(); e != nil {
 		return *e
 	}
 	return nil
-	}, nil
 }
 
 // onFatal stores the first fatal reader error, and calls triggerShutdown if it was the first one
@@ -301,6 +349,31 @@ func (f *Interface) onFatal(err error) {
 	}
 }
 
+type rxContext struct {
+	q       int
+	scratch []byte
+	// nb is a re-usable nonce buffer for decrypt calls to use
+	nb           []byte
+	h            *header.H
+	fwPacket     *firewall.ParsedPacket
+	hostmapCache map[uint32]*HostInfo
+	lhh          *LightHouseHandler
+	ctCache      *firewall.ConntrackCacheTicker
+}
+
+func newRxContext(f *Interface, q int) *rxContext {
+	return &rxContext{
+		q:            q,
+		scratch:      make([]byte, mtu),
+		nb:           make([]byte, 12, 12),
+		h:            &header.H{},
+		fwPacket:     &firewall.ParsedPacket{},
+		hostmapCache: map[uint32]*HostInfo{},
+		lhh:          f.lightHouse.NewRequestHandler(),
+		ctCache:      firewall.NewConntrackCacheTicker(f.ctx, f.l, f.conntrackCacheTimeout),
+	}
+}
+
 func (f *Interface) listenOut(i int) {
 	var li udp.Conn
 	if i > 0 {
@@ -309,18 +382,25 @@ func (f *Interface) listenOut(i int) {
 		li = f.outside
 	}
 
-	ctCache := firewall.NewConntrackCacheTicker(f.ctx, f.l, f.conntrackCacheTimeout)
-	lhh := f.lightHouse.NewRequestHandler()
-	plaintext := make([]byte, udp.MTU)
-	h := &header.H{}
-	fwPacket := &firewall.Packet{}
-	nb := make([]byte, 12, 12)
+	rxc := newRxContext(f, i)
 
-	err := li.ListenOut(func(fromUdpAddr netip.AddrPort, payload []byte) {
-		f.readOutsidePackets(ViaSender{UdpAddr: fromUdpAddr}, plaintext[:0], payload, h, fwPacket, lhh, nb, i, ctCache.Get())
-	})
+	listener := func(fromUdpAddr netip.AddrPort, payload []byte) {
+		f.readOutsidePackets(ViaSender{UdpAddr: fromUdpAddr}, payload, rxc)
+	}
 
-	if err != nil && !f.closed.Load() {
+	flusher := func() {
+		if err := f.batchers[i].Flush(); err != nil {
+			f.l.Error("Failed to flush tun coalescer", "error", err)
+		}
+		clear(rxc.hostmapCache)
+	}
+
+	err := li.ListenOut(listener, flusher)
+
+	// An error after teardown began is shutdown noise, the closed flag covers resources
+	// Close releases itself and the cancelled ctx covers ones torn down by their owners
+	// reacting to it, like the user device pipes
+	if err != nil && !f.closed.Load() && f.ctx.Err() == nil {
 		f.l.Error("Error while reading inbound packet, closing", "error", err)
 		f.onFatal(err)
 	}
@@ -328,30 +408,80 @@ func (f *Interface) listenOut(i int) {
 	f.l.Debug("underlay reader is done", "reader", i)
 }
 
-func (f *Interface) listenIn(reader io.ReadWriteCloser, i int) {
-	packet := make([]byte, mtu)
-	out := make([]byte, mtu)
-	fwPacket := &firewall.Packet{}
+func (f *Interface) pinThisThread(i int) {
+	var cpu int
+	if n := len(f.cpuAffinity); n > 0 {
+		// Explicit tun.cpu_affinity list wins; parseCpuAffinity already
+		// validated the entries against the allowed CPU set.
+		cpu = f.cpuAffinity[i%n]
+	} else if allowed, err := util.AllowedCPUs(); err == nil && len(allowed) > 0 {
+		// Default: spread queues across the CPUs we're actually allowed to
+		// run on. Under a cpuset/taskset mask these aren't 0..NumCPU-1, so
+		// i % NumCPU would pick unrunnable IDs and every pin would fail.
+		cpu = allowed[i%len(allowed)]
+	} else {
+		cpu = i % runtime.NumCPU()
+	}
+	if err := util.PinThreadToCPU(cpu); err != nil {
+		f.l.Warn("failed to pin tun reader to CPU", "queue", i, "cpu", cpu, "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func (f *Interface) listenIn(queue tio.Queue, i int) {
+	// Pinning this thread (and goroutine) to a single CPU keeps every sendmmsg from this goroutine going through the
+	// same TX ring on the nic, so the wire sees per-flow order. Skip entirely when tun.pin_threads is false.
+	if f.pinThreads {
+		f.pinThisThread(i)
+	}
+
+	rejectBuf := make([]byte, mtu)
+	arenaSize := batch.SendBatchCap * (udp.MTU + 32)
+	sb := batch.NewSendBatch(f.writers[i], batch.SendBatchCap, arenaSize)
+	fwPacket := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
 	nb := make([]byte, 12, 12)
 
 	conntrackCache := firewall.NewConntrackCacheTicker(f.ctx, f.l, f.conntrackCacheTimeout)
 
 	for {
-		n, err := reader.Read(packet)
+		pkts, err := queue.Read()
 		if err != nil {
-			if !f.closed.Load() {
+			// Same shutdown noise handling as listenOut
+			if !f.closed.Load() && f.ctx.Err() == nil {
 				f.l.Error("Error while reading outbound packet, closing", "error", err, "reader", i)
 				f.onFatal(err)
 			}
 			break
 		}
 
-		f.consumeInsidePacket(packet[:n], fwPacket, nb, out, i, conntrackCache.Get())
+		for _, pkt := range pkts {
+			f.consumeInsidePacket(pkt, fwPacket, nb, sb, rejectBuf, i, conntrackCache.Get())
+			// Flush incrementally once a full sendmmsg batch has
+			// accumulated so the first packets of a deep read drain
+			// hit the wire while the rest are still being encrypted.
+			if sb.Len() >= batch.SendBatchCap {
+				f.flushSendBatch(sb, i)
+			}
+		}
+		f.flushSendBatch(sb, i)
 	}
 
 	f.l.Debug("overlay reader is done", "reader", i)
 }
 
+// flushSendBatch drains sb to the underlay and accounts for anything it could not deliver. A shortfall means
+// specific destinations were undeliverable (a stale remote, a reject rule), which the backend logs per peer at
+// debug; here it is only a counter, so one unreachable peer cannot spam a log line per batch.
+func (f *Interface) flushSendBatch(sb *batch.SendBatch, q int) {
+	queued := sb.Len()
+	written, err := sb.Flush()
+	if err != nil {
+		f.l.Error("Failed to write outgoing batch", "error", err, "writer", q)
+	}
+	if dropped := queued - written; dropped > 0 {
+		f.metricTxDropped.Inc(int64(dropped))
+	}
+}
+
 func (f *Interface) RegisterConfigChangeCallbacks(c *config.C) {
 	c.RegisterReloadCallback(f.reloadFirewall)
 	c.RegisterReloadCallback(f.reloadSendRecvError)
@@ -375,13 +505,22 @@ func (f *Interface) reloadDisconnectInvalid(c *config.C) {
 }
 
 func (f *Interface) reloadFirewall(c *config.C) {
-	//TODO: need to trigger/detect if the certificate changed too
-	if c.HasChanged("firewall") == false {
+	cs := f.pki.getCertState()
+	curCert := cs.getCertificate(cert.Version2)
+	if curCert == nil {
+		curCert = cs.getCertificate(cert.Version1)
+	}
+
+	// The firewall builds its routableNetworks set from the certificate's UnsafeNetworks at construction.
+	// Check to see if that set has changed, and if so, rebuild the firewall.
+	certUnsafeChanged := curCert != nil && !slices.Equal(curCert.UnsafeNetworks(), f.firewall.unsafeNetworks)
+
+	if !c.HasChanged("firewall") && !certUnsafeChanged {
 		f.l.Debug("No firewall config change detected")
 		return
 	}
 
-	fw, err := NewFirewallFromConfig(f.l, f.pki.getCertState(), c)
+	fw, err := NewFirewallFromConfig(f.l, cs, c)
 	if err != nil {
 		f.l.Error("Error while creating firewall during reload", "error", err)
 		return
@@ -491,11 +630,7 @@ func (f *Interface) emitStats(ctx context.Context, i time.Duration) {
 	certInitiatingVersion := metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("certificate.initiating_version", nil)
 	certMaxVersion := metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("certificate.max_version", nil)
 
-	for {
-		select {
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return
-		case <-ticker.C:
+	emit := func() {
 		f.firewall.EmitStats()
 		f.handshakeManager.EmitStats()
 		udpStats()
@@ -512,6 +647,18 @@ func (f *Interface) emitStats(ctx context.Context, i time.Duration) {
 			certMaxVersion.Update(int64(certState.v1Cert.Version()))
 		}
 	}
+
+	// Prime gauges so a Prometheus scrape that lands before the first tick
+	// sees real values instead of the zero defaults (issue #907).
+	emit()
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			emit()
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -523,9 +670,15 @@ func (f *Interface) GetCertState() *CertState {
 	return f.pki.getCertState()
 }
 
+// Close releases the interface's resources: the udp sockets and the tun device.
+// It is idempotent and safe to call at any point in the lifecycle, including on an interface that never activated,
+// calls after the first return nil without doing anything.
 func (f *Interface) Close() error {
+	if !f.closed.CompareAndSwap(false, true) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	var errs []error
-	f.closed.Store(true)
 
 	// Release the udp readers
 	for i, u := range f.writers {
@@ -541,6 +694,8 @@ func (f *Interface) Close() error {
 	if closeErr != nil {
 		errs = append(errs, closeErr)
 	}
+
+	// Release the construction token so waiters know the resources are gone
 	f.wg.Done()
 	return errors.Join(errs...)
 }

interface_emit_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+//go:build linux || darwin
+
+package nebula
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net/netip"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/rcrowley/go-metrics"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/overlaytest"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// Test_emitStats_primesGauges covers issue #907: a Prometheus scrape that
+// landed before the first ticker fire used to read 0 for the cert gauges.
+// emitStats now primes the gauges before entering the ticker loop. We assert
+// the gauge is zero before the first call and non-zero after.
+func Test_emitStats_primesGauges(t *testing.T) {
+	defer metrics.DefaultRegistry.UnregisterAll()
+
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	hostMap := newHostMap(l)
+	preferredRanges := []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.0/8")}
+	hostMap.preferredRanges.Store(&preferredRanges)
+
+	notAfter := time.Now().Add(time.Hour)
+	cs := &CertState{
+		initiatingVersion: cert.Version1,
+		privateKey:        []byte{},
+		v1Cert:            &dummyCert{version: cert.Version1, notAfter: notAfter},
+		v1Credential:      nil,
+	}
+
+	lh := newTestLighthouse()
+	ifce := &Interface{
+		hostMap:          hostMap,
+		inside:           &overlaytest.NoopTun{},
+		outside:          &udp.NoopConn{},
+		firewall:         &Firewall{Conntrack: &FirewallConntrack{Conns: map[firewall.Packet]*conn{}}},
+		lightHouse:       lh,
+		pki:              &PKI{},
+		handshakeManager: NewHandshakeManager(l, hostMap, lh, &udp.NoopConn{}, defaultHandshakeConfig),
+		l:                l,
+		// On linux, udp.NewUDPStatsEmitter indexes writers[0] and asserts to
+		// *udp.StdConn. A zero value works: getMemInfo sees a nil rawConn,
+		// returns an error, and the emitter falls through to a no-op.
+		writers: []udp.Conn{&udp.StdConn{}},
+	}
+	ifce.pki.cs.Store(cs)
+
+	ttlGauge := metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("certificate.ttl_seconds", nil)
+	require.Zero(t, ttlGauge.Value(), "gauge should be zero before emitStats runs")
+
+	// Pre-cancel the context so emitStats returns after priming the gauges
+	// without ever reading from ticker.C. The one hour interval is just a
+	// belt-and-suspenders, the test does not expect the ticker to fire.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cancel()
+	ifce.emitStats(ctx, time.Hour)
+
+	ttl := ttlGauge.Value()
+	assert.Positive(t, ttl, "ttl gauge should be primed by emitStats before its first tick")
+	assert.LessOrEqual(t, ttl, int64(3600))
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(cert.Version1), metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("certificate.initiating_version", nil).Value())
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(cert.Version1), metrics.GetOrRegisterGauge("certificate.max_version", nil).Value())
+}

interface_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+package nebula
+
+import (
+	"net/netip"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cert"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// TestReloadFirewall_CertUnsafeNetworksChanged verifies that reloadFirewall
+// rebuilds the firewall when only the certificate's UnsafeNetworks have changed,
+// even if the firewall section of the YAML has not.
+func TestReloadFirewall_CertUnsafeNetworksChanged(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+
+	vpnNet := netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.1/24")
+	initialUnsafe := []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("198.51.100.0/24")}
+
+	// dummyCert avoids dragging the real signing pipeline into a unit test.
+	c1 := &dummyCert{
+		version:        cert.Version2,
+		networks:       []netip.Prefix{vpnNet},
+		unsafeNetworks: initialUnsafe,
+	}
+	pki := &PKI{}
+	pki.cs.Store(&CertState{v2Cert: c1, initiatingVersion: cert.Version2})
+
+	rawYAML := `firewall:
+  outbound:
+    - port: any
+      proto: any
+      host: any
+  inbound:
+    - port: any
+      proto: any
+      host: any
+`
+	cfg := config.NewC(l)
+	require.NoError(t, cfg.LoadString(rawYAML))
+
+	fw, err := NewFirewallFromConfig(l, pki.getCertState(), cfg)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, initialUnsafe, fw.unsafeNetworks)
+
+	f := &Interface{
+		pki:      pki,
+		firewall: fw,
+		l:        l,
+	}
+
+	// Swap the cert with a different UnsafeNetworks set.
+	newUnsafe := []netip.Prefix{
+		netip.MustParsePrefix("198.51.100.0/24"),
+		netip.MustParsePrefix("203.0.113.0/24"),
+	}
+	c2 := &dummyCert{
+		version:        cert.Version2,
+		networks:       []netip.Prefix{vpnNet},
+		unsafeNetworks: newUnsafe,
+	}
+	pki.cs.Store(&CertState{v2Cert: c2, initiatingVersion: cert.Version2})
+
+	// Reload with the same YAML so HasChanged("firewall") reports false.
+	require.NoError(t, cfg.ReloadConfigString(rawYAML))
+	require.False(t, cfg.HasChanged("firewall"))
+
+	f.reloadFirewall(cfg)
+
+	assert.NotSame(t, fw, f.firewall, "firewall pointer should have been replaced")
+	assert.Equal(t, newUnsafe, f.firewall.unsafeNetworks)
+	assert.True(t, f.firewall.routableNetworks.Contains(netip.MustParseAddr("203.0.113.5")))
+}
+
+// TestReloadFirewall_NoChange verifies that reloadFirewall is a no-op when
+// neither the firewall config nor the cert's UnsafeNetworks have changed.
+func TestReloadFirewall_NoChange(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+
+	vpnNet := netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.1/24")
+	unsafe := []netip.Prefix{netip.MustParsePrefix("198.51.100.0/24")}
+
+	c1 := &dummyCert{
+		version:        cert.Version2,
+		networks:       []netip.Prefix{vpnNet},
+		unsafeNetworks: unsafe,
+	}
+	pki := &PKI{}
+	pki.cs.Store(&CertState{v2Cert: c1, initiatingVersion: cert.Version2})
+
+	rawYAML := `firewall:
+  outbound:
+    - port: any
+      proto: any
+      host: any
+  inbound:
+    - port: any
+      proto: any
+      host: any
+`
+	cfg := config.NewC(l)
+	require.NoError(t, cfg.LoadString(rawYAML))
+
+	fw, err := NewFirewallFromConfig(l, pki.getCertState(), cfg)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	f := &Interface{
+		pki:      pki,
+		firewall: fw,
+		l:        l,
+	}
+
+	require.NoError(t, cfg.ReloadConfigString(rawYAML))
+	f.reloadFirewall(cfg)
+
+	assert.Same(t, fw, f.firewall, "firewall should not have been replaced")
+}

iputil/packet.go

@@ -4,27 +4,55 @@ import (
 	"encoding/binary"
 
 	"golang.org/x/net/ipv4"
+	"golang.org/x/net/ipv6"
 )
 
 const (
-	// Need 96 bytes for the largest reject packet:
+	// MaxIPv4RejectPacketSize is the largest IPv4 reject packet:
 	// - 20 byte ipv4 header
 	// - 8 byte icmpv4 header
 	// - 68 byte body (60 byte max orig ipv4 header + 8 byte orig icmpv4 header)
-	MaxRejectPacketSize = ipv4.HeaderLen + 8 + 60 + 8
+	maxIPv4RejectPacketSize = ipv4.HeaderLen + 8 + 60 + 8
+
+	// MaxRejectPacketSize is sized for the largest possible reject packet (IPv6):
+	// - 40 byte ipv6 header
+	// - 8 byte icmpv6 header
+	// - up to 1000 byte body (original packet, possibly truncated. We want to stay
+	//   under the MTU with Nebula overhead included)
+	maxIPv6RejectPacketSize = ipv6.HeaderLen + 8 + 1000
+
+	MaxRejectPacketSize = maxIPv6RejectPacketSize
 )
 
 func CreateRejectPacket(packet []byte, out []byte) []byte {
-	if len(packet) < ipv4.HeaderLen || int(packet[0]>>4) != ipv4.Version {
+	if len(packet) < 1 {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	version := int(packet[0] >> 4)
+	switch version {
+	case ipv4.Version:
+		if len(packet) < ipv4.HeaderLen {
+			return nil
+		}
+		// Do not send reject packets for non-first fragments
+		if packet[6]&0x1f != 0 || packet[7] != 0 {
+			return nil
+		}
 		switch packet[9] {
 		case 6: // tcp
 			return ipv4CreateRejectTCPPacket(packet, out)
 		default:
 			return ipv4CreateRejectICMPPacket(packet, out)
 		}
+	case ipv6.Version:
+		if len(packet) < ipv6.HeaderLen {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return ipv6CreateRejectPacket(packet, out)
+	default:
+		return nil
+	}
 }
 
 func ipv4CreateRejectICMPPacket(packet []byte, out []byte) []byte {
@@ -35,11 +63,16 @@ func ipv4CreateRejectICMPPacket(packet []byte, out []byte) []byte {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// ICMP reply includes original header and first 8 bytes of the packet
-	packetLen := len(packet)
-	if packetLen > ihl+8 {
-		packetLen = ihl + 8
+	// Do not generate ICMP errors in response to ICMP error packets
+	if packet[9] == 1 && len(packet) > ihl {
+		icmpType := packet[ihl]
+		if icmpType == 3 || icmpType == 4 || icmpType == 5 || icmpType == 11 || icmpType == 12 {
+			return nil
 		}
+	}
+
+	// ICMP reply includes original header and first 8 bytes of the packet
+	packetLen := min(len(packet), ihl+8)
 
 	outLen := ipv4.HeaderLen + 8 + packetLen
 	if outLen > cap(out) {
@@ -72,7 +105,7 @@ func ipv4CreateRejectICMPPacket(packet []byte, out []byte) []byte {
 	// ICMP Destination Unreachable
 	icmpOut := out[ipv4.HeaderLen:]
 	icmpOut[0] = 3  // type (Destination unreachable)
-	icmpOut[1] = 3 // code (Port unreachable error)
+	icmpOut[1] = 13 // code (Communication administratively prohibited)
 	icmpOut[2] = 0  // checksum
 	icmpOut[3] = 0  //  .
 	icmpOut[4] = 0  // unused
@@ -165,7 +198,217 @@ func ipv4CreateRejectTCPPacket(packet []byte, out []byte) []byte {
 	return out
 }
 
+func ipv6CreateRejectPacket(packet []byte, out []byte) []byte {
+	proto, offset, isFragment := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(packet)
+	if isFragment {
+		return nil
+	}
+	switch proto {
+	case 6: // tcp
+		return ipv6CreateRejectTCPPacket(packet, out, offset)
+	default:
+		return ipv6CreateRejectICMPPacket(packet, out, proto, offset)
+	}
+}
+
+func ipv6CreateRejectICMPPacket(packet []byte, out []byte, proto uint8, offset int) []byte {
+	// Do not generate ICMPv6 errors in response to ICMPv6 error packets
+	if proto == 58 && len(packet) > offset {
+		icmpType := packet[offset]
+		if icmpType >= 1 && icmpType <= 4 {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Include as much of the original packet as possible, up to 1000 bytes,
+	// so the response fits comfortably within any tunnel MTU.
+	packetLen := min(len(packet), 1000)
+
+	outLen := ipv6.HeaderLen + 8 + packetLen
+	if outLen > cap(out) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	out = out[:outLen]
+
+	// IPv6 header
+	ipHdr := out[0:ipv6.HeaderLen]
+	ipHdr[0] = ipv6.Version << 4 // version, traffic class (high bits)
+	ipHdr[1] = 0                 // traffic class (low bits), flow label (high bits)
+	ipHdr[2] = 0                 // flow label
+	ipHdr[3] = 0                 // flow label
+
+	payloadLen := uint16(outLen - ipv6.HeaderLen)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(ipHdr[4:], payloadLen) // payload length
+	ipHdr[6] = 58                                     // next header (ICMPv6)
+	ipHdr[7] = 64                                     // hop limit
+
+	// Swap dest / src IPs (each 16 bytes, src at 8, dst at 24)
+	copy(ipHdr[8:24], packet[24:40])
+	copy(ipHdr[24:40], packet[8:24])
+
+	// ICMPv6 Destination Unreachable
+	icmpOut := out[ipv6.HeaderLen:]
+	icmpOut[0] = 1 // type (Destination Unreachable)
+	icmpOut[1] = 1 // code (Communication with destination administratively prohibited)
+	icmpOut[2] = 0 // checksum
+	icmpOut[3] = 0 //  .
+	icmpOut[4] = 0 // unused
+	icmpOut[5] = 0 //  .
+	icmpOut[6] = 0 //  .
+	icmpOut[7] = 0 //  .
+
+	copy(icmpOut[8:], packet[:packetLen])
+
+	// ICMPv6 checksum uses a pseudo-header
+	csum := ipv6PseudoheaderChecksum(ipHdr[8:24], ipHdr[24:40], 58, uint32(payloadLen))
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(icmpOut[2:], tcpipChecksum(icmpOut, csum))
+
+	return out
+}
+
+func ipv6CreateRejectTCPPacket(packet []byte, out []byte, offset int) []byte {
+	const tcpLen = 20
+
+	if len(packet) < offset+tcpLen {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	outLen := ipv6.HeaderLen + tcpLen
+	if outLen > cap(out) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	out = out[:outLen]
+
+	// IPv6 header
+	ipHdr := out[0:ipv6.HeaderLen]
+	ipHdr[0] = ipv6.Version << 4 // version, traffic class (high bits)
+	ipHdr[1] = 0                 // traffic class (low bits), flow label (high bits)
+	ipHdr[2] = 0                 // flow label
+	ipHdr[3] = 0                 // flow label
+
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(ipHdr[4:], tcpLen) // payload length
+	ipHdr[6] = 6                                  // next header (TCP)
+	ipHdr[7] = 64                                 // hop limit
+
+	// Swap dest / src IPs
+	copy(ipHdr[8:24], packet[24:40])
+	copy(ipHdr[24:40], packet[8:24])
+
+	// TCP RST
+	tcpIn := packet[offset:]
+	var ackSeq, seq uint32
+	outFlags := byte(0b00000100) // RST
+
+	inAck := tcpIn[13]&0b00010000 != 0
+	if inAck {
+		seq = binary.BigEndian.Uint32(tcpIn[8:])
+	} else {
+		inSyn := uint32((tcpIn[13] & 0b00000010) >> 1)
+		inFin := uint32(tcpIn[13] & 0b00000001)
+		ackSeq = binary.BigEndian.Uint32(tcpIn[4:]) + inSyn + inFin + uint32(len(tcpIn)) - uint32(tcpIn[12]>>4)<<2
+		outFlags |= 0b00010000 // ACK
+	}
+
+	tcpOut := out[ipv6.HeaderLen:]
+	// Swap dest / src ports
+	copy(tcpOut[0:2], tcpIn[2:4])
+	copy(tcpOut[2:4], tcpIn[0:2])
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(tcpOut[4:], seq)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(tcpOut[8:], ackSeq)
+	tcpOut[12] = (tcpLen >> 2) << 4 // data offset, reserved, NS
+	tcpOut[13] = outFlags           // CWR, ECE, URG, ACK, PSH, RST, SYN, FIN
+	tcpOut[14] = 0                  // window size
+	tcpOut[15] = 0                  //  .
+	tcpOut[16] = 0                  // checksum
+	tcpOut[17] = 0                  //  .
+	tcpOut[18] = 0                  // URG Pointer
+	tcpOut[19] = 0                  //  .
+
+	// Calculate checksum with IPv6 pseudo-header
+	csum := ipv6PseudoheaderChecksum(ipHdr[8:24], ipHdr[24:40], 6, tcpLen)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(tcpOut[16:], tcpipChecksum(tcpOut, csum))
+
+	return out
+}
+
+// maxIPv6ExtHeaders caps the extension-header walk in IPv6FindUpperProtocol.
+// RFC 8200 legal chains are shorter (each header at most once, Destination
+// Options at most twice), so the cap only bites crafted packets, which would
+// otherwise make us walk their whole payload 8 bytes at a time.
+const maxIPv6ExtHeaders = 8
+
+// IPv6FindUpperProtocol walks packet's IPv6 extension-header chain and
+// returns the terminal (upper-layer) protocol number, the byte offset where
+// that protocol's header begins, and whether the packet is a non-first
+// fragment. It steps over Hop-by-Hop (0), Routing (43), Fragment (44),
+// AH (51), and Destination Options (60); anything else — including ESP,
+// whose payload is encrypted — terminates the walk.
+//
+// For a non-first fragment, nextHeader still names the flow's upper
+// protocol (copied from the fragment header) but offset points at fragment
+// payload, not a real transport header: consult isFragment before
+// dereferencing offset. If the chain is truncated, over-long, or the packet
+// is shorter than an IPv6 header, the walk stops early and nextHeader is
+// whatever it stopped on (59, IPPROTO_NONE, for the too-short case) —
+// callers treat any non-transport result as unclassifiable.
+func IPv6FindUpperProtocol(packet []byte) (nextHeader uint8, offset int, isFragment bool) {
+	if len(packet) < ipv6.HeaderLen {
+		return 59, 0, false // IPPROTO_NONE: nothing to classify
+	}
+	nextHeader = packet[6]
+	offset = ipv6.HeaderLen
+
+	for range maxIPv6ExtHeaders {
+		switch nextHeader {
+		case 0, 43, 60: // Hop-by-Hop, Routing, Destination
+			if len(packet) < offset+2 {
+				return nextHeader, offset, isFragment
+			}
+			nextHeader = packet[offset]
+			offset += (int(packet[offset+1]) + 1) << 3
+
+		case 44: // Fragment
+			if len(packet) < offset+8 {
+				return nextHeader, offset, isFragment
+			}
+			if packet[offset+2] != 0 || packet[offset+3]&0xf8 != 0 {
+				isFragment = true
+			}
+			nextHeader = packet[offset]
+			offset += 8
+
+		case 51: // AH
+			if len(packet) < offset+2 {
+				return nextHeader, offset, isFragment
+			}
+			nextHeader = packet[offset]
+			offset += (int(packet[offset+1]) + 2) << 2
+
+		default:
+			return nextHeader, offset, isFragment
+		}
+	}
+	return nextHeader, offset, isFragment
+}
+
 func CreateICMPEchoResponse(packet, out []byte) []byte {
+	if len(packet) < 1 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	switch packet[0] >> 4 {
+	case 4:
+		return createICMPv4EchoResponse(packet, out)
+	case 6:
+		return createICMPv6EchoResponse(packet, out)
+	default:
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+func createICMPv4EchoResponse(packet, out []byte) []byte {
 	// Return early if this is not a simple ICMP Echo Request
 	//TODO: make constants out of these
 	if !(len(packet) >= 28 && len(packet) <= 9001 && packet[0] == 0x45 && packet[9] == 0x01 && packet[20] == 0x08) {
@@ -199,6 +442,43 @@ func CreateICMPEchoResponse(packet, out []byte) []byte {
 	return out
 }
 
+func createICMPv6EchoResponse(packet, out []byte) []byte {
+	// IPv6 header (40 bytes) + ICMPv6 header (8 bytes minimum)
+	if len(packet) < ipv6.HeaderLen+8 || len(packet) > 9001 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Next Header must be ICMPv6 (58)
+	if packet[6] != 58 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// ICMPv6 type must be Echo Request (128)
+	if packet[ipv6.HeaderLen] != 128 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	out = out[:len(packet)]
+	copy(out, packet)
+
+	// Swap src/dst addresses (bytes 8-23 and 24-39)
+	copy(out[8:24], packet[24:40])
+	copy(out[24:40], packet[8:24])
+
+	// Change ICMPv6 type to Echo Reply (129)
+	icmp := out[ipv6.HeaderLen:]
+	icmp[0] = 129
+	icmp[2] = 0
+	icmp[3] = 0
+
+	// ICMPv6 checksum uses a pseudo-header with src, dst, length, and next header
+	payloadLen := uint32(len(icmp))
+	csum := ipv6PseudoheaderChecksum(out[8:24], out[24:40], 58, payloadLen)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(icmp[2:], tcpipChecksum(icmp, csum))
+
+	return out
+}
+
 // calculates the TCP/IP checksum defined in rfc1071. The passed-in
 // csum is any initial checksum data that's already been computed.
 //
@@ -236,3 +516,18 @@ func ipv4PseudoheaderChecksum(src, dst []byte, proto, length uint32) (csum uint3
 	csum += length >> 16
 	return csum
 }
+
+// based on:
+// - https://github.com/google/gopacket/blob/v1.1.19/layers/tcpip.go#L37-L48
+func ipv6PseudoheaderChecksum(src, dst []byte, proto, length uint32) (csum uint32) {
+	for i := 0; i < 16; i += 2 {
+		csum += uint32(src[i]) << 8
+		csum += uint32(src[i+1])
+		csum += uint32(dst[i]) << 8
+		csum += uint32(dst[i+1])
+	}
+	csum += proto
+	csum += length & 0xffff
+	csum += length >> 16
+	return csum
+}

iputil/packet_test.go

@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 package iputil
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/binary"
 	"net"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"golang.org/x/net/ipv4"
+	"golang.org/x/net/ipv6"
 )
 
 func Test_CreateRejectPacket(t *testing.T) {
@@ -43,7 +46,7 @@ func Test_CreateRejectPacket(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	b = append(b, []byte{0, 3, 0, 4, 0, 0, 0, 0}...)
 
-	expectedLen = MaxRejectPacketSize
+	expectedLen = maxIPv4RejectPacketSize
 	out = make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
 	rejectPacket = CreateRejectPacket(b, out)
 	assert.NotNil(t, rejectPacket)
@@ -71,3 +74,562 @@ func Test_CreateRejectPacket(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotNil(t, rejectPacket)
 	assert.Len(t, rejectPacket, expectedLen)
 }
+
+func Test_CreateRejectPacket_NoFragment(t *testing.T) {
+	out := make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
+
+	// IPv4: non-zero fragment offset should not generate reject packet
+	h := ipv4.Header{
+		Len:      20,
+		Src:      net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 1),
+		Dst:      net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 2),
+		Protocol: 17, // UDP
+	}
+	b, err := h.Marshal()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("h.Marshal: %v", err)
+	}
+	b = append(b, make([]byte, 8)...)
+	// Set fragment offset to non-zero (byte 6-7, offset in 8-byte units)
+	b[6] = 0x00
+	b[7] = 0x01
+	assert.Nil(t, CreateRejectPacket(b, out))
+
+	// MF flag with zero offset (first fragment) should still generate reject
+	b[6] = 0x20 // MF flag set
+	b[7] = 0x00
+	assert.NotNil(t, CreateRejectPacket(b, out))
+
+	// Non-fragment should still generate reject packet
+	b[6] = 0x00
+	b[7] = 0x00
+	assert.NotNil(t, CreateRejectPacket(b, out))
+
+	// DF flag only (not a fragment) should still generate reject packet
+	b[6] = 0x40
+	b[7] = 0x00
+	assert.NotNil(t, CreateRejectPacket(b, out))
+}
+
+func Test_CreateRejectPacketIPv6_NoFragment(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1")
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2")
+	out := make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
+
+	// IPv6 with Fragment header and non-zero offset should not generate reject
+	fragHeader := []byte{
+		17,   // next header: UDP
+		0,    // reserved
+		0, 9, // fragment offset=1 (shifted left 3), M=1
+		0, 0, 0, 1, // identification
+	}
+	udpPayload := make([]byte, 8)
+	payload := append(fragHeader, udpPayload...)
+	packet := makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 44, payload) // next header 44 = Fragment
+	assert.Nil(t, CreateRejectPacket(packet, out))
+
+	// Fragment header with zero offset (first fragment) should still generate reject
+	fragHeader[2] = 0
+	fragHeader[3] = 1 // offset=0, M=1
+	payload = append(fragHeader, udpPayload...)
+	packet = makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 44, payload)
+	assert.NotNil(t, CreateRejectPacket(packet, out))
+}
+
+func Test_CreateRejectPacket_NoICMPError(t *testing.T) {
+	out := make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
+
+	// ICMP error types should not generate reject packets
+	icmpErrorTypes := []byte{3, 4, 5, 11, 12}
+	for _, icmpType := range icmpErrorTypes {
+		h := ipv4.Header{
+			Len:      20,
+			Src:      net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 1),
+			Dst:      net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 2),
+			Protocol: 1, // ICMP
+		}
+
+		b, err := h.Marshal()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("h.Marshal: %v", err)
+		}
+		b = append(b, icmpType, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)
+
+		rejectPacket := CreateRejectPacket(b, out)
+		assert.Nil(t, rejectPacket, "ICMP type %d should not generate a reject packet", icmpType)
+	}
+
+	// ICMP non-error types should still generate reject packets
+	icmpNonErrorTypes := []byte{0, 8, 13, 14}
+	for _, icmpType := range icmpNonErrorTypes {
+		h := ipv4.Header{
+			Len:      20,
+			Src:      net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 1),
+			Dst:      net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 2),
+			Protocol: 1, // ICMP
+		}
+
+		b, err := h.Marshal()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("h.Marshal: %v", err)
+		}
+		b = append(b, icmpType, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)
+
+		rejectPacket := CreateRejectPacket(b, out)
+		assert.NotNil(t, rejectPacket, "ICMP type %d should generate a reject packet", icmpType)
+	}
+}
+
+// Test_CreateRejectPacket_RespectsCap ensures it is impossible for
+// an oversized ICMPv6 reject to overwrite the neighbor segment's bytes.
+func Test_CreateRejectPacket_RespectsCap(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1")
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2")
+
+	// Inner IPv6 UDP packet. An ICMPv6 reject copies the whole inner packet
+	// plus a 48-byte header (40 IPv6 + 8 ICMPv6), so it needs 48 more bytes
+	// than the inner packet length.
+	inner := makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 17, make([]byte, 20))
+
+	// The ciphertext scratch reused as the reject buffer is the received
+	// datagram: 16-byte Nebula header + inner + 16-byte AEAD tag. That is only
+	// 32 bytes of slack, so a full ICMPv6 reject overruns it by 16 bytes.
+	const nebulaOverhead = 32
+	segLen := len(inner) + nebulaOverhead
+
+	// Shared backing row laid out as [segment][neighbor's 16-byte Nebula header].
+	const neighborHdr = 16
+	sentinel := bytes.Repeat([]byte{0xAB}, neighborHdr)
+
+	// Uncapped: the slice's capacity reaches into the neighbor, reproducing
+	// the overrun that silently drops the neighbor packet.
+	backing := make([]byte, segLen+neighborHdr)
+	copy(backing[segLen:], sentinel)
+	reject := CreateRejectPacket(inner, backing[:segLen])
+	assert.NotNil(t, reject, "uncapped buffer reaches into the neighbor, so the reject is built")
+	assert.NotEqual(t, sentinel, backing[segLen:segLen+neighborHdr],
+		"without the cap the oversized reject overruns into the neighbor segment")
+
+	// Capped (the fix): cap==len, so the builder cannot exceed the segment. The
+	// reject does not fit, so it is refused rather than corrupting the neighbor.
+	backing = make([]byte, segLen+neighborHdr)
+	copy(backing[segLen:], sentinel)
+	reject = CreateRejectPacket(inner, backing[:segLen:segLen])
+	assert.Nil(t, reject, "capped segment is 16 bytes too small for a full ICMPv6 reject, so it is refused")
+	assert.Equal(t, sentinel, backing[segLen:segLen+neighborHdr],
+		"capped segment must leave the neighbor untouched")
+}
+
+func makeIPv6Packet(src, dst net.IP, nextHeader uint8, payload []byte) []byte {
+	b := make([]byte, ipv6.HeaderLen+len(payload))
+	b[0] = ipv6.Version << 4
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(b[4:], uint16(len(payload)))
+	b[6] = nextHeader
+	b[7] = 64
+	copy(b[8:24], src.To16())
+	copy(b[24:40], dst.To16())
+	copy(b[ipv6.HeaderLen:], payload)
+	return b
+}
+
+func Test_CreateRejectPacketIPv6_ICMP(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1")
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2")
+
+	// Small UDP packet: entire original included in body
+	udpPayload := make([]byte, 20)
+	udpPayload[0] = 0x00 // src port high
+	udpPayload[1] = 0x50 // src port low (80)
+	udpPayload[2] = 0x01 // dst port high
+	udpPayload[3] = 0xBB // dst port low (443)
+	packet := makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 17, udpPayload)
+
+	out := make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
+	rejectPacket := CreateRejectPacket(packet, out)
+	assert.NotNil(t, rejectPacket)
+
+	// Small packet fits entirely: 40 (ipv6 hdr) + 8 (icmpv6 hdr) + 60 (original)
+	expectedLen := ipv6.HeaderLen + 8 + len(packet)
+	assert.Len(t, rejectPacket, expectedLen)
+
+	// Verify version
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(ipv6.Version<<4), rejectPacket[0]&0xf0)
+	// Verify next header is ICMPv6 (58)
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(58), rejectPacket[6])
+	// Verify src/dst are swapped
+	assert.Equal(t, dst.To16(), net.IP(rejectPacket[8:24]))
+	assert.Equal(t, src.To16(), net.IP(rejectPacket[24:40]))
+	// Verify ICMPv6 type=1 (Dest Unreachable), code=1 (Administratively prohibited)
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(1), rejectPacket[ipv6.HeaderLen])
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(1), rejectPacket[ipv6.HeaderLen+1])
+	// Verify entire original packet is included in body
+	assert.Equal(t, packet, rejectPacket[ipv6.HeaderLen+8:])
+
+	// Large packet: body is truncated to 1000 bytes
+	largePkt := makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 17, make([]byte, 1200))
+	rejectPacket = CreateRejectPacket(largePkt, out)
+	assert.NotNil(t, rejectPacket)
+	assert.Len(t, rejectPacket, ipv6.HeaderLen+8+1000)
+	assert.Equal(t, largePkt[:1000], rejectPacket[ipv6.HeaderLen+8:])
+}
+
+func Test_CreateRejectPacketIPv6_TCP(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1")
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2")
+
+	// TCP SYN packet (next header 6)
+	tcpPayload := make([]byte, 20)
+	tcpPayload[0] = 0x00                             // src port high
+	tcpPayload[1] = 0x50                             // src port low (80)
+	tcpPayload[2] = 0x01                             // dst port high
+	tcpPayload[3] = 0xBB                             // dst port low (443)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(tcpPayload[4:], 1000) // seq
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(tcpPayload[8:], 0)    // ack seq
+	tcpPayload[12] = (20 >> 2) << 4                  // data offset
+	tcpPayload[13] = 0b00000010                      // SYN flag
+
+	packet := makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 6, tcpPayload)
+
+	out := make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
+	rejectPacket := CreateRejectPacket(packet, out)
+	assert.NotNil(t, rejectPacket)
+
+	// Expected: 40 (ipv6 hdr) + 20 (tcp RST)
+	expectedLen := ipv6.HeaderLen + 20
+	assert.Len(t, rejectPacket, expectedLen)
+
+	// Verify version
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(ipv6.Version<<4), rejectPacket[0]&0xf0)
+	// Verify next header is TCP (6)
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(6), rejectPacket[6])
+	// Verify src/dst are swapped
+	assert.Equal(t, dst.To16(), net.IP(rejectPacket[8:24]))
+	assert.Equal(t, src.To16(), net.IP(rejectPacket[24:40]))
+	// Verify ports are swapped
+	tcpOut := rejectPacket[ipv6.HeaderLen:]
+	assert.Equal(t, uint16(443), binary.BigEndian.Uint16(tcpOut[0:2]))
+	assert.Equal(t, uint16(80), binary.BigEndian.Uint16(tcpOut[2:4]))
+	// RST+ACK flags (since input was SYN without ACK)
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(0b00010100), tcpOut[13])
+	// ack_seq = original seq (1000) + SYN (1) + FIN (0) + segment data (0)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint32(1001), binary.BigEndian.Uint32(tcpOut[8:]))
+}
+
+func Test_CreateRejectPacketIPv6_TCPWithACK(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1")
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2")
+
+	// TCP packet with ACK set
+	tcpPayload := make([]byte, 20)
+	tcpPayload[0] = 0x00
+	tcpPayload[1] = 0x50
+	tcpPayload[2] = 0x01
+	tcpPayload[3] = 0xBB
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(tcpPayload[4:], 1000) // seq
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(tcpPayload[8:], 2000) // ack seq
+	tcpPayload[12] = (20 >> 2) << 4                  // data offset
+	tcpPayload[13] = 0b00010000                      // ACK flag
+
+	packet := makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 6, tcpPayload)
+
+	out := make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
+	rejectPacket := CreateRejectPacket(packet, out)
+	assert.NotNil(t, rejectPacket)
+
+	tcpOut := rejectPacket[ipv6.HeaderLen:]
+	// RST only (no ACK) since input had ACK
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(0b00000100), tcpOut[13])
+	// seq = original ack_seq
+	assert.Equal(t, uint32(2000), binary.BigEndian.Uint32(tcpOut[4:]))
+}
+
+func Test_CreateRejectPacketIPv6_NoICMPError(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1")
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2")
+	out := make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
+
+	// ICMPv6 error types (1-4) should not generate reject packets
+	for icmpType := byte(1); icmpType <= 4; icmpType++ {
+		payload := make([]byte, 8)
+		payload[0] = icmpType
+		packet := makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 58, payload)
+
+		rejectPacket := CreateRejectPacket(packet, out)
+		assert.Nil(t, rejectPacket, "ICMPv6 type %d should not generate a reject packet", icmpType)
+	}
+
+	// ICMPv6 non-error types should still generate reject packets
+	nonErrorTypes := []byte{128, 129, 133, 134}
+	for _, icmpType := range nonErrorTypes {
+		payload := make([]byte, 8)
+		payload[0] = icmpType
+		packet := makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 58, payload)
+
+		rejectPacket := CreateRejectPacket(packet, out)
+		assert.NotNil(t, rejectPacket, "ICMPv6 type %d should generate a reject packet", icmpType)
+	}
+}
+
+func Test_CreateRejectPacketIPv6_TooShort(t *testing.T) {
+	// Packet too short to be valid IPv6
+	out := make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
+	assert.Nil(t, CreateRejectPacket([]byte{0x60}, out))
+	assert.Nil(t, CreateRejectPacket(make([]byte, 39), out))
+}
+
+func Test_CreateRejectPacketIPv6_ExtensionHeaders(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1")
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2")
+
+	// IPv6 + Hop-by-Hop extension header + TCP
+	hopByHop := []byte{
+		6,    // next header: TCP
+		0,    // length (8 bytes total)
+		0, 0, // padding
+		0, 0, 0, 0,
+	}
+	tcpPayload := make([]byte, 20)
+	tcpPayload[0] = 0x00
+	tcpPayload[1] = 0x50
+	tcpPayload[2] = 0x01
+	tcpPayload[3] = 0xBB
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(tcpPayload[4:], 1000)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(tcpPayload[8:], 2000)
+	tcpPayload[12] = (20 >> 2) << 4
+	tcpPayload[13] = 0b00010000 // ACK
+
+	payload := append(hopByHop, tcpPayload...)
+	packet := makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 0, payload) // next header 0 = Hop-by-Hop
+
+	out := make([]byte, MaxRejectPacketSize)
+	rejectPacket := CreateRejectPacket(packet, out)
+	assert.NotNil(t, rejectPacket)
+
+	// Should produce TCP RST
+	expectedLen := ipv6.HeaderLen + 20
+	assert.Len(t, rejectPacket, expectedLen)
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(6), rejectPacket[6]) // next header is TCP
+	tcpOut := rejectPacket[ipv6.HeaderLen:]
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(0b00000100), tcpOut[13]) // RST only
+}
+
+func TestCreateICMPEchoResponse_IPv4(t *testing.T) {
+	// Build a simple IPv4 ICMP Echo Request
+	packet := make([]byte, 28)
+	packet[0] = 0x45                                   // version 4, IHL 5
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(packet[2:], uint16(28)) // total length
+	packet[8] = 64                                     // TTL
+	packet[9] = 1                                      // protocol ICMP
+	copy(packet[12:16], net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 1).To4())   // src
+	copy(packet[16:20], net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 2).To4())   // dst
+	packet[20] = 8                                     // ICMP Echo Request
+
+	out := make([]byte, len(packet))
+	result := CreateICMPEchoResponse(packet, out)
+	assert.NotNil(t, result)
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(0x45), result[0])
+	// src/dst swapped
+	assert.Equal(t, net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 2).To4(), net.IP(result[12:16]))
+	assert.Equal(t, net.IPv4(10, 0, 0, 1).To4(), net.IP(result[16:20]))
+	// ICMP Echo Reply
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(0), result[20])
+}
+
+func TestCreateICMPEchoResponse_IPv6(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1").To16()
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2").To16()
+
+	// Build an IPv6 ICMPv6 Echo Request packet
+	// IPv6 header (40 bytes) + ICMPv6 (8 bytes)
+	packet := make([]byte, 48)
+	packet[0] = 0x60        // version 6
+	payloadLen := uint16(8) // ICMPv6 header only
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(packet[4:], payloadLen)
+	packet[6] = 58           // Next Header: ICMPv6
+	packet[7] = 64           // Hop Limit
+	copy(packet[8:24], src)  // src address
+	copy(packet[24:40], dst) // dst address
+
+	// ICMPv6 Echo Request
+	icmp := packet[40:]
+	icmp[0] = 128                           // type: Echo Request
+	icmp[1] = 0                             // code
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(icmp[4:], 1) // identifier
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(icmp[6:], 1) // sequence number
+
+	// Compute correct checksum for the request
+	csum := ipv6PseudoheaderChecksum(src, dst, 58, uint32(payloadLen))
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(icmp[2:], tcpipChecksum(icmp, csum))
+
+	out := make([]byte, len(packet))
+	result := CreateICMPEchoResponse(packet, out)
+	assert.NotNil(t, result)
+
+	// Version should still be 6
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(6), result[0]>>4)
+	// src/dst swapped
+	assert.Equal(t, dst, net.IP(result[8:24]))
+	assert.Equal(t, src, net.IP(result[24:40]))
+	// ICMPv6 Echo Reply type
+	assert.Equal(t, byte(129), result[40])
+
+	// Verify checksum is valid (tcpipChecksum returns 0 when data+checksum is correct)
+	respIcmp := result[40:]
+	verifyCsum := ipv6PseudoheaderChecksum(result[8:24], result[24:40], 58, uint32(payloadLen))
+	assert.Equal(t, uint16(0), tcpipChecksum(respIcmp, verifyCsum))
+}
+
+func TestCreateICMPEchoResponse_IPv6_NotEchoRequest(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1").To16()
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2").To16()
+
+	packet := make([]byte, 48)
+	packet[0] = 0x60
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(packet[4:], 8)
+	packet[6] = 58
+	packet[7] = 64
+	copy(packet[8:24], src)
+	copy(packet[24:40], dst)
+
+	// ICMPv6 type 1 (Destination Unreachable) - not Echo Request
+	packet[40] = 1
+
+	out := make([]byte, len(packet))
+	result := CreateICMPEchoResponse(packet, out)
+	assert.Nil(t, result)
+}
+
+func TestCreateICMPEchoResponse_IPv6_NotICMPv6(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1").To16()
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2").To16()
+
+	packet := make([]byte, 48)
+	packet[0] = 0x60
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(packet[4:], 8)
+	packet[6] = 6 // TCP, not ICMPv6
+	packet[7] = 64
+	copy(packet[8:24], src)
+	copy(packet[24:40], dst)
+
+	out := make([]byte, len(packet))
+	result := CreateICMPEchoResponse(packet, out)
+	assert.Nil(t, result)
+}
+
+func TestIPv6FindUpperProtocol(t *testing.T) {
+	src := net.ParseIP("fd00::1")
+	dst := net.ParseIP("fd00::2")
+
+	// extHdr builds one 8-byte-unit extension header: next, hdrExtLen
+	// ((extra+1)*8 bytes total), padded to size.
+	extHdr := func(next uint8, extra int) []byte {
+		b := make([]byte, (extra+1)*8)
+		b[0] = next
+		b[1] = uint8(extra)
+		return b
+	}
+
+	t.Run("no extension headers", func(t *testing.T) {
+		for _, proto := range []uint8{6, 17, 58} {
+			nh, offset, frag := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, proto, make([]byte, 20)))
+			assert.Equal(t, proto, nh)
+			assert.Equal(t, ipv6.HeaderLen, offset)
+			assert.False(t, frag)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("hop-by-hop then TCP", func(t *testing.T) {
+		payload := append(extHdr(6, 0), make([]byte, 20)...)
+		nh, offset, frag := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 0, payload))
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(6), nh)
+		assert.Equal(t, ipv6.HeaderLen+8, offset)
+		assert.False(t, frag)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("chained headers honor length units", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Hop-by-Hop (8B) -> Dest Options (16B) -> Routing (8B) -> UDP.
+		payload := extHdr(60, 0)
+		payload = append(payload, extHdr(43, 1)...)
+		payload = append(payload, extHdr(17, 0)...)
+		payload = append(payload, make([]byte, 8)...)
+		nh, offset, frag := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 0, payload))
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(17), nh)
+		assert.Equal(t, ipv6.HeaderLen+8+16+8, offset)
+		assert.False(t, frag)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("AH length is in 4-byte units plus 2", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// AH payload-len byte 4 -> (4+2)*4 = 24 bytes on the wire.
+		ah := make([]byte, 24)
+		ah[0] = 6
+		ah[1] = 4
+		payload := append(ah, make([]byte, 20)...)
+		nh, offset, frag := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 51, payload))
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(6), nh)
+		assert.Equal(t, ipv6.HeaderLen+24, offset)
+		assert.False(t, frag)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("first fragment walks to the transport header", func(t *testing.T) {
+		frag := make([]byte, 8)
+		frag[0] = 17
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(frag[2:4], 0x0001) // offset 0, M=1
+		payload := append(frag, make([]byte, 8)...)
+		nh, offset, isFrag := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 44, payload))
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(17), nh)
+		assert.Equal(t, ipv6.HeaderLen+8, offset)
+		assert.False(t, isFrag, "first fragment carries the real transport header")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("non-first fragment is flagged", func(t *testing.T) {
+		frag := make([]byte, 8)
+		frag[0] = 17
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(frag[2:4], 1<<3) // offset 1, M=0
+		payload := append(frag, make([]byte, 8)...)
+		nh, _, isFrag := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 44, payload))
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(17), nh, "fragment header still names the flow's L4")
+		assert.True(t, isFrag, "offset points at fragment payload, not a header")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("ESP terminates the walk", func(t *testing.T) {
+		nh, offset, frag := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 50, make([]byte, 16)))
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(50), nh)
+		assert.Equal(t, ipv6.HeaderLen, offset)
+		assert.False(t, frag)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("unknown protocol terminates the walk", func(t *testing.T) {
+		nh, offset, _ := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 132, make([]byte, 16))) // SCTP
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(132), nh)
+		assert.Equal(t, ipv6.HeaderLen, offset)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("truncated extension header stops the walk", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Next header says Hop-by-Hop but the packet ends at the IPv6 header.
+		nh, offset, frag := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 0, nil))
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(0), nh, "unresolvable chain returns the extension header it stopped on")
+		assert.Equal(t, ipv6.HeaderLen, offset)
+		assert.False(t, frag)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("crafted over-long chain hits the cap", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Ten chained Hop-by-Hop headers, then TCP. Illegal per RFC 8200
+		// (Hop-by-Hop may only appear first); the cap must stop the walk
+		// before it resolves rather than crawling arbitrary crafted chains.
+		var payload []byte
+		for i := 0; i < 9; i++ {
+			payload = append(payload, extHdr(0, 0)...)
+		}
+		payload = append(payload, extHdr(6, 0)...)
+		payload = append(payload, make([]byte, 20)...)
+		nh, _, _ := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(makeIPv6Packet(src, dst, 0, payload))
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(0), nh, "walk must stop at the cap, not resolve to TCP")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("packet shorter than an IPv6 header", func(t *testing.T) {
+		nh, offset, frag := IPv6FindUpperProtocol(make([]byte, 39))
+		assert.Equal(t, uint8(59), nh) // IPPROTO_NONE
+		assert.Equal(t, 0, offset)
+		assert.False(t, frag)
+	})
+}

lighthouse.go

@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ type LightHouse struct {
 	myVpnNetworksTable *bart.Lite
 	punchy             *Punchy
 
+	// localAddrsFn enumerates the underlay addresses we advertise. It is a field so tests can supply simulated
+	// addresses rather than whatever this machine's NICs happen to be. Set it before Start.
+	localAddrsFn func(*LocalAllowList) []netip.Addr
+
 	// Local cache of answers from light houses
 	// map of vpn addr to answers
 	addrMap map[netip.Addr]*RemoteList
@@ -107,6 +111,10 @@ func NewLightHouseFromConfig(ctx context.Context, l *slog.Logger, c *config.C, c
 		queryChan:          make(chan netip.Addr, c.GetUint32("handshakes.query_buffer", 64)),
 		l:                  l,
 	}
+	h.localAddrsFn = func(al *LocalAllowList) []netip.Addr {
+		return localAddrs(h.l, al)
+	}
+
 	lighthouses := make([]netip.Addr, 0)
 	h.lighthouses.Store(&lighthouses)
 	staticList := make(map[netip.Addr]struct{})
@@ -272,16 +280,18 @@ func (lh *LightHouse) reload(c *config.C, initial bool) error {
 	//NOTE: many things will get much simpler when we combine static_host_map and lighthouse.hosts in config
 	if initial || c.HasChanged("static_host_map") || c.HasChanged("static_map.cadence") || c.HasChanged("static_map.network") || c.HasChanged("static_map.lookup_timeout") {
 		// Clean up. Entries still in the static_host_map will be re-built.
-		// Entries no longer present must have their (possible) background DNS goroutines stopped.
-		if existingStaticList := lh.staticList.Load(); existingStaticList != nil {
+		ourselves := lh.myVpnNetworks[0].Addr()
+		oldStaticList := lh.staticList.Load()
+		if oldStaticList != nil {
 			lh.RLock()
-			for staticVpnAddr := range *existingStaticList {
+			for staticVpnAddr := range *oldStaticList {
 				if am, ok := lh.addrMap[staticVpnAddr]; ok && am != nil {
-					am.hr.Cancel()
+					am.ResetForOwner(ourselves)
 				}
 			}
 			lh.RUnlock()
 		}
+
 		// Build a new list based on current config.
 		staticList := make(map[netip.Addr]struct{})
 		err := lh.loadStaticMap(c, staticList)
@@ -289,6 +299,21 @@ func (lh *LightHouse) reload(c *config.C, initial bool) error {
 			return err
 		}
 
+		// For entries removed from static_host_map, stop the DNS goroutine and drop the cached addrs.
+		// All addrs must come from the lighthouses now that it's no longer a static host.
+		if oldStaticList != nil {
+			lh.RLock()
+			for staticVpnAddr := range *oldStaticList {
+				if _, stillStatic := staticList[staticVpnAddr]; stillStatic {
+					continue
+				}
+				if am, ok := lh.addrMap[staticVpnAddr]; ok && am != nil {
+					am.ClearHostnameResults()
+				}
+			}
+			lh.RUnlock()
+		}
+
 		lh.staticList.Store(&staticList)
 		if !initial {
 			if c.HasChanged("static_host_map") {
@@ -901,7 +926,7 @@ func (lh *LightHouse) SendUpdate() {
 	}
 
 	lal := lh.GetLocalAllowList()
-	for _, e := range localAddrs(lh.l, lal) {
+	for _, e := range lh.localAddrsFn(lal) {
 		if lh.myVpnNetworksTable.Contains(e) {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -1401,6 +1426,9 @@ func (lhh *LightHouseHandler) handleHostPunchNotification(n *NebulaMeta, fromVpn
 
 	remoteAllowList := lhh.lh.GetRemoteAllowList()
 	for _, a := range n.Details.V4AddrPorts {
+		if a == nil {
+			continue
+		}
 		b := protoV4AddrPortToNetAddrPort(a)
 		if remoteAllowList.Allow(detailsVpnAddr, b.Addr()) {
 			lhh.lh.punchy.Schedule(b, detailsVpnAddr)
@@ -1408,6 +1436,9 @@ func (lhh *LightHouseHandler) handleHostPunchNotification(n *NebulaMeta, fromVpn
 	}
 
 	for _, a := range n.Details.V6AddrPorts {
+		if a == nil {
+			continue
+		}
 		b := protoV6AddrPortToNetAddrPort(a)
 		if remoteAllowList.Allow(detailsVpnAddr, b.Addr()) {
 			lhh.lh.punchy.Schedule(b, detailsVpnAddr)
@@ -1437,7 +1468,7 @@ func protoV6AddrPortToNetAddrPort(ap *V6AddrPort) netip.AddrPort {
 	b := [16]byte{}
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(b[:8], ap.Hi)
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(b[8:], ap.Lo)
-	return netip.AddrPortFrom(netip.AddrFrom16(b), uint16(ap.Port))
+	return netip.AddrPortFrom(netip.AddrFrom16(b).Unmap(), uint16(ap.Port))
 }
 
 func netAddrToProtoAddr(addr netip.Addr) *Addr {
@@ -1477,9 +1508,11 @@ func (d *NebulaMetaDetails) GetRelays() []netip.Addr {
 
 	if len(d.RelayVpnAddrs) > 0 {
 		for _, r := range d.RelayVpnAddrs {
+			if r != nil {
 				relays = append(relays, protoAddrToNetAddr(r))
 			}
 		}
+	}
 	return relays
 }
 

lighthouse_test.go

@@ -303,6 +303,132 @@ func TestLighthouse_reload(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
+// TestLighthouse_reloadStaticHostMap verifies that reloading static_host_map applies the new
+// config rather than appending to it. See issue #718.
+func TestLighthouse_reloadStaticHostMap(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+	c := config.NewC(l)
+	c.Settings["lighthouse"] = map[string]any{"am_lighthouse": true}
+	c.Settings["listen"] = map[string]any{"port": 4242}
+	c.Settings["static_host_map"] = map[string]any{
+		"10.128.0.2": []any{"1.1.1.1:4242"},
+	}
+
+	myVpnNet := netip.MustParsePrefix("10.128.0.1/24")
+	nt := new(bart.Lite)
+	nt.Insert(myVpnNet)
+	cs := &CertState{
+		myVpnNetworks:      []netip.Prefix{myVpnNet},
+		myVpnNetworksTable: nt,
+	}
+
+	lh, err := NewLightHouseFromConfig(t.Context(), l, c, cs, nil, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	staticHost := netip.MustParseAddr("10.128.0.2")
+	otherHost := netip.MustParseAddr("10.128.0.3")
+
+	// Capture the RemoteList pointer up front; an in-flight handshake would hold the same one
+	// on hostinfo.remotes, so it must reflect every reload below.
+	pinned := lh.Query(staticHost)
+	require.NotNil(t, pinned)
+	assert.Equal(t, []netip.AddrPort{netip.MustParseAddrPort("1.1.1.1:4242")}, pinned.CopyAddrs([]netip.Prefix{}))
+
+	// Replace the remote address. The new address should be the only entry.
+	nc := map[string]any{
+		"static_host_map": map[string]any{
+			"10.128.0.2": []any{"2.2.2.2:4242"},
+		},
+	}
+	rc, err := yaml.Marshal(nc)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(string(rc)))
+
+	rl := lh.Query(staticHost)
+	require.NotNil(t, rl)
+	assert.Same(t, pinned, rl, "RemoteList pointer must stay stable so in-flight handshakes pick up the change")
+	assert.Equal(t, []netip.AddrPort{netip.MustParseAddrPort("2.2.2.2:4242")}, rl.CopyAddrs([]netip.Prefix{}))
+
+	// Reload back to the original IP. Mirrors the round-trip in issue #718 step 6-8 where
+	// the buggy reload produced [1.1.1.1, 2.2.2.2, 1.1.1.1] instead of [1.1.1.1].
+	nc = map[string]any{
+		"static_host_map": map[string]any{
+			"10.128.0.2": []any{"1.1.1.1:4242"},
+		},
+	}
+	rc, err = yaml.Marshal(nc)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(string(rc)))
+
+	rl = lh.Query(staticHost)
+	require.NotNil(t, rl)
+	assert.Same(t, pinned, rl)
+	assert.Equal(t, []netip.AddrPort{netip.MustParseAddrPort("1.1.1.1:4242")}, rl.CopyAddrs([]netip.Prefix{}))
+
+	// Reload with the same config. An unchanged entry must not duplicate.
+	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(string(rc)))
+
+	rl = lh.Query(staticHost)
+	require.NotNil(t, rl)
+	assert.Same(t, pinned, rl)
+	assert.Equal(t, []netip.AddrPort{netip.MustParseAddrPort("1.1.1.1:4242")}, rl.CopyAddrs([]netip.Prefix{}))
+
+	// Switch back to 2.2.2.2 so the rest of the test continues against a known address.
+	nc = map[string]any{
+		"static_host_map": map[string]any{
+			"10.128.0.2": []any{"2.2.2.2:4242"},
+		},
+	}
+	rc, err = yaml.Marshal(nc)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(string(rc)))
+
+	// Add a second host alongside the first. Both should be present, neither duplicated.
+	nc = map[string]any{
+		"static_host_map": map[string]any{
+			"10.128.0.2": []any{"2.2.2.2:4242"},
+			"10.128.0.3": []any{"3.3.3.3:4242"},
+		},
+	}
+	rc, err = yaml.Marshal(nc)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(string(rc)))
+
+	rl = lh.Query(staticHost)
+	require.NotNil(t, rl)
+	assert.Same(t, pinned, rl, "adding a sibling entry must not displace the existing RemoteList")
+	assert.Equal(t, []netip.AddrPort{netip.MustParseAddrPort("2.2.2.2:4242")}, rl.CopyAddrs([]netip.Prefix{}))
+
+	rl = lh.Query(otherHost)
+	require.NotNil(t, rl)
+	assert.Equal(t, []netip.AddrPort{netip.MustParseAddrPort("3.3.3.3:4242")}, rl.CopyAddrs([]netip.Prefix{}))
+
+	// Drop the first host entirely. The vpnAddr is no longer marked static, our owner
+	// contribution is cleared, but the addrMap entry stays in place so non-static cache
+	// data (from lighthouse queries) on the same RemoteList isn't lost. In-flight handshakes
+	// that already had the pointer see an empty address list rather than retrying stale ones.
+	nc = map[string]any{
+		"static_host_map": map[string]any{
+			"10.128.0.3": []any{"3.3.3.3:4242"},
+		},
+	}
+	rc, err = yaml.Marshal(nc)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, c.ReloadConfigString(string(rc)))
+
+	_, isStatic := lh.GetStaticHostList()[staticHost]
+	assert.False(t, isStatic)
+
+	rl = lh.Query(staticHost)
+	require.NotNil(t, rl)
+	assert.Same(t, pinned, rl)
+	assert.Empty(t, rl.CopyAddrs([]netip.Prefix{}))
+
+	rl = lh.Query(otherHost)
+	require.NotNil(t, rl)
+	assert.Equal(t, []netip.AddrPort{netip.MustParseAddrPort("3.3.3.3:4242")}, rl.CopyAddrs([]netip.Prefix{}))
+}
+
 func newLHHostRequest(fromAddr netip.AddrPort, myVpnIp, queryVpnIp netip.Addr, lhh *LightHouseHandler) testLhReply {
 	req := &NebulaMeta{
 		Type:    NebulaMeta_HostQuery,
@@ -372,7 +498,7 @@ type testEncWriter struct {
 	protocolVersion cert.Version
 }
 
-func (tw *testEncWriter) SendVia(via *HostInfo, relay *Relay, ad, nb, out []byte, nocopy bool) {
+func (tw *testEncWriter) SendVia(via *HostInfo, relay *Relay, ad, nb, out []byte, nocopy bool, q int) {
 }
 func (tw *testEncWriter) Handshake(vpnIp netip.Addr) {
 }

main.go

@@ -6,11 +6,14 @@ import (
 	"log/slog"
 	"net"
 	"net/netip"
+	"os"
 	"runtime/debug"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/cpupick"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/sshd"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
@@ -33,6 +36,9 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 		buildVersion = moduleVersion()
 	}
 
+	// Debug builds (-tags debug) serve pprof on :6060; a no-op otherwise.
+	startPprofServer(ctx, l)
+
 	// Print the config if in test, the exit comes later
 	if configTest {
 		b, err := yaml.Marshal(c.Settings)
@@ -130,6 +136,17 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 	udpConns := make([]udp.Conn, routines)
 	port := c.GetInt("listen.port", 0)
 
+	// Callers get no handle to these until the Control is returned, release them on any error.
+	defer func() {
+		if reterr != nil {
+			for _, u := range udpConns {
+				if u != nil {
+					_ = u.Close()
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
 	if !configTest {
 		rawListenHost := c.GetString("listen.host", "0.0.0.0")
 		var listenHost netip.Addr
@@ -150,7 +167,13 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 
 		for i := 0; i < routines; i++ {
 			l.Info("listening", "addr", netip.AddrPortFrom(listenHost, uint16(port)))
-			udpServer, err := udp.NewListener(l, listenHost, port, routines > 1, c.GetInt("listen.batch", 64))
+			batchSize := c.GetInt("listen.batch", 64)
+			if batchSize < 1 {
+				oldBatch := batchSize
+				batchSize = 1
+				l.Warn("listen.batch size is invalid", "provided", oldBatch, "overridden to", batchSize)
+			}
+			udpServer, err := udp.NewListener(l, listenHost, port, routines > 1, batchSize)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, util.NewContextualError("Failed to open udp listener", m{"queue": i}, err)
 			}
@@ -194,11 +217,26 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 	handshakeManager := NewHandshakeManager(l, hostMap, lightHouse, udpConns[0], handshakeConfig)
 	lightHouse.handshakeTrigger = handshakeManager.trigger
 
-	ds, err := newDnsServerFromConfig(ctx, l, pki.getCertState(), hostMap, c)
+	ds, err := newDnsServerFromConfig(ctx, l, pki, hostMap, c)
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Warn("Failed to start DNS responder", "error", err)
 	}
 
+	pinThreads := c.GetBool("tun.pin_threads", true)
+	cpuAffinity := parseCpuAffinity(c, l, routines)
+	if pinThreads && routines > 1 && len(cpuAffinity) == 0 && !configTest {
+		// The operator didn't choose pin CPUs, so pick a default set that
+		// prefers performance cores and doesn't stack co-located instances
+		// onto allowed[0]. The bound UDP port keys the per-instance spread:
+		// distinct across instances sharing a box, stable across restarts.
+		// A nil result keeps listenIn's stock allowed[i] fallback.
+		key := uint64(os.Getpid())
+		if ap, err := udpConns[0].LocalAddr(); err == nil && ap.Port() != 0 {
+			key = uint64(ap.Port())
+		}
+		cpuAffinity = cpupick.Default(routines, key, l)
+	}
+
 	ifConfig := &InterfaceConfig{
 		HostMap:               hostMap,
 		Inside:                tun,
@@ -220,6 +258,8 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 		relayManager:          NewRelayManager(ctx, l, hostMap, c),
 		punchy:                punchy,
 		ConntrackCacheTimeout: conntrackCacheTimeout,
+		CpuAffinity:           cpuAffinity,
+		PinThreads:            pinThreads,
 		l:                     l,
 	}
 
@@ -257,6 +297,8 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 
 	attachCommands(l, c, ssh, ifce)
 
+	networkChanges := udp.NewNetworkChangeMonitor(ctx, l, c)
+
 	return &Control{
 		state:                  StateReady,
 		f:                      ifce,
@@ -267,10 +309,75 @@ func Main(c *config.C, configTest bool, buildVersion string, l *slog.Logger, dev
 		statsStart:             stats.Start,
 		dnsStart:               ds.Start,
 		lighthouseStart:        lightHouse.StartUpdateWorker,
+		networkChangeStart:     networkChanges.Start,
 		connectionManagerStart: connManager.Start,
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// parseCpuAffinity reads `tun.cpu_affinity` from the config — a list of
+// integer CPU IDs, one per TUN reader goroutine. Empty / unset returns nil
+// (listenIn falls back to spreading queues across the allowed CPU set).
+// Length mismatch with `routines` is a warning, not an error: shorter lists
+// are modulo-cycled across queues, longer lists' tail is ignored. Invalid
+// entries (non-integer, or a CPU ID we're not allowed to run on) are also a
+// warning and disable the override entirely so we don't silently pin to the
+// wrong CPU. Entries are validated against the process's current affinity
+// mask (util.AllowedCPUs) rather than 0..NumCPU-1: under a cgroup cpuset or
+// taskset the runnable IDs are frequently not that contiguous range, and
+// pinning to an unrunnable ID always fails. If the allowed set can't be
+// determined we fall back to a plain non-negative check.
+func parseCpuAffinity(c *config.C, l *slog.Logger, routines int) []int {
+	raw := c.Get("tun.cpu_affinity")
+	if raw == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	rv, ok := raw.([]any)
+	if !ok {
+		l.Warn("tun.cpu_affinity must be a list of integers; ignoring", "value", raw)
+		return nil
+	}
+	// allowed is the set of CPU IDs we're actually permitted to run on. A nil
+	// slice (unsupported platform or lookup error) means "can't tell", so we
+	// only apply the weaker non-negative check in that case.
+	allowed, err := util.AllowedCPUs()
+	if err != nil {
+		l.Warn("could not determine allowed CPUs; validating tun.cpu_affinity against non-negative only", "error", err)
+		allowed = nil
+	}
+	cpus := make([]int, 0, len(rv))
+	for i, e := range rv {
+		var cpu int
+		switch v := e.(type) {
+		case int:
+			cpu = v
+		case int64:
+			cpu = int(v)
+		case float64:
+			cpu = int(v)
+		default:
+			l.Warn("tun.cpu_affinity entry not an integer; ignoring affinity",
+				"index", i, "value", e)
+			return nil
+		}
+		if cpu < 0 {
+			l.Warn("tun.cpu_affinity entry out of range; ignoring affinity",
+				"index", i, "cpu", cpu)
+			return nil
+		}
+		if len(allowed) > 0 && !slices.Contains(allowed, cpu) {
+			l.Warn("tun.cpu_affinity entry not in allowed CPU set; ignoring affinity",
+				"index", i, "cpu", cpu, "allowed", allowed)
+			return nil
+		}
+		cpus = append(cpus, cpu)
+	}
+	if len(cpus) != routines {
+		l.Warn("tun.cpu_affinity length doesn't match routines; queues will modulo-cycle through the list",
+			"affinity_len", len(cpus), "routines", routines)
+	}
+	return cpus
+}
+
 func moduleVersion() string {
 	info, ok := debug.ReadBuildInfo()
 	if !ok {

main_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package nebula
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/config"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/util"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestParseCpuAffinity(t *testing.T) {
+	l := test.NewLogger()
+
+	// newConfig returns a config.C with tun.cpu_affinity set to v. A nil v
+	// leaves the key unset.
+	newConfig := func(v any) *config.C {
+		c := config.NewC(l)
+		if v != nil {
+			c.Settings["tun"] = map[string]any{"cpu_affinity": v}
+		}
+		return c
+	}
+
+	// unset -> nil (listenIn falls back to spreading across the allowed set)
+	assert.Nil(t, parseCpuAffinity(newConfig(nil), l, 1))
+
+	// Pick a CPU we're actually allowed to run on so a valid list survives
+	// validation regardless of the host's affinity mask.
+	allowed, _ := util.AllowedCPUs()
+	validCPU := 0
+	if len(allowed) > 0 {
+		validCPU = allowed[0]
+	}
+
+	// valid list -> parsed through unchanged
+	assert.Equal(t, []int{validCPU, validCPU}, parseCpuAffinity(newConfig([]any{validCPU, validCPU}), l, 2))
+
+	// a negative entry is out of range on every platform -> disables the override
+	assert.Nil(t, parseCpuAffinity(newConfig([]any{validCPU, -1}), l, 2))
+
+	// a non-integer entry -> disables the override
+	assert.Nil(t, parseCpuAffinity(newConfig([]any{validCPU, "not-a-cpu"}), l, 2))
+
+	// a CPU id outside the allowed set -> disables the override. Only assertable
+	// where we can enumerate the allowed set (e.g. linux); 1<<20 is far beyond
+	// any representable CPU id so it can never be in the mask.
+	if len(allowed) > 0 {
+		assert.Nil(t, parseCpuAffinity(newConfig([]any{1 << 20}), l, 1))
+	}
+}

noiseutil/cipher_state_test.go

@@ -164,3 +164,48 @@ func TestCipherStateNilSafety(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Empty(t, out)
 	assert.Equal(t, 0, cc.Overhead())
 }
+
+func TestCipherStateAESGCMInPlaceDecrypt(t *testing.T) {
+	enc, dec := buildCipherStates(t, CipherAESGCM)
+	inPlaceDecrypt(t, NewCipherStateAESGCM(enc), NewCipherStateAESGCM(dec))
+}
+
+func TestCipherStateChaChaPolyInPlaceDecrypt(t *testing.T) {
+	enc, dec := buildCipherStates(t, noise.CipherChaChaPoly)
+	inPlaceDecrypt(t, NewCipherStateChaChaPoly(enc), NewCipherStateChaChaPoly(dec))
+}
+
+func inPlaceDecrypt(t *testing.T, enc, dec CipherState) {
+	t.Helper()
+	const hdrLen = 16
+	plaintext := []byte("in-place decrypt should replace the ciphertext bytes")
+	nb := make([]byte, 12)
+
+	// packet = [16-byte header | ciphertext+tag], like a nebula Message.
+	packet := make([]byte, hdrLen, hdrLen+len(plaintext)+enc.Overhead())
+	for i := range packet {
+		packet[i] = byte(i)
+	}
+	packet, err := enc.EncryptDanger(packet, packet[:hdrLen], plaintext, 1, nb)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Simulate a GRO row: [packet | next segment]. A failed auth on packet
+	// may zero packet's plaintext region but must not touch the header, the
+	// tag, or the neighboring segment.
+	neighbor := []byte("next coalesced segment, must stay intact")
+	row := append(append([]byte(nil), packet...), neighbor...)
+	tampered := row[:len(packet)]
+	tampered[hdrLen] ^= 0x01
+	_, err = dec.DecryptDanger(tampered[hdrLen:hdrLen], tampered[:hdrLen], tampered[hdrLen:], 1, nb)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, packet[:hdrLen], tampered[:hdrLen], "failed auth must not touch the header")
+	assert.Equal(t, packet[len(packet)-dec.Overhead():], tampered[len(tampered)-dec.Overhead():],
+		"failed auth must not touch the tag")
+	assert.Equal(t, neighbor, row[len(packet):], "failed auth must not touch the next segment")
+
+	out, err := dec.DecryptDanger(packet[hdrLen:hdrLen], packet[:hdrLen], packet[hdrLen:], 1, nb)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, plaintext, out)
+	// The plaintext must be IN the packet buffer, not a fresh allocation.
+	assert.Equal(t, &packet[hdrLen], &out[0], "plaintext must alias the packet buffer")
+}

outside.go

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/batch"
 	"golang.org/x/net/ipv4"
 )
 
@@ -22,7 +23,11 @@ const (
 
 var ErrOutOfWindow = errors.New("out of window packet")
 
-func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte, h *header.H, fwPacket *firewall.Packet, lhf *LightHouseHandler, nb []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
+// readOutsidePackets processes one received underlay packet.
+// Message payloads are decrypted IN PLACE, so packet must stay untouched
+// by the caller until the batcher for queue q has been flushed
+func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, packet []byte, rxc *rxContext) {
+	h := rxc.h
 	err := h.Parse(packet)
 	if err != nil {
 		// Hole punch packets are 0 or 1 byte big, so lets ignore printing those errors
@@ -90,7 +95,7 @@ func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte,
 	if isMessageRelay {
 		hostinfo = f.hostMap.QueryRelayIndex(h.RemoteIndex)
 	} else {
-		hostinfo = f.hostMap.QueryIndex(h.RemoteIndex)
+		hostinfo = f.hostMap.QueryIndexCached(h.RemoteIndex, rxc.hostmapCache)
 	}
 
 	// At this point we should have a valid existing tunnel, verify and send
@@ -102,27 +107,32 @@ func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte,
 		return
 	}
 
+	if len(packet) < header.Len+hostinfo.ConnectionState.dKey.Overhead() {
+		f.messageMetrics.RxInvalid(1)
+		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+			f.l.Debug("packet too small", "from", via, "length", len(packet))
+		}
+		return
+	}
+
 	// All remaining packets are encrypted
-	ci := hostinfo.ConnectionState
-	if !ci.window.Check(f.l, h.MessageCounter) {
-		return
-	}
-
-	// Relay packets are special
 	if isMessageRelay {
-		f.handleOutsideRelayPacket(hostinfo, via, out, packet, h, fwPacket, lhf, nb, q, localCache)
-
-		return
-	}
-
-	out, err = f.decrypt(hostinfo, h.MessageCounter, out, packet, h, nb)
+		// Relay packets are special, this branch should always early-return
+		err = hostinfo.ConnectionState.VerifyRelay(f.l, h.MessageCounter, packet, rxc.nb)
 		if err != nil {
 			if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
-			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("Failed to decrypt packet",
-				"error", err,
-				"from", via,
-				"header", h,
-			)
+				hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("Failed to verify relay packet", "error", err, "from", via, "header", h)
+			}
+			return
+		}
+		f.handleOutsideRelayPacket(hostinfo, via, packet, rxc)
+		return
+	}
+
+	out, err := hostinfo.ConnectionState.Decrypt(f.l, h.MessageCounter, packet, rxc.nb)
+	if err != nil {
+		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("Failed to decrypt packet", "error", err, "from", via, "header", h)
 		}
 		return
 	}
@@ -135,7 +145,7 @@ func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte,
 	case header.Message:
 		switch h.Subtype {
 		case header.MessageNone:
-			f.handleOutsideMessagePacket(hostinfo, out, packet, fwPacket, nb, q, localCache)
+			f.handleOutsideMessagePacket(hostinfo, h.MessageCounter, out, rxc)
 		default:
 			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("IsValidSubType was true, but unexpected message subtype seen", "from", via, "header", h)
 			return
@@ -143,14 +153,23 @@ func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte,
 
 	case header.LightHouse:
 		//TODO: assert via is not relayed
-		lhf.HandleRequest(via.UdpAddr, hostinfo.vpnAddrs, out, f)
+		rxc.lhh.HandleRequest(via.UdpAddr, hostinfo.vpnAddrs, out, f)
 
 	case header.Test:
 		switch h.Subtype {
 		case header.TestReply:
 			// No-op, useful for the Roaming and connectionManager side-effects above
 		case header.TestRequest:
-			f.send(header.Test, header.TestReply, ci, hostinfo, out, nb, out)
+			const maxCipherOverhead = 16 //todo we use this too often, needs a real importable const
+			const maxOverhead = header.Len + header.Len + maxCipherOverhead + maxCipherOverhead
+			if maxOverhead+len(out) > len(rxc.scratch) {
+				// A reply that cannot fit in scratch is dropped no matter the log level.
+				if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
+					hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("dropping oversized test request", "payloadLen", len(out), "from", via)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			f.send(header.Test, header.TestReply, hostinfo.ConnectionState, hostinfo, out, rxc.nb, rxc.scratch[:0])
 		default:
 			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("IsValidSubType was true, but unexpected test subtype seen", "from", via, "header", h)
 			return
@@ -168,21 +187,10 @@ func (f *Interface) readOutsidePackets(via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte,
 	}
 }
 
-func (f *Interface) handleOutsideRelayPacket(hostinfo *HostInfo, via ViaSender, out []byte, packet []byte, h *header.H, fwPacket *firewall.Packet, lhf *LightHouseHandler, nb []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
-	// The entire body is sent as AD, not encrypted.
-	// The packet consists of a 16-byte parsed Nebula header, Associated Data-protected payload, and a trailing 16-byte AEAD signature value.
-	// The packet is guaranteed to be at least 16 bytes at this point, b/c it got past the h.Parse() call above. If it's
-	// otherwise malformed (meaning, there is no trailing 16 byte AEAD value), then this will result in at worst a 0-length slice
-	// which will gracefully fail in the DecryptDanger call.
-	signedPayload := packet[:len(packet)-hostinfo.ConnectionState.dKey.Overhead()]
-	signatureValue := packet[len(packet)-hostinfo.ConnectionState.dKey.Overhead():]
-	var err error
-	out, err = hostinfo.ConnectionState.dKey.DecryptDanger(out, signedPayload, signatureValue, h.MessageCounter, nb)
-	if err != nil {
-		return
-	}
-	// Successfully validated the thing. Get rid of the Relay header.
-	signedPayload = signedPayload[header.Len:]
+func (f *Interface) handleOutsideRelayPacket(hostinfo *HostInfo, via ViaSender, packet []byte, rxc *rxContext) {
+	h := rxc.h
+	// Successfully validated the thing. Get rid of the Relay header and the AEAD tag
+	signedPayload := packet[header.Len : len(packet)-hostinfo.ConnectionState.dKey.Overhead()]
 	// Pull the Roaming parts up here, and return in all call paths.
 	f.handleHostRoaming(hostinfo, via)
 	// Track usage of both the HostInfo and the Relay for the received & authenticated packet
@@ -193,10 +201,7 @@ func (f *Interface) handleOutsideRelayPacket(hostinfo *HostInfo, via ViaSender,
 	if !ok {
 		// The only way this happens is if hostmap has an index to the correct HostInfo, but the HostInfo is missing
 		// its internal mapping. This should never happen.
-		hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("HostInfo missing remote relay index",
-			"vpnAddrs", hostinfo.vpnAddrs,
-			"remoteIndex", h.RemoteIndex,
-		)
+		hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("HostInfo missing remote relay index", "relayRemoteIndex", h.RemoteIndex)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -207,19 +212,18 @@ func (f *Interface) handleOutsideRelayPacket(hostinfo *HostInfo, via ViaSender,
 		via = ViaSender{
 			UdpAddr:   via.UdpAddr,
 			relayHI:   hostinfo,
-			remoteIdx: relay.RemoteIndex,
 			relay:     relay,
 			IsRelayed: true,
 		}
-		f.readOutsidePackets(via, out[:0], signedPayload, h, fwPacket, lhf, nb, q, localCache)
+		f.readOutsidePackets(via, signedPayload, rxc)
 	case ForwardingType:
 		// Find the target HostInfo relay object
 		targetHI, targetRelay, err := f.hostMap.QueryVpnAddrsRelayFor(hostinfo.vpnAddrs, relay.PeerAddr)
 		if err != nil {
 			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Info("Failed to find target host info by ip",
 				"relayTo", relay.PeerAddr,
+				"relayFrom", hostinfo.vpnAddrs[0],
 				"error", err,
-				"hostinfo.vpnAddrs", hostinfo.vpnAddrs,
 			)
 			return
 		}
@@ -228,9 +232,11 @@ func (f *Interface) handleOutsideRelayPacket(hostinfo *HostInfo, via ViaSender,
 		if targetRelay.State == Established {
 			switch targetRelay.Type {
 			case ForwardingType:
-				// Forward this packet through the relay tunnel
-				// Find the target HostInfo
-				f.SendVia(targetHI, targetRelay, signedPayload, nb, out, false)
+				// Forward this packet through the relay tunnel, rebuilding it in place.
+				// Encode overwrites the old outer header, and the new AEAD tag lands where the old one was
+				fwdBuf := packet[:0]
+				//todo it would potentially be nice to batch these
+				f.SendVia(targetHI, targetRelay, signedPayload, rxc.nb, fwdBuf, true, rxc.q)
 			case TerminalType:
 				hostinfo.logger(f.l).Error("Unexpected Relay Type of Terminal")
 				return
@@ -270,7 +276,8 @@ func (f *Interface) sendCloseTunnel(h *HostInfo) {
 }
 
 func (f *Interface) handleHostRoaming(hostinfo *HostInfo, via ViaSender) {
-	if !via.IsRelayed && hostinfo.remote != via.UdpAddr {
+	curRemote := hostinfo.GetRemote()
+	if !via.IsRelayed && curRemote != via.UdpAddr {
 		if !f.lightHouse.GetRemoteAllowList().AllowAll(hostinfo.vpnAddrs, via.UdpAddr.Addr()) {
 			if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 				hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("lighthouse.remote_allow_list denied roaming", "newAddr", via.UdpAddr)
@@ -282,7 +289,7 @@ func (f *Interface) handleHostRoaming(hostinfo *HostInfo, via ViaSender) {
 			if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 				hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("Suppressing roam back to previous remote",
 					"suppressSeconds", RoamingSuppressSeconds,
-					"udpAddr", hostinfo.remote,
+					"udpAddr", curRemote,
 					"newAddr", via.UdpAddr,
 				)
 			}
@@ -290,11 +297,11 @@ func (f *Interface) handleHostRoaming(hostinfo *HostInfo, via ViaSender) {
 		}
 
 		hostinfo.logger(f.l).Info("Host roamed to new udp ip/port.",
-			"udpAddr", hostinfo.remote,
+			"udpAddr", curRemote,
 			"newAddr", via.UdpAddr,
 		)
 		hostinfo.lastRoam = time.Now()
-		hostinfo.lastRoamRemote = hostinfo.remote
+		hostinfo.lastRoamRemote = curRemote
 		hostinfo.SetRemote(via.UdpAddr)
 	}
 
@@ -310,7 +317,11 @@ var (
 )
 
 // newPacket validates and parses the interesting bits for the firewall out of the ip and sub protocol headers
-func newPacket(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
+func newPacket(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
+	// fp is reused across packets; reset the parse byproducts so an early-error return cannot
+	// leak the previous packet's offsets.
+	fp.IPHdrLen = 0
+	fp.FragAny = false
 	if len(data) < 1 {
 		return ErrPacketTooShort
 	}
@@ -325,7 +336,7 @@ func newPacket(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
 	return ErrUnknownIPVersion
 }
 
-func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
+func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
 	dataLen := len(data)
 	if dataLen < ipv6.HeaderLen {
 		return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
@@ -351,6 +362,7 @@ func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
 		switch proto {
 		case layers.IPProtocolESP, layers.IPProtocolNoNextHeader:
 			fp.Protocol = uint8(proto)
+			fp.IPHdrLen = offset
 			fp.RemotePort = 0
 			fp.LocalPort = 0
 			fp.Fragment = false
@@ -361,6 +373,7 @@ func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
 				return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
 			}
 			fp.Protocol = uint8(proto)
+			fp.IPHdrLen = offset
 			fp.LocalPort = 0 //incoming vs outgoing doesn't matter for icmpv6
 			icmptype := data[offset+1]
 			switch icmptype {
@@ -378,6 +391,9 @@ func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
 			}
 
 			fp.Protocol = uint8(proto)
+			// offset is the L4 header start: 40 for a plain packet, past the extension chain
+			// otherwise. The coalescer only accepts 40.
+			fp.IPHdrLen = offset
 			if incoming {
 				fp.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset : offset+2])
 				fp.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset+2 : offset+4])
@@ -395,6 +411,9 @@ func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
 				return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
 			}
 
+			// A fragment shape the coalescer must not touch either way, first fragment included.
+			fp.FragAny = true
+
 			// Check if this is the first fragment
 			fragmentOffset := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset+2:offset+4]) &^ uint16(0x7) // Remove the reserved and M flag bits
 			if fragmentOffset != 0 {
@@ -414,16 +433,14 @@ func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
 			if dataLen <= offset+1 {
 				break
 			}
-
-			next = int(data[offset+1]+2) << 2
+			next = (int(data[offset+1]) + 2) << 2
 
 		default:
 			// Normal ipv6 header length processing
 			if dataLen <= offset+1 {
 				break
 			}
-
-			next = int(data[offset+1]+1) << 3
+			next = (int(data[offset+1]) + 1) << 3
 		}
 
 		if next <= 0 {
@@ -438,7 +455,7 @@ func parseV6(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
 	return ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload
 }
 
-func parseV4(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
+func parseV4(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
 	// Do we at least have an ipv4 header worth of data?
 	if len(data) < ipv4.HeaderLen {
 		return ErrIPv4PacketTooShort
@@ -455,6 +472,10 @@ func parseV4(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
 	// Check if this is the second or further fragment of a fragmented packet.
 	flagsfrags := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[6:8])
 	fp.Fragment = (flagsfrags & 0x1FFF) != 0
+	// Any fragmentation at all (MF or offset): first fragments have readable ports for the
+	// firewall but must never be coalesced.
+	fp.FragAny = (flagsfrags & 0x3fff) != 0
+	fp.IPHdrLen = ihl
 
 	// Firewall handles protocol checks
 	fp.Protocol = data[9]
@@ -498,45 +519,23 @@ func parseV4(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (f *Interface) decrypt(hostinfo *HostInfo, mc uint64, out []byte, packet []byte, h *header.H, nb []byte) ([]byte, error) {
-	var err error
-	out, err = hostinfo.ConnectionState.dKey.DecryptDanger(out, packet[:header.Len], packet[header.Len:], mc, nb)
+func (f *Interface) handleOutsideMessagePacket(hostinfo *HostInfo, messageCounter uint64, out []byte, rxc *rxContext) {
+	err := newPacket(out, true, rxc.fwPacket)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	if !hostinfo.ConnectionState.window.Update(f.l, mc) {
-		return nil, ErrOutOfWindow
-	}
-
-	return out, nil
-}
-
-func (f *Interface) handleOutsideMessagePacket(hostinfo *HostInfo, out []byte, packet []byte, fwPacket *firewall.Packet, nb []byte, q int, localCache firewall.ConntrackCache) {
-	err := newPacket(out, true, fwPacket)
-	if err != nil {
-		hostinfo.logger(f.l).Warn("Error while validating inbound packet",
-			"error", err,
-			"packet", out,
-		)
+		hostinfo.logger(f.l).Warn("Error while validating inbound packet", "error", err, "packet", out)
 		return
 	}
 
-	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(*fwPacket, true, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), localCache)
+	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(rxc.fwPacket.Packet, true, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), rxc.ctCache.Get())
 	if dropReason != nil {
-		// NOTE: We give `packet` as the `out` here since we already decrypted from it and we don't need it anymore
-		// This gives us a buffer to build the reject packet in
-		f.rejectOutside(out, hostinfo.ConnectionState, hostinfo, nb, packet, q)
+		f.rejectOutside(out, hostinfo.ConnectionState, hostinfo, rxc.nb, rxc.scratch, rxc.q)
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
-			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("dropping inbound packet",
-				"fwPacket", fwPacket,
-				"reason", dropReason,
-			)
+			hostinfo.logger(f.l).Debug("dropping inbound packet", "fwPacket", rxc.fwPacket, "reason", dropReason)
 		}
 		return
 	}
 
-	_, err = f.readers[q].Write(out)
+	err = f.batchers[rxc.q].Commit(out, batch.SortKey{Epoch: hostinfo.ConnectionState.epoch, Counter: messageCounter}, rxc.fwPacket)
 	if err != nil {
 		f.l.Error("Failed to write to tun", "error", err)
 	}
@@ -583,10 +582,11 @@ func (f *Interface) handleRecvError(addr netip.AddrPort, h *header.H) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if hostinfo.remote.IsValid() && hostinfo.remote != addr {
+	hr := hostinfo.GetRemote()
+	if hr.IsValid() && hr != addr {
 		f.l.Info("Someone spoofing recv_errors?",
 			"addr", addr,
-			"hostinfoRemote", hostinfo.remote,
+			"hostinfoRemote", hr,
 		)
 		return
 	}

outside_test.go

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func Test_newPacket(t *testing.T) {
-	p := &firewall.Packet{}
+	p := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
 
 	// length fails
 	err := newPacket([]byte{}, true, p)
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func Test_newPacket(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func Test_newPacket_v6(t *testing.T) {
-	p := &firewall.Packet{}
+	p := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
 
 	// invalid ipv6
 	ip := layers.IPv6{
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ func Test_newPacket_v6(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func Test_newPacket_ipv6Fragment(t *testing.T) {
-	p := &firewall.Packet{}
+	p := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
 
 	ip := &layers.IPv6{
 		Version:    6,
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ func BenchmarkParseV6(b *testing.B) {
 	secondFrag = append(secondFrag, fragHeader...)
 	secondFrag = append(secondFrag, []byte{0xde, 0xad, 0xbe, 0xef}...)
 
-	fp := &firewall.Packet{}
+	fp := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
 
 	b.Run("Normal", func(b *testing.B) {
 		for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
@@ -640,3 +640,123 @@ func serializeAH(ah *layers.IPSecAH) []byte {
 
 	return buf.Bytes()
 }
+
+// Test_newPacket_v6ExtHeaderOverflow is a regression test for the IPv6 extension-header
+// length uint8 overflow in parseV6. A Destination-Options header with HdrExtLen=255 spans
+// (255+1)*8 = 2048 bytes, so the real transport header sits at offset 2088. Before the fix
+// the advance was computed in uint8 and wrapped to 0 (then clamped to 8), so the firewall
+// read the transport header ~2KB too early from attacker-controlled option bytes while the
+// host OS parses the real header, a firewall port/proto bypass. The fix makes parseV6 land
+// on the same offset the host does.
+func Test_newPacket_v6ExtHeaderOverflow(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
+
+	const (
+		hdrLen      = 40              // IPv6 header
+		extLen      = 2048            // (255+1)*8, the true Destination-Options header size
+		realTCPAt   = hdrLen + extLen // 2088, where the host reads the transport header
+		forgedTCPAt = hdrLen + 8      // 48, where the pre-fix wrapped+clamped walk landed
+	)
+
+	pkt := make([]byte, realTCPAt+4)
+	pkt[0] = 0x60                                   // version 6
+	pkt[6] = byte(layers.IPProtocolIPv6Destination) // NextHeader -> Destination Options
+	pkt[40] = byte(firewall.ProtoTCP)               // Dest-Options NextHeader -> TCP
+	pkt[41] = 255                                   // HdrExtLen = 255
+
+	// Forged transport header at the pre-fix (wrong) offset: dst port 443.
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(pkt[forgedTCPAt+2:forgedTCPAt+4], 443)
+	// Real transport header at the offset the host actually uses: dst port 22.
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(pkt[realTCPAt+2:realTCPAt+4], 22)
+
+	require.NoError(t, newPacket(pkt, true, p))
+	assert.Equal(t, uint8(firewall.ProtoTCP), p.Protocol)
+	// LocalPort is the destination port for incoming traffic. It must be the real port (22)
+	// the host delivers to, not the forged 443 at the overflowed offset.
+	assert.Equal(t, uint16(22), p.LocalPort, "firewall must parse the real transport header, not the overflowed offset")
+}
+
+// Test_newPacket_parsedFields pins the ParsedPacket byproducts the RX
+// batcher consumes: IPHdrLen (the true L4 offset) and FragAny (any fragment
+// shape at all — unlike Packet.Fragment, which is port-oriented and true
+// only for non-first fragments).
+func Test_newPacket_parsedFields(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
+
+	// Plain IPv4 TCP, IHL 20: L4 offset 20, no fragment shape.
+	v4 := make([]byte, 28)
+	v4[0] = 0x45
+	v4[9] = firewall.ProtoTCP
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(v4[6:8], 0x4000) // DF only
+	require.NoError(t, newPacket(v4, true, p))
+	assert.Equal(t, 20, p.IPHdrLen)
+	assert.False(t, p.FragAny)
+	assert.False(t, p.Fragment)
+
+	// IPv4 first fragment (MF set, offset 0): the firewall can read ports
+	// (Fragment false) but the coalescer must not touch it (FragAny true).
+	ff := make([]byte, 28)
+	ff[0] = 0x45
+	ff[9] = firewall.ProtoUDP
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(ff[6:8], 0x2000) // MF, offset 0
+	require.NoError(t, newPacket(ff, true, p))
+	assert.False(t, p.Fragment)
+	assert.True(t, p.FragAny)
+	assert.Equal(t, 20, p.IPHdrLen)
+
+	// IPv4 non-first fragment (nonzero offset): both flags set.
+	nf := make([]byte, 28)
+	nf[0] = 0x45
+	nf[9] = firewall.ProtoUDP
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(nf[6:8], 0x00b9)
+	require.NoError(t, newPacket(nf, true, p))
+	assert.True(t, p.Fragment)
+	assert.True(t, p.FragAny)
+
+	// IPv4 with options (IHL 24): IPHdrLen tracks the real L4 offset.
+	opts := make([]byte, 32)
+	opts[0] = 0x46
+	opts[9] = firewall.ProtoTCP
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(opts[6:8], 0x4000)
+	require.NoError(t, newPacket(opts, true, p))
+	assert.Equal(t, 24, p.IPHdrLen)
+	assert.False(t, p.FragAny)
+
+	// Plain IPv6 TCP: L4 at 40.
+	v6 := make([]byte, 60)
+	v6[0] = 0x60
+	v6[6] = firewall.ProtoTCP
+	require.NoError(t, newPacket(v6, true, p))
+	assert.Equal(t, 40, p.IPHdrLen)
+	assert.False(t, p.FragAny)
+
+	// IPv6 hop-by-hop then TCP: IPHdrLen lands past the extension header.
+	hbh := make([]byte, 60)
+	hbh[0] = 0x60
+	hbh[6] = 0 // hop-by-hop
+	hbh[40] = firewall.ProtoTCP
+	hbh[41] = 0 // HdrExtLen 0 -> 8-byte header
+	require.NoError(t, newPacket(hbh, true, p))
+	assert.Equal(t, 48, p.IPHdrLen)
+	assert.False(t, p.FragAny)
+
+	// IPv6 first fragment: terminal proto resolved, FragAny set, Fragment not.
+	f6 := make([]byte, 60)
+	f6[0] = 0x60
+	f6[6] = 44 // fragment extension header
+	f6[40] = firewall.ProtoUDP
+	require.NoError(t, newPacket(f6, true, p))
+	assert.True(t, p.FragAny)
+	assert.False(t, p.Fragment)
+	assert.Equal(t, uint8(firewall.ProtoUDP), p.Protocol)
+
+	// IPv6 non-first fragment: both set, walk stops at the fragment header.
+	f6n := make([]byte, 60)
+	f6n[0] = 0x60
+	f6n[6] = 44
+	f6n[40] = firewall.ProtoUDP
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(f6n[42:44], 0x0008)
+	require.NoError(t, newPacket(f6n, true, p))
+	assert.True(t, p.Fragment)
+	assert.True(t, p.FragAny)
+}

overlay/batch/batch.go

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package batch
+
+// SortKey identifies a packet's position in its sender's transmission order.
+// Epoch is a receiver-local ordinal for the tunnel (ConnectionState) that decrypted the packet:
+// a re-handshake replaces the tunnel outright and the replacement's epoch is higher,
+// so the old tunnel's packets sort first during the cutover overlap.
+// Counter is the packet's AEAD message counter within that tunnel.
+type SortKey struct {
+	Epoch   uint64
+	Counter uint64
+}

overlay/batch/checksum_seed_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"math/rand"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// The checksum-seeding helpers feed the virtio NEEDS_CSUM contract: the L4
+// checksum field is pre-loaded with the folded (not inverted) pseudo-header
+// sum, and the kernel later adds the L4 byte sum and inverts. A wrong seed
+// produces packets every receiver silently drops, with nothing failing on
+// our side — so these tests check the helpers against an independent
+// RFC 1071 reference built from explicit pseudo-header bytes, never against
+// the production checksum code.
+
+// refSum accumulates big-endian 16-bit words of b (odd tail zero-padded)
+// into a wide one's-complement accumulator.
+func refSum(b []byte) uint64 {
+	var s uint64
+	for i := 0; i+1 < len(b); i += 2 {
+		s += uint64(b[i])<<8 | uint64(b[i+1])
+	}
+	if len(b)%2 == 1 {
+		s += uint64(b[len(b)-1]) << 8
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+// refFold folds a wide one's-complement accumulator to 16 bits.
+func refFold(s uint64) uint16 {
+	for s>>16 != 0 {
+		s = s&0xffff + s>>16
+	}
+	return uint16(s)
+}
+
+func TestFoldOnceNoInvertEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []uint32{
+		0, 1, 0xffff,
+		0x10000,    // single carry
+		0x1fffe,    // 0xffff + 0xffff: carry produces another 0xffff
+		0xffff0000, // high half only
+		0xfffeffff, // fold yields 0x1fffd: needs a second fold
+		0xffffffff, // worst case
+		0x00010001, // simple two-word
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		want := refFold(uint64(c))
+		if got := foldOnceNoInvert(c); got != want {
+			t.Errorf("foldOnceNoInvert(%#x) = %#x, want %#x", c, got, want)
+		}
+		// Folding a folded value must be a no-op.
+		if got := foldOnceNoInvert(uint32(foldOnceNoInvert(c))); got != foldOnceNoInvert(c) {
+			t.Errorf("foldOnceNoInvert not idempotent at %#x", c)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPseudoSumIPv4MatchesReference(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name     string
+		src, dst [4]byte
+		proto    byte
+		l4Len    int
+	}{
+		{"simple", [4]byte{10, 0, 0, 1}, [4]byte{10, 0, 0, 2}, 6, 20},
+		{"zero-len", [4]byte{192, 168, 1, 1}, [4]byte{192, 168, 1, 2}, 17, 0},
+		{"max-len", [4]byte{1, 2, 3, 4}, [4]byte{5, 6, 7, 8}, 6, 65535},
+		{"carry-heavy", [4]byte{255, 255, 255, 255}, [4]byte{255, 255, 255, 254}, 17, 65535},
+		{"broadcastish", [4]byte{255, 255, 255, 255}, [4]byte{255, 255, 255, 255}, 255, 65535},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			// RFC 793 pseudo-header: src(4) dst(4) zero(1) proto(1) len(2).
+			ph := make([]byte, 12)
+			copy(ph[0:4], c.src[:])
+			copy(ph[4:8], c.dst[:])
+			ph[9] = c.proto
+			binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(ph[10:12], uint16(c.l4Len))
+			want := refFold(refSum(ph))
+
+			got := foldOnceNoInvert(pseudoSumIPv4(c.src[:], c.dst[:], c.proto, c.l4Len))
+			if got != want {
+				t.Errorf("fold(pseudoSumIPv4) = %#x, want %#x", got, want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPseudoSumIPv6MatchesReference(t *testing.T) {
+	ones := func(b byte) (a [16]byte) {
+		for i := range a {
+			a[i] = b
+		}
+		return
+	}
+	cases := []struct {
+		name     string
+		src, dst [16]byte
+		proto    byte
+		l4Len    int
+	}{
+		{"simple", [16]byte{0xfe, 0x80, 15: 1}, [16]byte{0xfe, 0x80, 15: 2}, 6, 20},
+		{"zero-len", [16]byte{0x20, 0x01, 15: 9}, [16]byte{0x20, 0x01, 15: 8}, 17, 0},
+		{"max-u16-len", ones(0xff), ones(0xfe), 6, 65535},
+		{"len-past-u16", ones(0xff), ones(0xff), 17, 0x12345}, // exercises the 32-bit split
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			// RFC 8200 pseudo-header: src(16) dst(16) len(4) zero(3) next(1).
+			ph := make([]byte, 40)
+			copy(ph[0:16], c.src[:])
+			copy(ph[16:32], c.dst[:])
+			binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(ph[32:36], uint32(c.l4Len))
+			ph[39] = c.proto
+			want := refFold(refSum(ph))
+
+			got := foldOnceNoInvert(pseudoSumIPv6(c.src[:], c.dst[:], c.proto, c.l4Len))
+			if got != want {
+				t.Errorf("fold(pseudoSumIPv6) = %#x, want %#x", got, want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIPv4HdrChecksumMatchesReference(t *testing.T) {
+	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(0x1791))
+	for _, hdrLen := range []int{20, 24, 40, 60} {
+		for trial := 0; trial < 200; trial++ {
+			hdr := make([]byte, hdrLen)
+			rng.Read(hdr)
+			hdr[0] = 0x40 | byte(hdrLen/4)
+			hdr[10], hdr[11] = 0, 0 // checksum field zeroed, as the contract requires
+
+			want := ^refFold(refSum(hdr))
+			got := ipv4HdrChecksum(hdr)
+			if got != want {
+				t.Fatalf("ipv4HdrChecksum(len=%d trial=%d) = %#x, want %#x", hdrLen, trial, got, want)
+			}
+
+			// Receiver-side property: with the checksum stored, the full
+			// header must sum to all-ones.
+			binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(hdr[10:12], got)
+			if v := refFold(refSum(hdr)); v != 0xffff {
+				t.Fatalf("stored checksum does not validate: full-header fold = %#x", v)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestChecksumSeedReceiverAcceptance is the end-to-end property the helpers
+// exist for: seed the TCP checksum field with fold(pseudoSum), do what the
+// kernel's NEEDS_CSUM completion does (one's-complement sum over the L4
+// bytes including the seed, then invert, then store), and verify the result
+// the way a receiver does (pseudo-header + L4 must sum to all-ones).
+func TestChecksumSeedReceiverAcceptance(t *testing.T) {
+	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(0x1826))
+	for trial := 0; trial < 200; trial++ {
+		src := [4]byte{byte(rng.Intn(256)), byte(rng.Intn(256)), byte(rng.Intn(256)), byte(rng.Intn(256))}
+		dst := [4]byte{byte(rng.Intn(256)), byte(rng.Intn(256)), byte(rng.Intn(256)), byte(rng.Intn(256))}
+		payLen := rng.Intn(1500)
+		l4 := make([]byte, 20+payLen)
+		rng.Read(l4)
+
+		// Seed exactly as flushSlot does.
+		seed := foldOnceNoInvert(pseudoSumIPv4(src[:], dst[:], 6, len(l4)))
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(l4[16:18], seed)
+
+		// Kernel NEEDS_CSUM completion: sum the L4 region (seed included,
+		// which is equivalent to summing with the field zeroed and folding
+		// the seed in), invert, store.
+		final := ^refFold(refSum(l4[:16]) + uint64(seed) + refSum(l4[18:]))
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(l4[16:18], final)
+
+		// Receiver validation.
+		ph := make([]byte, 12)
+		copy(ph[0:4], src[:])
+		copy(ph[4:8], dst[:])
+		ph[9] = 6
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(ph[10:12], uint16(len(l4)))
+		if v := refFold(refSum(ph) + refSum(l4)); v != 0xffff {
+			t.Fatalf("trial %d: receiver rejects packet: fold = %#x (seed=%#x final=%#x payLen=%d)",
+				trial, v, seed, final, payLen)
+		}
+	}
+}

overlay/batch/coalesce_core.go

@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/binary"
+)
+
+// flowKey identifies a transport flow by {src, dst, sport, dport, family}.
+// Comparable, so map lookups and linear scans over the slot list stay tight.
+// Shared by the TCP and UDP coalescers; each coalescer keeps its own
+// openSlots map, so a TCP and UDP flow on the same 5-tuple-without-proto never alias.
+type flowKey struct {
+	src, dst     [16]byte
+	sport, dport uint16
+	isV6         bool
+}
+
+// initialSlots is the starting capacity of the slot pool.
+// One flow per packet is the worst case,
+// so this matches a typical carrier-side recvmmsg batch on the UDP socket.
+const initialSlots = 64
+
+// parseIPAt validates the IP header for lane parsing. newPacket already resolved the L4 protocol
+// and offset for the firewall, so there is no proto sniff here; the caller's ipHdrLen is
+// cross-checked instead. A plain header (v4 IHL 20, v6 exactly 40) is the only coalesceable
+// shape. The v6 check is load-bearing: it rejects extension-header packets whose L4 is not at
+// byte 40.
+//
+// The prologues fill fk's addresses and family in place (ports belong to the L4 parser; fk must
+// be zero on entry so the v4 path leaves src[4:]/dst[4:] clear for map equality) and return pkt
+// trimmed to the IP-declared length. The receiver-as-out-pointer shape is deliberate: these
+// functions are too big to inline, and returning structs by value put five 64-byte copies on the
+// per-packet path.
+func (fk *flowKey) parseIPAt(pkt []byte, ipHdrLen int) ([]byte, bool) {
+	if len(pkt) < 20 {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	switch pkt[0] >> 4 {
+	case 4:
+		if ipHdrLen != 20 {
+			return nil, false
+		}
+		return fk.parseIPv4Prologue(pkt)
+	case 6:
+		if ipHdrLen != 40 || len(pkt) < 40 {
+			return nil, false
+		}
+		return fk.parseIPv6Prologue(pkt)
+	}
+	return nil, false
+}
+
+// parseIPv4Prologue is the shared IPv4 tail of the prologue entries; the caller has verified
+// len(pkt) >= 20 and the version.
+func (fk *flowKey) parseIPv4Prologue(pkt []byte) ([]byte, bool) {
+	ihl := int(pkt[0]&0x0f) * 4
+	if ihl != 20 {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	// Reject any fragmentation (MF or nonzero offset). The dispatcher already gated FragAny; kept
+	// as defense in depth, since a fragment folded into a superpacket would corrupt reassembly.
+	if binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[6:8])&0x3fff != 0 {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	totalLen := int(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[2:4]))
+	if totalLen > len(pkt) || totalLen < ihl {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	fk.isV6 = false
+	copy(fk.src[:4], pkt[12:16])
+	copy(fk.dst[:4], pkt[16:20])
+	return pkt[:totalLen], true
+}
+
+// parseIPv6Prologue is the shared IPv6 tail; the caller has verified len(pkt) >= 40, the version,
+// and that the L4 header sits at byte 40.
+func (fk *flowKey) parseIPv6Prologue(pkt []byte) ([]byte, bool) {
+	payloadLen := int(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[4:6]))
+	if 40+payloadLen > len(pkt) {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	fk.isV6 = true
+	copy(fk.src[:], pkt[8:24])
+	copy(fk.dst[:], pkt[24:40])
+	return pkt[:40+payloadLen], true
+}
+
+// ipHeadersMatch compares the IP portion of two packet header prefixes for
+// byte-for-byte equality on every field that must be identical across coalesced segments.
+// Size/IPID/IPCsum are masked out.
+// The full DSCP/ECN byte (IPv4 ToS / IPv6 traffic class) is compared, matching Linux kernel GRO:
+// segments with differing ECN codepoints must not coalesce,
+// otherwise ORing e.g. ECT(0) with ECT(1) would fabricate a false CE (congestion) mark or mark a Not-ECT flow as ECN-capable.
+//
+// The transport (L4) portion of the header is checked separately by the per-protocol matcher.
+func ipHeadersMatch(a, b []byte, isV6 bool) bool {
+	if isV6 {
+		// IPv6: [0:4] = version/TC/flow label (TC[1:0] is ECN, so the full TC byte must match),
+		// [6:40] = next_hdr/hop + src + dst. Skip [4:6] payload_len.
+		return bytes.Equal(a[:4], b[:4]) && bytes.Equal(a[6:40], b[6:40])
+	}
+	// IPv4: [0:2] = version/IHL + DSCP|ECN (full ECN byte must match),
+	// [6:10] = flags/fragoff/TTL/proto, [12:20] = src+dst.
+	// Skip [2:4] total len, [4:6] id, [10:12] csum.
+	return bytes.Equal(a[:2], b[:2]) && bytes.Equal(a[6:10], b[6:10]) && bytes.Equal(a[12:20], b[12:20])
+}
+
+// ipv4FlagDF is the Don't Fragment bit in the IPv4 flags byte (header byte 6).
+const ipv4FlagDF = 0x40
+
+// ipv4CanCoalesceID reports whether an IPv4 packet whose header starts at
+// nextHdr may join a chain whose seed header is seedHdr as segment index seg
+// (the seed is segment 0). Kernel GSO re-stamps outgoing segment IDs as
+// seed_id+n, so coalescing is only transparent when that re-stamp is either
+// harmless (DF set: RFC 6864 atomic datagrams, the ID carries no meaning) or
+// reproduces the original IDs exactly (DF clear + IDs already sequential —
+// the same admission rule kernel GRO applies). Without this, a DF=0 sender
+// with non-sequential IDs (e.g. OpenBSD's randomized IDs) could have IDs
+// rewritten into ranges that collide across superpackets, corrupting
+// reassembly if the packets are fragmented after the TUN write.
+//
+// DF itself is guaranteed uniform across a chain by ipHeadersMatch (byte 6
+// is inside its compared range), so checking the seed's copy suffices.
+func ipv4CanCoalesceID(seedHdr, nextHdr []byte, seg int) bool {
+	if seedHdr[6]&ipv4FlagDF != 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+	expect := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(seedHdr[4:6]) + uint16(seg)
+	return binary.BigEndian.Uint16(nextHdr[4:6]) == expect
+}
+
+// Arena is an injectable byte-slab that hands out non-overlapping borrowed
+// slices via Reserve and releases them in bulk via Reset.
+type Arena struct {
+	buf []byte
+}
+
+// NewArena returns an Arena with a pre-allocated backing of the given capacity.
+func NewArena(capacity int) *Arena {
+	return &Arena{buf: make([]byte, 0, capacity)}
+}
+
+// Reserve hands out a non-overlapping sz-byte slice from the arena.
+// If the request doesn't fit the current backing, a fresh, larger backing is allocated.
+// Already-borrowed slices reference the old backing and remain valid until Reset.
+func (a *Arena) Reserve(sz int) []byte {
+	if len(a.buf)+sz > cap(a.buf) {
+		newCap := max(cap(a.buf)*2, sz)
+		a.buf = make([]byte, 0, newCap)
+	}
+	start := len(a.buf)
+	a.buf = a.buf[:start+sz]
+	return a.buf[start : start+sz : start+sz]
+}
+
+// Reset releases every slice handed out since the last Reset.
+// Callers must not use any previously-borrowed slice after this returns.
+// The underlying backing array is retained so subsequent Reserves don't re-allocate.
+func (a *Arena) Reset() {
+	a.buf = a.buf[:0]
+}

overlay/batch/dispatch_bench_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
+)
+
+// stagePackets builds the stagedPacket entries Commit would have produced, so dispatch benchmarks
+// bypass staging and the sort entirely.
+func stagePackets(pkts [][]byte) []stagedPacket {
+	staged := make([]stagedPacket, len(pkts))
+	for i, p := range pkts {
+		pp := testPP(p)
+		staged[i] = stagedPacket{
+			pkt:      p,
+			key:      SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: uint64(i + 1)},
+			proto:    pp.Protocol,
+			fragAny:  pp.FragAny,
+			ipHdrLen: uint16(pp.IPHdrLen),
+		}
+	}
+	return staged
+}
+
+func flushLanes(b *testing.B, m *MultiCoalescer) {
+	b.Helper()
+	if m.tcp != nil {
+		if err := m.tcp.Flush(); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if m.udp != nil {
+		if err := m.udp.Flush(); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := m.pt.Flush(); err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
+// runDispatchBench measures dispatch plus the per-batch lane flush: the post-sort half of the
+// batcher, which is where the production profile concentrates.
+func runDispatchBench(b *testing.B, pkts [][]byte, batchSize int) {
+	b.Helper()
+	m := NewMultiCoalescer(nopTunWriter{}, test.NewLogger())
+	staged := stagePackets(pkts)
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.SetBytes(int64(len(pkts[0])))
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		if err := m.dispatch(staged[i%len(staged)]); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if (i+1)%batchSize == 0 {
+			flushLanes(b, m)
+		}
+	}
+	b.StopTimer()
+	flushLanes(b, m)
+}
+
+// BenchmarkDispatchSingleFlow is the bulk steady state: every packet past the seed appends.
+func BenchmarkDispatchSingleFlow(b *testing.B) {
+	runDispatchBench(b, buildTCPv4BulkFlow(tcpCoalesceMaxSegs, 1200), tcpCoalesceMaxSegs)
+}
+
+// BenchmarkDispatchInterleaved16 stresses the openSlots map: 16 flows round-robined defeats the
+// lastSlot cache on every packet.
+func BenchmarkDispatchInterleaved16(b *testing.B) {
+	pkts := buildTCPv4Interleaved(16, tcpCoalesceMaxSegs, 1200)
+	runDispatchBench(b, pkts, len(pkts))
+}
+
+// BenchmarkDispatchAckHeavy alternates MSS data with pure ACKs on one flow — the RX shape of a
+// bidirectional transfer (the peer's data and its ACKs of our data share the tunnel direction).
+func BenchmarkDispatchAckHeavy(b *testing.B) {
+	pay := make([]byte, 1200)
+	var pkts [][]byte
+	seq := uint32(1000)
+	for range tcpCoalesceMaxSegs / 2 {
+		pkts = append(pkts, buildTCPv4(seq, tcpAck, pay))
+		seq += uint32(len(pay))
+		pkts = append(pkts, buildTCPv4(seq, tcpAck, nil))
+	}
+	runDispatchBench(b, pkts, len(pkts))
+}
+
+// BenchmarkDispatchUDPFlow is the QUIC-ish bulk UDP shape.
+func BenchmarkDispatchUDPFlow(b *testing.B) {
+	pay := make([]byte, 1200)
+	pkts := make([][]byte, udpCoalesceMaxSegs)
+	for i := range pkts {
+		pkts[i] = buildUDPv4(2000, 443, pay)
+	}
+	runDispatchBench(b, pkts, len(pkts))
+}
+
+// BenchmarkDispatchSeedHeavy sets PSH on every packet so each one seeds and immediately closes
+// its own slot — the small-write RPC shape, and the upper bound on what the seed path (including
+// the parsedTCP-to-slot field transfer) can cost.
+func BenchmarkDispatchSeedHeavy(b *testing.B) {
+	pay := make([]byte, 1200)
+	pkts := make([][]byte, tcpCoalesceMaxSegs)
+	seq := uint32(1000)
+	for i := range pkts {
+		pkts[i] = buildTCPv4(seq, tcpAckPsh, pay)
+		seq += uint32(len(pay))
+	}
+	runDispatchBench(b, pkts, len(pkts))
+}

overlay/batch/lane_entry_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+package batch
+
+//TODO refactor this away
+// This file holds the lanes' self-parsing Commit entries and the proto-checking parsers behind
+// them. Production traffic enters the lanes only through MultiCoalescer.dispatch and the At
+// parsers; these wrappers reproduce that path (including seal-all on unparseable shapes) on top
+// of a local parse, so tests and benches can drive one lane with nothing but a packet.
+
+// parseIPPrologue resolves the IP version, requires the L4 protocol to match wantProto (6 TCP,
+// 17 UDP), and defers to the shared per-version cores. Returns the trimmed packet and the L4
+// offset; fk must be zero on entry and is filled in place.
+func (fk *flowKey) parseIPPrologue(pkt []byte, wantProto byte) ([]byte, int, bool) {
+	if len(pkt) < 20 {
+		return nil, 0, false
+	}
+	switch pkt[0] >> 4 {
+	case 4:
+		if pkt[9] != wantProto {
+			return nil, 0, false
+		}
+		trimmed, ok := fk.parseIPv4Prologue(pkt)
+		return trimmed, 20, ok
+	case 6:
+		if len(pkt) < 40 {
+			return nil, 0, false
+		}
+		if pkt[6] != wantProto {
+			return nil, 0, false
+		}
+		trimmed, ok := fk.parseIPv6Prologue(pkt)
+		return trimmed, 40, ok
+	}
+	return nil, 0, false
+}
+
+// parseBase extracts the flow key and IP/TCP offsets for any TCP packet, admissible for
+// coalescing or not. Returns false for non-TCP or malformed input.
+func (p *parsedTCP) parseBase(pkt []byte) bool {
+	trimmed, ipHdrLen, ok := p.fk.parseIPPrologue(pkt, ipProtoTCP)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	return p.parseTail(trimmed, ipHdrLen)
+}
+
+// parseBase extracts the flow key and IP/UDP offsets for a UDP packet.
+func (p *parsedUDP) parseBase(pkt []byte) bool {
+	trimmed, ipHdrLen, ok := p.fk.parseIPPrologue(pkt, ipProtoUDP)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	return p.parseTail(trimmed, ipHdrLen)
+}
+
+// Commit borrows pkt. The caller must keep pkt valid until the next Flush.
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) Commit(pkt []byte) error {
+	var info parsedTCP
+	if !info.parseBase(pkt) {
+		// Unparseable: flow key unknown, seal everything so later data cannot emit ahead of it.
+		c.sealAllOpen()
+		c.addVerbatim(pkt)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return c.commitParsed(pkt, &info)
+}
+
+// Commit borrows pkt. The caller must keep pkt valid until the next Flush.
+func (c *UDPCoalescer) Commit(pkt []byte) error {
+	var info parsedUDP
+	if !info.parseBase(pkt) {
+		c.sealAllOpen()
+		c.addVerbatim(pkt)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return c.commitParsed(pkt, &info)
+}

overlay/batch/multi_coalesce.go

@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"cmp"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"log/slog"
+	"slices"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
+)
+
+// MultiCoalescer stages plaintext packets with their (epoch, counter) sort keys and, at Flush,
+// replays them in sender-transmission order into lane-specific batchers selected by L4 protocol.
+//
+// Sorting before dispatch keeps the ordering story simple: each lane consumes packets in
+// transmission order, builds slots in that order, and emits them in creation order. Wire reorder
+// inside a flush batch is repaired here, before it can fragment a lane's coalesce chains, so the
+// lanes carry no reorder-repair machinery.
+//
+// The contract is per-tunnel transmission order within each lane, with two exceptions: a pure TCP
+// ACK may be overtaken by later same-flow data (it does not close the flow's open chain; a late
+// ACK is just a stale ACK), and an unparseable shape seals every open chain in its lane (its flow
+// is unknown) and rides the lane as an in-lane verbatim, still in transmission order. Routing
+// follows the flow: a flow's non-coalesceable shapes ride its protocol lane rather than falling
+// to the later-flushed pt lane.
+//
+// Cross-lane order (TCP vs UDP vs everything else) is not preserved.
+type MultiCoalescer struct {
+	tcp *TCPCoalescer
+	udp *UDPCoalescer
+	pt  *Passthrough
+
+	// staged holds this batch's packets and sort keys until Flush. Borrowed: the caller keeps
+	// each pkt alive until Flush returns.
+	staged []stagedPacket
+}
+
+// stagedPacket carries the scalars dispatch needs from the firewall's ParsedPacket, copied by
+// value: pp is reused by the caller per packet and must not be retained past Commit.
+type stagedPacket struct {
+	pkt      []byte
+	key      SortKey
+	proto    byte
+	fragAny  bool
+	ipHdrLen uint16
+}
+
+// NewMultiCoalescer builds a multi-lane batcher over w, based on available protocol support. The
+// staging sort applies even when no GSO lane is available: passthrough-only platforms still get
+// transmission-order repair.
+func NewMultiCoalescer(w io.Writer, l *slog.Logger) *MultiCoalescer {
+	m := &MultiCoalescer{
+		pt:     NewPassthrough(w),
+		staged: make([]stagedPacket, 0, initialSlots),
+	}
+	m.tcp = NewTCPCoalescer(w, l)
+	m.udp = NewUDPCoalescer(w)
+	return m
+}
+
+// Commit stages pkt for the next Flush; dispatch is deferred so it runs on packets already in
+// transmission order. key carries the packet's tunnel epoch and message counter. pkt is borrowed:
+// the caller must keep it valid until the next Flush and not re-use it, and Flush may patch a
+// coalesced packet's headers in place. pp is the firewall's parse of pkt and is borrowed only
+// for this call, so the fields dispatch needs are copied here.
+func (m *MultiCoalescer) Commit(pkt []byte, key SortKey, pp *firewall.ParsedPacket) error {
+	m.staged = append(m.staged, stagedPacket{
+		pkt:      pkt,
+		key:      key,
+		proto:    pp.Protocol,
+		fragAny:  pp.FragAny,
+		ipHdrLen: uint16(pp.IPHdrLen),
+	})
+	return nil
+}
+
+// compareStaged orders staged packets by (epoch, counter)
+func compareStaged(a, b stagedPacket) int {
+	if c := cmp.Compare(a.key.Epoch, b.key.Epoch); c != 0 {
+		return c
+	}
+	return cmp.Compare(a.key.Counter, b.key.Counter)
+}
+
+// dispatch routes one staged packet to its protocol lane (see commitStaged), or to the verbatim
+// passthrough when the lane has no GSO support.
+func (m *MultiCoalescer) dispatch(sp stagedPacket) error {
+	switch sp.proto {
+	case ipProtoTCP:
+		if m.tcp != nil {
+			return m.tcp.commitStaged(sp)
+		}
+	case ipProtoUDP:
+		if m.udp != nil {
+			return m.udp.commitStaged(sp)
+		}
+	}
+	return m.pt.enqueue(sp.pkt)
+}
+
+// Flush sorts the staged batch into transmission order, replays it into the lanes, then flushes each lane.
+// Drains everything and returns the joined errors; one bad packet does not hold up the rest.
+// After Flush returns, committed payload slices may be recycled.
+func (m *MultiCoalescer) Flush() error {
+	// Arrival order is already almost sorted (reorder is the exception), which pdqsort detects
+	// and handles in near-linear time.
+	slices.SortFunc(m.staged, compareStaged)
+
+	var errs []error
+	for _, sp := range m.staged {
+		if err := m.dispatch(sp); err != nil {
+			errs = append(errs, err)
+		}
+	}
+	clear(m.staged) // drop borrowed pkt refs
+	m.staged = m.staged[:0]
+
+	if m.tcp != nil {
+		if err := m.tcp.Flush(); err != nil {
+			errs = append(errs, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if m.udp != nil {
+		if err := m.udp.Flush(); err != nil {
+			errs = append(errs, err)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := m.pt.Flush(); err != nil {
+		errs = append(errs, err)
+	}
+	return errors.Join(errs...)
+}

overlay/batch/multi_coalesce_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,437 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"io"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
+)
+
+// keySeq hands out SortKeys with ascending counters in a fixed epoch, for
+// tests where commit order IS transmission order.
+type keySeq struct {
+	epoch, counter uint64
+}
+
+func (k *keySeq) next() SortKey {
+	k.counter++
+	return SortKey{Epoch: k.epoch, Counter: k.counter}
+}
+
+// newTestMultiCoalescer builds a batcher over w.
+func newTestMultiCoalescer(tb testing.TB, w io.Writer) *MultiCoalescer {
+	tb.Helper()
+	return NewMultiCoalescer(w, test.NewLogger())
+}
+
+// TestMultiCoalescerRoutesByProto confirms TCP/UDP/other land in the right
+// lane: TCP and UDP get coalesced when their lanes are enabled, anything
+// else (ICMP here) falls through to plain Write.
+func TestMultiCoalescerRoutesByProto(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &fakeTunWriter{gsoEnabled: true}
+	m := newTestMultiCoalescer(t, w)
+	k := &keySeq{epoch: 1}
+
+	tcpPay := make([]byte, 1200)
+	udpPay := make([]byte, 1200)
+	icmp := make([]byte, 28)
+	icmp[0] = 0x45
+	icmp[2] = 0
+	icmp[3] = 28
+	icmp[9] = 1
+
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, tcpPay), k.next(), testPP(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, tcpPay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(2200, tcpAck, tcpPay), k.next(), testPP(buildTCPv4(2200, tcpAck, tcpPay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv4(2000, 53, udpPay), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv4(2000, 53, udpPay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv4(2000, 53, udpPay), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv4(2000, 53, udpPay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(icmp, k.next(), testPP(icmp)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// 1 TCP super (2 segments) + 1 UDP super (2 segments) = 2 gso writes.
+	if len(w.gsoWrites) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 2 gso writes (one TCP + one UDP), got %d", len(w.gsoWrites))
+	}
+	if len(w.writes) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 1 plain write (ICMP), got %d", len(w.writes))
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMultiCoalescerRestoresTransmissionOrder is the core staging-sort
+// property: packets committed out of counter order (wire reorder inside one
+// flush batch) are replayed into the lanes in transmission order, so the
+// reorder never fragments the coalesce chain — one superpacket, in seq
+// order, exactly as if the wire had never reordered. The retransmit shape
+// falls out of the same key: a retransmit carries a lower seq but a HIGHER
+// counter (it was encrypted later), so it emits after the data it trails.
+func TestMultiCoalescerRestoresTransmissionOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &fakeTunWriter{gsoEnabled: true}
+	m := newTestMultiCoalescer(t, w)
+	pay := make([]byte, 1200)
+
+	// Transmission order: seq 1000 (c1), 2200 (c2), 3400 (c3).
+	// Arrival order: 3400, 1000, 2200.
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(3400, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: 3}, testPP(buildTCPv4(3400, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: 1}, testPP(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(2200, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: 2}, testPP(buildTCPv4(2200, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(w.gsoWrites) != 1 || len(w.writes) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 1 gso write (unfragmented chain), got gso=%d plain=%d", len(w.gsoWrites), len(w.writes))
+	}
+	g := w.gsoWrites[0]
+	if len(g.pays) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("segs=%d want 3", len(g.pays))
+	}
+	const ipHdrLen = 20
+	if seedSeq := binary.BigEndian.Uint32(g.hdr[ipHdrLen+4 : ipHdrLen+8]); seedSeq != 1000 {
+		t.Errorf("seed seq=%d want 1000", seedSeq)
+	}
+
+	// Retransmit: seq 1000 again but counter 4 — sorts after seq 4600 (c3).
+	w.writes, w.gsoWrites, w.order = nil, nil, nil
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: 4}, testPP(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(4600, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: 3}, testPP(buildTCPv4(4600, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(w.writes) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 2 plain writes, got %d (gso=%d)", len(w.writes), len(w.gsoWrites))
+	}
+	first := binary.BigEndian.Uint32(w.writes[0][24:28])
+	second := binary.BigEndian.Uint32(w.writes[1][24:28])
+	if first != 4600 || second != 1000 {
+		t.Fatalf("emission (%d, %d), want (4600, 1000): retransmit must not overtake in-flight data", first, second)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMultiCoalescerRestoresOrderAcrossFlows scrambles two interleaved flows;
+// the staging sort must repair each flow into one superpacket without any
+// cross-flow contamination.
+func TestMultiCoalescerRestoresOrderAcrossFlows(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &fakeTunWriter{gsoEnabled: true}
+	m := newTestMultiCoalescer(t, w)
+	pay := make([]byte, 1200)
+
+	// Transmission: A.100 (c1), B.500 (c2), A.1300 (c3), B.1700 (c4).
+	// Arrival: A.1300, B.1700, A.100, B.500.
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4Ports(1000, 2000, 1300, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: 3}, testPP(buildTCPv4Ports(1000, 2000, 1300, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4Ports(3000, 2000, 1700, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: 4}, testPP(buildTCPv4Ports(3000, 2000, 1700, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4Ports(1000, 2000, 100, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: 1}, testPP(buildTCPv4Ports(1000, 2000, 100, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4Ports(3000, 2000, 500, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: 2}, testPP(buildTCPv4Ports(3000, 2000, 500, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(w.gsoWrites) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 2 gso writes (one per flow), got %d (plain=%d)", len(w.gsoWrites), len(w.writes))
+	}
+	for i, g := range w.gsoWrites {
+		if len(g.pays) != 2 {
+			t.Errorf("gso[%d] segs=%d want 2", i, len(g.pays))
+		}
+		const ipHdrLen = 20
+		seedSeq := binary.BigEndian.Uint32(g.hdr[ipHdrLen+4 : ipHdrLen+8])
+		sport := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(g.hdr[ipHdrLen : ipHdrLen+2])
+		switch sport {
+		case 1000:
+			if seedSeq != 100 {
+				t.Errorf("flow A seed seq=%d want 100", seedSeq)
+			}
+		case 3000:
+			if seedSeq != 500 {
+				t.Errorf("flow B seed seq=%d want 500", seedSeq)
+			}
+		default:
+			t.Errorf("unexpected sport %d", sport)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMultiCoalescerEpochOrdersAcrossRehandshake: a re-handshake replaces
+// the tunnel, and the replacement's counter space starts near zero — raw
+// counter order would emit the new tunnel's packets first while the old
+// tunnel's backlog is still arriving. The epoch key must dominate:
+// everything from the old tunnel emits before anything from the new one.
+func TestMultiCoalescerEpochOrdersAcrossRehandshake(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &fakeTunWriter{gsoEnabled: true}
+	m := newTestMultiCoalescer(t, w)
+	pay := make([]byte, 1200)
+
+	// New session's first data arrives before the old session's last data.
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(2200, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 8, Counter: 1}, testPP(buildTCPv4(2200, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, pay), SortKey{Epoch: 7, Counter: 9_000_000}, testPP(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// Same flow, contiguous seq, identical headers: after the epoch sort the
+	// two segments append into one superpacket seeded by the OLD session's
+	// packet.
+	if len(w.gsoWrites) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 1 gso write, got %d (plain=%d)", len(w.gsoWrites), len(w.writes))
+	}
+	const ipHdrLen = 20
+	if seedSeq := binary.BigEndian.Uint32(w.gsoWrites[0].hdr[ipHdrLen+4 : ipHdrLen+8]); seedSeq != 1000 {
+		t.Errorf("seed seq=%d want 1000 (old session first)", seedSeq)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMultiCoalescerNoUSOFallsThrough verifies that on a queue without USO
+// (older kernel: TSO but no GSO_UDP_L4) the UDP lane never comes up and UDP
+// packets still reach the kernel via verbatim rather than being lost.
+func TestMultiCoalescerNoUSOFallsThrough(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &fakeTunWriter{gsoEnabled: true, noUSO: true}
+	m := newTestMultiCoalescer(t, w)
+	k := &keySeq{epoch: 1}
+	if m.udp != nil {
+		t.Fatal("UDP lane must not come up without USO")
+	}
+
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv4(1000, 53, make([]byte, 800)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv4(1000, 53, make([]byte, 800)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv4(1000, 53, make([]byte, 800)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv4(1000, 53, make([]byte, 800)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(w.gsoWrites) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("UDP must NOT be coalesced when USO disabled, got %d gso writes", len(w.gsoWrites))
+	}
+	if len(w.writes) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("UDP must pass through as 2 plain writes, got %d", len(w.writes))
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMultiCoalescerNoOffloadsStillSorts covers a queue that can't offload
+// anything. Both lane constructors refuse, so every packet rides the
+// verbatim lane — but the staging sort still applies, so emission follows
+// transmission order even without GSO.
+func TestMultiCoalescerNoOffloadsStillSorts(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &fakeTunWriter{gsoEnabled: false}
+	m := newTestMultiCoalescer(t, w)
+	if m.tcp != nil || m.udp != nil {
+		t.Fatal("no lane may come up without offloads")
+	}
+	pkts := [][]byte{
+		buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, make([]byte, 1200)),
+		buildUDPv4(1000, 53, make([]byte, 800)),
+		buildTCPv4(2200, tcpAck, make([]byte, 1200)),
+	}
+	// Committed in reverse transmission order; keys carry the truth.
+	for i := len(pkts) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		if err := m.Commit(pkts[i], SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: uint64(i + 1)}, testPP(pkts[i])); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(w.gsoWrites) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("no GSO writes possible, got %d", len(w.gsoWrites))
+	}
+	if len(w.writes) != len(pkts) {
+		t.Fatalf("want %d plain writes, got %d", len(pkts), len(w.writes))
+	}
+	// One lane for everything means the sorted order survives end to end.
+	for i, want := range pkts {
+		if !bytes.Equal(w.writes[i], want) {
+			t.Errorf("write %d out of order or corrupt", i)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// buildUDPv6Fragment builds an IPv6 packet whose extension chain is a
+// single fragment header (NH=44) naming UDP as the terminal protocol —
+// a first fragment (offset 0, MF set) carrying the UDP header and a
+// partial payload.
+func buildUDPv6Fragment(sport, dport uint16, payload []byte) []byte {
+	const ipHdrLen = 40
+	const fragHdrLen = 8
+	const udpHdrLen = 8
+	total := ipHdrLen + fragHdrLen + udpHdrLen + len(payload)
+	pkt := make([]byte, total)
+
+	pkt[0] = 0x60
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(pkt[4:6], uint16(total-ipHdrLen))
+	pkt[6] = 44 // fragment extension header
+	pkt[7] = 64
+	pkt[8] = 0xfe
+	pkt[9] = 0x80
+	pkt[23] = 1
+	pkt[24] = 0xfe
+	pkt[25] = 0x80
+	pkt[39] = 2
+
+	pkt[40] = ipProtoUDP                              // fragment's next header
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(pkt[42:44], 0x0001)    // offset 0, MF set
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint32(pkt[44:48], 0x1badf00) // identification
+
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(pkt[48:50], sport)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(pkt[50:52], dport)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(pkt[52:54], uint16(udpHdrLen+len(payload)))
+	copy(pkt[56:], payload)
+	return pkt
+}
+
+// TestMultiCoalescerIPv6FragmentStaysInLane locks in extension-header
+// routing: a fragment whose chain terminates in UDP must ride the UDP lane
+// as an in-lane verbatim — emitted ahead of later same-flow datagrams —
+// not the verbatim lane, which flushes after every coalescer lane and
+// would reorder it behind data that arrived after it.
+func TestMultiCoalescerIPv6FragmentStaysInLane(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &fakeTunWriter{gsoEnabled: true}
+	m := newTestMultiCoalescer(t, w)
+	k := &keySeq{epoch: 1}
+
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv6Fragment(2000, 53, make([]byte, 512)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv6Fragment(2000, 53, make([]byte, 512)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(w.writes) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("want the fragment as 1 plain write, got %d", len(w.writes))
+	}
+	if len(w.gsoWrites) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("want the two whole datagrams coalesced into 1 gso write, got %d", len(w.gsoWrites))
+	}
+	// Transmission order was fragment-then-data; same-lane routing must keep it.
+	if w.order[0] != "write" {
+		t.Fatalf("fragment must be emitted before later data (in-lane verbatim), order=%v", w.order)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMultiCoalescerFragmentSealsUDPChains: an unparseable datagram
+// (fragment) seals every open UDP chain, so datagrams from before and after
+// it land in separate superpackets and the fragment holds its transmission-
+// order position between them.
+func TestMultiCoalescerFragmentSealsUDPChains(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &fakeTunWriter{gsoEnabled: true}
+	m := newTestMultiCoalescer(t, w)
+	k := &keySeq{epoch: 1}
+
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv6Fragment(2000, 53, make([]byte, 512)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv6Fragment(2000, 53, make([]byte, 512)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)), k.next(), testPP(buildUDPv6(2000, 53, make([]byte, 800)))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(w.gsoWrites) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 2 gso writes (chains sealed around the fragment), got %d", len(w.gsoWrites))
+	}
+	if len(w.writes) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("want the fragment as 1 plain write, got %d", len(w.writes))
+	}
+	want := []string{"gso", "write", "gso"}
+	if len(w.order) != 3 || w.order[0] != want[0] || w.order[1] != want[1] || w.order[2] != want[2] {
+		t.Fatalf("emission order = %v, want %v", w.order, want)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMultiCoalescerNoTSOFallsThrough mirrors the no-TSO case.
+func TestMultiCoalescerNoTSOFallsThrough(t *testing.T) {
+	w := &fakeTunWriter{gsoEnabled: true, noTSO: true}
+	m := newTestMultiCoalescer(t, w)
+	k := &keySeq{epoch: 1}
+	if m.tcp != nil {
+		t.Fatal("TCP lane must not come up without TSO")
+	}
+
+	pay := make([]byte, 1200)
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, pay), k.next(), testPP(buildTCPv4(1000, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Commit(buildTCPv4(2200, tcpAck, pay), k.next(), testPP(buildTCPv4(2200, tcpAck, pay))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(w.gsoWrites) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("TCP must NOT be coalesced when TSO disabled, got %d gso writes", len(w.gsoWrites))
+	}
+	if len(w.writes) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("TCP must pass through as 2 plain writes, got %d", len(w.writes))
+	}
+}
+
+// testPP derives the ParsedPacket newPacket would produce for the packet
+// shapes the tests build: plain v4/v6, v4 with options or fragment bits set,
+// and the single-fragment-header v6 shape from buildUDPv6Fragment. Anything
+// unrecognizable stays zero (proto 0 routes to the passthrough lane).
+func testPP(pkt []byte) *firewall.ParsedPacket {
+	pp := &firewall.ParsedPacket{}
+	if len(pkt) < 20 {
+		return pp
+	}
+	switch pkt[0] >> 4 {
+	case 4:
+		pp.Protocol = pkt[9]
+		pp.IPHdrLen = int(pkt[0]&0x0f) * 4
+		pp.FragAny = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[6:8])&0x3fff != 0
+	case 6:
+		pp.Protocol = pkt[6]
+		pp.IPHdrLen = 40
+		if pp.Protocol == 44 { // fragment extension header
+			pp.Protocol = pkt[40]
+			pp.IPHdrLen = 48
+			pp.FragAny = true
+		}
+	}
+	return pp
+}

overlay/batch/passthrough.go

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"io"
+)
+
+// Passthrough is MultiCoalescer's verbatim lane: no batching, packets are written at Flush in the
+// order enqueued.
+type Passthrough struct {
+	out   io.Writer
+	slots [][]byte
+}
+
+func NewPassthrough(w io.Writer) *Passthrough {
+	return &Passthrough{
+		out:   w,
+		slots: make([][]byte, 0, 128),
+	}
+}
+
+// enqueue accepts one packet, already sorted into transmission order by dispatch.
+func (p *Passthrough) enqueue(pkt []byte) error {
+	p.slots = append(p.slots, pkt)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (p *Passthrough) Flush() error {
+	var firstErr error
+	for _, s := range p.slots {
+		_, err := p.out.Write(s)
+		if err != nil && firstErr == nil {
+			firstErr = err
+		}
+	}
+	clear(p.slots)
+	p.slots = p.slots[:0]
+	return firstErr
+}

overlay/batch/tcp_coalesce.go

@@ -0,0 +1,472 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"io"
+	"log/slog"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
+)
+
+// ipProtoTCP is the IANA protocol number for TCP. Defined here to help Windows out.
+const ipProtoTCP = 6
+
+// tcpCoalesceBufSize caps total bytes per superpacket. Mirrors the kernel's
+// sk_gso_max_size of ~64KiB; anything beyond this would be rejected anyway.
+const tcpCoalesceBufSize = 65535
+
+// tcpCoalesceMaxSegs caps how many segments we'll coalesce into a single
+// superpacket. Keeping this well below the kernel's TSO ceiling bounds latency.
+const tcpCoalesceMaxSegs = 64
+
+// coalesceSlot is one entry in the coalescer's ordered event queue. A verbatim slot holds a single
+// borrowed packet emitted as-is (pure ACK, non-admissible TCP, unparseable, or oversize seed); a
+// non-verbatim slot is an in-progress coalesced superpacket. payIovs are borrowed slices of the
+// caller's plaintext buffers; the caller must keep them alive until Flush.
+type coalesceSlot struct {
+	verbatim bool
+	// rawPkt is borrowed: the whole packet for verbatim slots, the seed packet for coalesce
+	// slots. A slot that never grows past one segment is emitted from rawPkt so its original
+	// (already valid) L4 checksum ships DATA_VALID instead of making the kernel recompute it.
+	// A multi-segment slot's superpacket header is rawPkt's, patched in place at flush.
+	rawPkt []byte
+
+	fk       flowKey
+	hdrLen   int
+	ipHdrLen int
+	isV6     bool
+	gsoSize  int
+	numSeg   int
+	totalPay int
+	nextSeq  uint32
+	payIovs  [][]byte
+}
+
+// TCPCoalescer accumulates adjacent in-flow TCP data segments across multiple concurrent flows and
+// emits each flow's run as a single TSO superpacket via tio.GSOWriter. Input must be in sender
+// transmission order (MultiCoalescer sorts by (epoch, counter) before dispatch); slots are emitted
+// in creation order, so emission reproduces transmission order except for the pure-ACK case in
+// commitParsed. Owns no locks; one coalescer per TUN write queue.
+type TCPCoalescer struct {
+	w tio.GSOWriter
+
+	// slots is the ordered event queue. Flush walks it once and emits each
+	// entry as either a WriteGSO (coalesced) or a w.Write (verbatim).
+	slots []*coalesceSlot
+	// openSlots maps a flow key to its open slot so new segments can extend an in-progress
+	// superpacket in O(1). Removal is what closes a chain: on PSH or a short last segment, on a
+	// non-admissible packet for the flow, or in Flush.
+	openSlots map[flowKey]*coalesceSlot
+	// lastSlot caches the most recently touched open slot. Bulk traffic
+	// arrives in same-flow runs (single-flow steady state, or GRO bursts
+	// under multi-flow), so comparing the incoming key against the cached
+	// slot's own fk lets the hot path skip the map lookup (and the aeshash
+	// of a 38-byte key) for the length of each run.
+	// Kept in lockstep with openSlots: nil whenever the slot it pointed
+	// at is removed.
+	lastSlot *coalesceSlot
+	pool     []*coalesceSlot // free list for reuse
+	l        *slog.Logger
+}
+
+// NewTCPCoalescer wraps w, returning nil if w can't accept GSO_TCP writes.
+func NewTCPCoalescer(w io.Writer, l *slog.Logger) *TCPCoalescer {
+	gw, ok := tio.SupportsGSO(w, tio.GSOProtoTCP)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &TCPCoalescer{
+		w:         gw,
+		slots:     make([]*coalesceSlot, 0, initialSlots),
+		openSlots: make(map[flowKey]*coalesceSlot, initialSlots),
+		pool:      make([]*coalesceSlot, 0, initialSlots),
+		l:         l,
+	}
+}
+
+// parsedTCP holds the fields extracted from a single parse so later steps
+// (admission, slot lookup, canAppend) don't re-walk the header.
+type parsedTCP struct {
+	fk       flowKey
+	ipHdrLen int
+	hdrLen   int
+	payLen   int
+	seq      uint32
+	flags    byte
+}
+
+// parseAt extracts the flow key and IP/TCP offsets for a packet the dispatcher already knows is
+// TCP; ipHdrLen is the upstream-resolved L4 offset (see flowKey.parseIPAt). p must be zero on
+// entry and is filled in place; see flowKey.parseIPAt for why. Returns false for malformed input
+// or any shape that must not coalesce (IPv4 options/fragmentation, IPv6 extension headers).
+func (p *parsedTCP) parseAt(pkt []byte, ipHdrLen int) bool {
+	trimmed, ok := p.fk.parseIPAt(pkt, ipHdrLen)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	return p.parseTail(trimmed, ipHdrLen)
+}
+
+// parseTail layers the TCP-header parse on a validated IP prologue. pkt is the trimmed packet;
+// fk's addresses are already filled.
+func (p *parsedTCP) parseTail(pkt []byte, ipHdrLen int) bool {
+	if len(pkt) < ipHdrLen+20 {
+		return false
+	}
+	tcpOff := int(pkt[ipHdrLen+12]>>4) * 4
+	if tcpOff < 20 || tcpOff > 60 {
+		return false
+	}
+	if len(pkt) < ipHdrLen+tcpOff {
+		return false
+	}
+	p.ipHdrLen = ipHdrLen
+	p.hdrLen = ipHdrLen + tcpOff
+	p.payLen = len(pkt) - p.hdrLen
+	p.fk.sport = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[ipHdrLen : ipHdrLen+2])
+	p.fk.dport = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[ipHdrLen+2 : ipHdrLen+4])
+	p.seq = binary.BigEndian.Uint32(pkt[ipHdrLen+4 : ipHdrLen+8])
+	p.flags = pkt[ipHdrLen+13]
+	return true
+}
+
+// TCP flag bits (byte 13 of the TCP header). Only the bits the coalescer consults are named;
+// FIN/SYN/RST/URG/CWR are rejected by the negative mask in commitParsed.
+const (
+	tcpFlagPsh = 0x08
+	tcpFlagAck = 0x10
+	tcpFlagEce = 0x40
+)
+
+// sealAllOpen closes every open coalesce chain. Called for unparseable packets: the flow key is
+// unknown, so any open chain could otherwise absorb later data and emit it ahead of this packet.
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) sealAllOpen() {
+	clear(c.openSlots)
+	c.lastSlot = nil
+}
+
+// sealFlow closes fk's open chain, if any, keeping lastSlot in lockstep. The len guard skips
+// hashing the 38-byte key when no chains are open (e.g. ack-dominant queues).
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) sealFlow(fk flowKey) {
+	if len(c.openSlots) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	if last := c.lastSlot; last != nil && last.fk == fk {
+		c.lastSlot = nil
+	}
+	delete(c.openSlots, fk)
+}
+
+// commitStaged commits one staged packet dispatch routed to this lane. A shape the lane cannot
+// coalesce (any fragmentation, unparseable header) seals every open chain
+// and rides the lane as an in-lane verbatim, still in transmission order.
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) commitStaged(sp stagedPacket) error {
+	if sp.fragAny {
+		c.sealAllOpen()
+		c.addVerbatim(sp.pkt)
+		return nil
+	}
+	var info parsedTCP
+	if !info.parseAt(sp.pkt, int(sp.ipHdrLen)) {
+		c.sealAllOpen()
+		c.addVerbatim(sp.pkt)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return c.commitParsed(sp.pkt, &info)
+}
+
+// commitParsed commits one parsed TCP packet. The caller (dispatch, via parseAt) supplies a
+// valid parse so the header is not re-walked here.
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) commitParsed(pkt []byte, info *parsedTCP) error {
+	// Admission: only ACK, ACK|PSH, ACK|ECE, ACK|PSH|ECE may ride a coalesce chain. CWR marks a
+	// one-shot congestion transition the receiver must observe at a segment boundary. NB: AccECN
+	// reuses CWR as ACE counter bits; revisit this check if inner hosts adopt AccECN.
+	if info.flags&tcpFlagAck == 0 || info.flags&^(tcpFlagAck|tcpFlagPsh|tcpFlagEce) != 0 {
+		// SYN/FIN/RST/URG/CWR must be observed in sequence. Seal the flow's open slot so later
+		// in-flow packets cannot extend it and emit ahead of this verbatim.
+		c.sealFlow(info.fk)
+		c.addVerbatim(pkt)
+		return nil
+	}
+	if info.payLen == 0 {
+		// Pure ACK: no ordering obligation toward the flow's data. Delivering it after
+		// later-transmitted data only makes it a stale ACK, which receivers ignore. Not sealing
+		// keeps a bidirectional flow's data run coalescing across interleaved peer ACKs, matching
+		// kernel GRO. This is the only place emission deviates from transmission order.
+		c.addVerbatim(pkt)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Cached-slot fast path. Arrival isn't per-packet interleaved even with
+	// many flows: wire-side GRO delivers runs of same-flow packets
+	// (deliverSegments splits a superdatagram into up to 64), so the cache
+	// hits for the length of each run and a miss costs one fk compare
+	// before the map lookup carries the weight.
+	var open *coalesceSlot
+	if last := c.lastSlot; last != nil && last.fk == info.fk {
+		open = last
+	} else {
+		open = c.openSlots[info.fk]
+	}
+	if open != nil {
+		if c.canAppend(open, pkt, info) {
+			if c.appendPayload(open, pkt, info) {
+				// Chain closed (PSH or short segment): stop extending it.
+				c.sealFlow(info.fk)
+			} else {
+				c.lastSlot = open
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+		// Can't extend (seq gap from upstream loss, header change, or a full
+		// chain): evict it from openSlots and fall through to seed a fresh slot.
+		c.sealFlow(info.fk)
+	}
+	c.seed(pkt, info)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) Flush() error {
+	var first error
+	for _, s := range c.slots {
+		var err error
+		if s.verbatim || s.numSeg == 1 {
+			// A slot that never grew is byte-identical to its seed packet; ship the original so
+			// its valid checksum rides the DATA_VALID path instead of a kernel software csum.
+			// rawPkt is only mutated once numSeg >= 2 (PSH propagate, flush patches), so it is
+			// pristine here.
+			_, err = c.w.Write(s.rawPkt)
+		} else {
+			err = c.flushSlot(s)
+		}
+		if err != nil && first == nil {
+			first = err
+		}
+		c.release(s)
+	}
+	clear(c.slots)
+	c.slots = c.slots[:0]
+	clear(c.openSlots)
+	c.lastSlot = nil
+
+	return first
+}
+
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) addVerbatim(pkt []byte) {
+	s := c.take()
+	s.verbatim = true
+	s.rawPkt = pkt
+	c.slots = append(c.slots, s)
+}
+
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) seed(pkt []byte, info *parsedTCP) {
+	if info.hdrLen+info.payLen > tcpCoalesceBufSize {
+		// Pathological shape that can't ride a superpacket; emit as-is. No chain for this flow can
+		// be open here (commitParsed evicts before seeding), so sealFlow is defense in depth
+		// against a stale cache entry absorbing later data.
+		c.sealFlow(info.fk)
+		c.addVerbatim(pkt)
+		return
+	}
+	s := c.take()
+	s.verbatim = false
+	// rawPkt serves the numSeg==1 fast path in Flush, is the header source for canAppend, and is
+	// the superpacket header flushSlot patches in place.
+	s.rawPkt = pkt
+	s.hdrLen = info.hdrLen
+	s.ipHdrLen = info.ipHdrLen
+	s.isV6 = info.fk.isV6
+	s.fk = info.fk
+	s.gsoSize = info.payLen
+	s.numSeg = 1
+	s.totalPay = info.payLen
+	s.nextSeq = info.seq + uint32(info.payLen)
+	s.payIovs = append(s.payIovs[:0], pkt[info.hdrLen:info.hdrLen+info.payLen])
+	c.slots = append(c.slots, s)
+	if info.flags&tcpFlagPsh == 0 {
+		c.openSlots[info.fk] = s
+		c.lastSlot = s
+	} else {
+		// PSH on the seed closes the chain immediately; it is never registered as open.
+		// Drop any stale entry for this flow too (defense in depth, unreachable if lastSlot's lockstep invariant holds).
+		c.sealFlow(info.fk)
+	}
+}
+
+// canAppend reports whether info's packet extends the slot's seed: same header shape and stable
+// contents, adjacent seq, not oversized. A closed chain never reaches here; closing removes the
+// slot from openSlots, the only path in. The header fields read from rawPkt are always pristine:
+// the only pre-flush mutation is the PSH propagate, which also closes the chain.
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) canAppend(s *coalesceSlot, pkt []byte, info *parsedTCP) bool {
+	if info.hdrLen != s.hdrLen {
+		return false
+	}
+	if info.seq != s.nextSeq {
+		return false
+	}
+	if s.numSeg >= tcpCoalesceMaxSegs {
+		return false
+	}
+	if info.payLen > s.gsoSize {
+		return false
+	}
+	if s.hdrLen+s.totalPay+info.payLen > tcpCoalesceBufSize {
+		return false
+	}
+	// ECE state must be stable across a burst.
+	// Receivers expect the flag set on every segment of a CE-echoing window or none.
+	seedFlags := s.rawPkt[s.ipHdrLen+13]
+	if (seedFlags^info.flags)&tcpFlagEce != 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !s.isV6 && !ipv4CanCoalesceID(s.rawPkt, pkt, s.numSeg) {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !headersMatch(s.rawPkt[:s.hdrLen], pkt[:info.hdrLen], s.isV6, s.ipHdrLen) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// appendPayload folds info's packet into s and reports whether the chain is now closed: the
+// segment was sub-gsoSize (kernel TSO allows only the final segment to be short) or carried PSH.
+// The caller must deregister a closed slot from openSlots.
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) appendPayload(s *coalesceSlot, pkt []byte, info *parsedTCP) bool {
+	s.payIovs = append(s.payIovs, pkt[info.hdrLen:info.hdrLen+info.payLen])
+	s.numSeg++
+	s.totalPay += info.payLen
+	s.nextSeq = info.seq + uint32(info.payLen)
+	if info.flags&tcpFlagPsh != 0 {
+		// Propagate PSH into the seed header so kernel TSO sets it on the last segment. Mutating
+		// rawPkt is safe: PSH also closes the chain, so no admission check re-reads this header.
+		s.rawPkt[s.ipHdrLen+13] |= tcpFlagPsh
+	}
+	return info.payLen < s.gsoSize || info.flags&tcpFlagPsh != 0
+}
+
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) take() *coalesceSlot {
+	if n := len(c.pool); n > 0 {
+		s := c.pool[n-1]
+		c.pool[n-1] = nil
+		c.pool = c.pool[:n-1]
+		return s
+	}
+	return &coalesceSlot{}
+}
+
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) release(s *coalesceSlot) {
+	clear(s.payIovs)
+	*s = coalesceSlot{payIovs: s.payIovs[:0]}
+	c.pool = append(c.pool, s)
+}
+
+// flushSlot patches the superpacket header in place in rawPkt (total length, IPv4 header
+// checksum, pseudo-header checksum seed) and calls WriteGSO. The slot is released right after,
+// so nothing re-reads the patched header. Does not remove the slot from c.slots.
+func (c *TCPCoalescer) flushSlot(s *coalesceSlot) error {
+	total := s.hdrLen + s.totalPay
+	l4Len := total - s.ipHdrLen
+	hdr := s.rawPkt[:s.hdrLen]
+
+	if s.isV6 {
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(hdr[4:6], uint16(l4Len))
+	} else {
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(hdr[2:4], uint16(total))
+		hdr[10] = 0
+		hdr[11] = 0
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(hdr[10:12], ipv4HdrChecksum(hdr[:s.ipHdrLen]))
+	}
+
+	var psum uint32
+	if s.isV6 {
+		psum = pseudoSumIPv6(hdr[8:24], hdr[24:40], ipProtoTCP, l4Len)
+	} else {
+		psum = pseudoSumIPv4(hdr[12:16], hdr[16:20], ipProtoTCP, l4Len)
+	}
+	tcsum := s.ipHdrLen + 16
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(hdr[tcsum:tcsum+2], foldOnceNoInvert(psum))
+
+	return c.w.WriteGSO(hdr[:s.ipHdrLen], hdr[s.ipHdrLen:], s.payIovs, tio.GSOProtoTCP)
+}
+
+// headersMatch compares two IP+TCP header prefixes for byte-for-byte
+// equality on every field that must be identical across coalesced
+// segments. Size/IPID/IPCsum/seq/flags/tcpCsum are masked out.
+func headersMatch(a, b []byte, isV6 bool, ipHdrLen int) bool {
+	if len(a) != len(b) {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !ipHeadersMatch(a, b, isV6) {
+		return false
+	}
+	// TCP: compare [0:4] ports, [8:13] ack+dataoff, [14:16] window,
+	// [18:tcpHdrLen] options (incl. urgent).
+	tcp := ipHdrLen
+	if !bytes.Equal(a[tcp:tcp+4], b[tcp:tcp+4]) {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !bytes.Equal(a[tcp+8:tcp+13], b[tcp+8:tcp+13]) {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !bytes.Equal(a[tcp+14:tcp+16], b[tcp+14:tcp+16]) {
+		return false
+	}
+	if !bytes.Equal(a[tcp+18:], b[tcp+18:]) {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// ipv4HdrChecksum computes the IPv4 header checksum over hdr (which must
+// already have its checksum field zeroed) and returns the folded/inverted
+// 16-bit value to store.
+func ipv4HdrChecksum(hdr []byte) uint16 {
+	var sum uint32
+	for i := 0; i+1 < len(hdr); i += 2 {
+		sum += uint32(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(hdr[i : i+2]))
+	}
+	if len(hdr)%2 == 1 {
+		sum += uint32(hdr[len(hdr)-1]) << 8
+	}
+	for sum>>16 != 0 {
+		sum = (sum & 0xffff) + (sum >> 16)
+	}
+	return ^uint16(sum)
+}
+
+// pseudoSumIPv4 / pseudoSumIPv6 build the L4 pseudo-header partial sum
+// expected by the virtio NEEDS_CSUM kernel path: the 32-bit accumulator
+// before folding. proto selects the L4 (TCP or UDP); the UDP coalescer
+// reuses these helpers.
+func pseudoSumIPv4(src, dst []byte, proto byte, l4Len int) uint32 {
+	var sum uint32
+	sum += uint32(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(src[0:2]))
+	sum += uint32(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(src[2:4]))
+	sum += uint32(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(dst[0:2]))
+	sum += uint32(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(dst[2:4]))
+	sum += uint32(proto)
+	sum += uint32(l4Len)
+	return sum
+}
+
+func pseudoSumIPv6(src, dst []byte, proto byte, l4Len int) uint32 {
+	var sum uint32
+	for i := 0; i < 16; i += 2 {
+		sum += uint32(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(src[i : i+2]))
+		sum += uint32(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(dst[i : i+2]))
+	}
+	sum += uint32(l4Len >> 16)
+	sum += uint32(l4Len & 0xffff)
+	sum += uint32(proto)
+	return sum
+}
+
+// foldOnceNoInvert folds the 32-bit accumulator to 16 bits and returns it unchanged (no one's complement).
+// This is what virtio NEEDS_CSUM wants in the L4 checksum field
+func foldOnceNoInvert(sum uint32) uint16 {
+	for sum>>16 != 0 {
+		sum = (sum & 0xffff) + (sum >> 16)
+	}
+	return uint16(sum)
+}

overlay/batch/tcp_coalesce_bench_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+package batch
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/tio"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/test"
+)
+
+// nopTunWriter is a zero-alloc tio.GSOWriter for benchmarks. Discards
+// everything but satisfies the interface the coalescer detects.
+type nopTunWriter struct{}
+
+func (nopTunWriter) Write(p []byte) (int, error) { return len(p), nil }
+func (nopTunWriter) WriteGSO(hdr []byte, transportHdr []byte, pays [][]byte, _ tio.GSOProto) error {
+	return nil
+}
+func (nopTunWriter) Capabilities() tio.Capabilities {
+	return tio.Capabilities{TSO: true, USO: true}
+}
+
+// buildTCPv4BulkFlow returns a slice of N adjacent ACK-only TCP segments
+// on a single 5-tuple, each carrying payloadLen bytes. Seq numbers are
+// contiguous so every packet is coalesceable onto the previous one.
+func buildTCPv4BulkFlow(n, payloadLen int) [][]byte {
+	pkts := make([][]byte, n)
+	pay := make([]byte, payloadLen)
+	seq := uint32(1000)
+	for i := range n {
+		pkts[i] = buildTCPv4(seq, tcpAck, pay)
+		seq += uint32(payloadLen)
+	}
+	return pkts
+}
+
+// buildTCPv4Interleaved returns nFlows * perFlow packets with per-flow
+// seq continuity but round-robin across flows — worst case for any
+// "last-slot" cache.
+func buildTCPv4Interleaved(nFlows, perFlow, payloadLen int) [][]byte {
+	pay := make([]byte, payloadLen)
+	seqs := make([]uint32, nFlows)
+	for i := range seqs {
+		seqs[i] = uint32(1000 + i*1000000)
+	}
+	pkts := make([][]byte, 0, nFlows*perFlow)
+	for range perFlow {
+		for f := range nFlows {
+			sport := uint16(10000 + f)
+			pkts = append(pkts, buildTCPv4Ports(sport, 2000, seqs[f], tcpAck, pay))
+			seqs[f] += uint32(payloadLen)
+		}
+	}
+	return pkts
+}
+
+// buildTCPv4RunInterleaved returns nFlows*perFlow packets delivered in
+// runs of runLen per flow — the arrival pattern wire-side GRO actually
+// produces (deliverSegments splits each superdatagram into up to 64
+// same-flow packets back to back). Contrast with buildTCPv4Interleaved's
+// per-packet round-robin, the adversarial worst case for a last-slot cache.
+func buildTCPv4RunInterleaved(nFlows, perFlow, runLen, payloadLen int) [][]byte {
+	pay := make([]byte, payloadLen)
+	seqs := make([]uint32, nFlows)
+	for i := range seqs {
+		seqs[i] = uint32(1000 + i*1000000)
+	}
+	pkts := make([][]byte, 0, nFlows*perFlow)
+	for done := 0; done < perFlow; done += runLen {
+		for f := range nFlows {
+			sport := uint16(10000 + f)
+			for range runLen {
+				pkts = append(pkts, buildTCPv4Ports(sport, 2000, seqs[f], tcpAck, pay))
+				seqs[f] += uint32(payloadLen)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return pkts
+}
+
+// buildICMPv4 returns a minimal non-TCP packet that takes the verbatim
+// branch in Commit.
+func buildICMPv4() []byte {
+	pkt := make([]byte, 28)
+	pkt[0] = 0x45
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(pkt[2:4], 28)
+	pkt[9] = 1 // ICMP
+	copy(pkt[12:16], []byte{10, 0, 0, 1})
+	copy(pkt[16:20], []byte{10, 0, 0, 2})
+	return pkt
+}
+
+// runCommitBench drives Commit over pkts batchSize at a time, flushing
+// between batches, and reports per-packet cost.
+func runCommitBench(b *testing.B, pkts [][]byte, batchSize int) {
+	b.Helper()
+	c := newTestTCPCoalescer(b, nopTunWriter{})
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.SetBytes(int64(len(pkts[0])))
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		pkt := pkts[i%len(pkts)]
+		if err := c.Commit(pkt); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if (i+1)%batchSize == 0 {
+			if err := c.Flush(); err != nil {
+				b.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	// Drain any trailing partial batch so slot state doesn't leak across runs.
+	_ = c.Flush()
+}
+
+// BenchmarkCommitSingleFlow is the bulk-TCP steady state: one flow,
+// contiguous seq, 1200-byte payloads. Every packet past the seed should
+// append onto the open slot. This is the case we most care about.
+func BenchmarkCommitSingleFlow(b *testing.B) {
+	pkts := buildTCPv4BulkFlow(tcpCoalesceMaxSegs, 1200)
+	runCommitBench(b, pkts, tcpCoalesceMaxSegs)
+}
+
+// BenchmarkCommitInterleaved4 has 4 concurrent bulk flows round-robined.
+// A single-entry fast-path cache will miss on every packet; an N-way
+// cache or map lookup carries the weight.
+func BenchmarkCommitInterleaved4(b *testing.B) {
+	pkts := buildTCPv4Interleaved(4, tcpCoalesceMaxSegs, 1200)
+	runCommitBench(b, pkts, len(pkts))
+}
+
+// BenchmarkCommitInterleaved16 stresses the map at higher flow counts.
+func BenchmarkCommitInterleaved16(b *testing.B) {
+	pkts := buildTCPv4Interleaved(16, tcpCoalesceMaxSegs, 1200)
+	runCommitBench(b, pkts, len(pkts))
+}
+
+// BenchmarkCommitRunInterleaved4 is 4 concurrent flows arriving in
+// GRO-burst runs of 16 — the realistic multi-flow pattern. A last-slot
+// cache hits for the length of each run; the per-packet round-robin
+// benches above are its worst case.
+func BenchmarkCommitRunInterleaved4(b *testing.B) {
+	pkts := buildTCPv4RunInterleaved(4, tcpCoalesceMaxSegs, 16, 1200)
+	runCommitBench(b, pkts, len(pkts))
+}
+
+// BenchmarkCommitPassthrough exercises the non-TCP branch: parseBase
+// bails early and addVerbatim is the only work.
+func BenchmarkCommitPassthrough(b *testing.B) {
+	pkt := buildICMPv4()
+	pkts := make([][]byte, 64)
+	for i := range pkts {
+		pkts[i] = pkt
+	}
+	runCommitBench(b, pkts, 64)
+}
+
+// BenchmarkCommitNonCoalesceableTCP sends SYN|ACK packets on one flow.
+// Each packet takes the "TCP but not admissible" branch which does a
+// map delete + verbatim. Measures the seal-without-slot cost.
+func BenchmarkCommitNonCoalesceableTCP(b *testing.B) {
+	pay := make([]byte, 0)
+	pkts := make([][]byte, 64)
+	for i := range pkts {
+		pkts[i] = buildTCPv4(uint32(1000+i), tcpSyn|tcpAck, pay)
+	}
+	runCommitBench(b, pkts, 64)
+}
+
+// runMultiCommitBench drives MultiCoalescer.Commit with in-order keys, so
+// it includes the staging sort's already-sorted fast path plus the
+// dispatch-time parse — the full steady-state cost of the batcher. The
+// ParsedPackets are precomputed: in production they fall out of the
+// firewall's newPacket, which this bench does not model.
+func runMultiCommitBench(b *testing.B, pkts [][]byte, batchSize int) {
+	b.Helper()
+	m := NewMultiCoalescer(nopTunWriter{}, test.NewLogger())
+	pps := make([]*firewall.ParsedPacket, len(pkts))
+	for i, p := range pkts {
+		pps[i] = testPP(p)
+	}
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	b.SetBytes(int64(len(pkts[0])))
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		j := i % len(pkts)
+		if err := m.Commit(pkts[j], SortKey{Epoch: 1, Counter: uint64(i + 1)}, pps[j]); err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if (i+1)%batchSize == 0 {
+			if err := m.Flush(); err != nil {
+				b.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	_ = m.Flush()
+}
+
+// BenchmarkMultiCommitSingleFlow is the multi-lane analogue of
+// BenchmarkCommitSingleFlow — same workload but routed through the
+// dispatcher. The delta vs the single-lane bench measures dispatcher
+// overhead.
+func BenchmarkMultiCommitSingleFlow(b *testing.B) {
+	pkts := buildTCPv4BulkFlow(tcpCoalesceMaxSegs, 1200)
+	runMultiCommitBench(b, pkts, tcpCoalesceMaxSegs)
+}
+
+// BenchmarkMultiCommitInterleaved4 mirrors BenchmarkCommitInterleaved4
+// through the dispatcher.
+func BenchmarkMultiCommitInterleaved4(b *testing.B) {
+	pkts := buildTCPv4Interleaved(4, tcpCoalesceMaxSegs, 1200)
+	runMultiCommitBench(b, pkts, len(pkts))
+}