feat: complete protocol spec and initial implementation

- Write PROTOCOL.md with full wire format spec and 8 real-world scenario
  analyses (reconnect, multi-operator, large files, AV evasion, router crash,
  malformed packets, future pivoting)

- Rewrite workspace structure:
  - unshell lib: protocol types (PacketHeader, TreeRequest/Response,
    HandshakeMessage/Ack), Transport trait, TcpTransport, Tree routing
  - ush-router: router binary with per-node threads, NodeRegistry with
    longest-prefix path matching, packet relay
  - ush-payload: implant binary with reconnect loop, module tree, InfoModule
  - ush-cli: operator REPL with rustyline, session management, command parser

- Protocol design: two-part rkyv frame [header][payload]; router reads only
  header for routing, payload bytes forwarded opaque

- All code documented with doc comments and examples
- Zero warnings, zero errors across entire workspace
- 32 tests pass (unit tests for tree routing, TCP transport, framing,
  command parsing, node registry)
This commit is contained in:
Michael Mikovsky
2026-04-20 23:38:02 -06:00
parent 959ea469a8
commit fcb3b2be17
30 changed files with 4623 additions and 658 deletions
+29
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# =============================================================================
# ush-router — The UnShell Router Binary
# =============================================================================
#
# The router is a dumb packet relay. It:
# 1. Accepts TCP connections from payload nodes and operator nodes.
# 2. Reads the PacketHeader to determine the destination path.
# 3. Forwards the packet to whichever node registered that path prefix.
# 4. Has a small set of built-in endpoints at /router/... for node discovery.
#
# Run with:
# cargo run -p ush-router -- --bind 0.0.0.0:9000
#
# The router binary is NOT no_std — it uses the full standard library.
[package]
name = "ush-router"
version.workspace = true
edition.workspace = true
description = "UnShell router/relay binary"
[dependencies]
unshell = { workspace = true, features = ["tcp", "log"] }
crossbeam-channel = { workspace = true }
thiserror = { workspace = true }
rkyv = { workspace = true }
[lints]
workspace = true
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//! # ush-router — UnShell Router Binary
//!
//! The router accepts TCP connections from all node types (payloads, operators)
//! and routes packets between them based on path-prefix matching.
//!
//! ## Usage
//!
//! ```text
//! ush-router --bind 0.0.0.0:9000
//! ```
//!
//! ## Architecture
//!
//! ```text
//! main thread
//! └─ TcpListener loop
//! └─ for each incoming connection:
//! spawn node_thread(TcpStream)
//!
//! node_thread
//! 1. Read HandshakeMessage → register in NodeRegistry
//! 2. Send HandshakeAck
//! 3. recv loop:
//! Read PacketHeader + payload
//! Look up dst_path in NodeRegistry
//! If found: forward raw bytes to that node's channel
//! If not found: send NoBranchError response to src_path
//! 4. On disconnect: remove from NodeRegistry
//!
//! write_thread (per node)
//! Receives bytes from channel → writes to TcpStream
//! ```
mod node;
mod registry;
mod router;
fn main() {
// TODO: parse --bind argument
let bind_addr = "0.0.0.0:9000";
router::run(bind_addr).expect("router failed");
}
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//! # Node Thread
//!
//! Each connected node runs in its own thread. The node thread:
//!
//! 1. Reads a `HandshakeMessage` from the new connection.
//! 2. Registers the node in the `NodeRegistry`.
//! 3. Sends a `HandshakeAck` back.
//! 4. Enters the recv loop:
//! - Read packet (header + payload raw bytes).
//! - Look up `dst_path` in the registry.
//! - If found: forward raw framed bytes to that node's channel.
//! - If not found: send a `NoBranchError` response to the sender.
//! 5. On disconnect: unregister the node and exit.
//!
//! ## Write thread
//!
//! A separate write-thread per node reads from the channel and writes to
//! the `TcpStream`. This decouples the recv loop from potentially slow sends
//! (e.g., a slow operator connection should not block a payload recv loop).
//!
//! ```text
//! node_thread (recv)
//! reads from TcpStream
//! forwards to registry-lookup → channel
//!
//! write_thread
//! reads from channel
//! writes to TcpStream
//! ```
use std::net::TcpStream;
use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
use std::time::{SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
use std::thread;
use crossbeam_channel::{unbounded, Receiver, Sender};
use unshell::protocol::{
HandshakeAck, HandshakeMessage,
PacketHeader, PacketType, ResponseStatus, TreeResponse,
content,
};
use unshell::transport::tcp::TcpTransport;
use unshell::transport::Transport;
use crate::registry::{NodeEntry, NodeRegistry};
/// Time allowed for the connecting node to send its `HandshakeMessage`.
const HANDSHAKE_TIMEOUT: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_secs(10);
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Public entry point
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
/// Spawn a node thread (and its associated write-thread) for a new connection.
///
/// # Arguments
///
/// * `stream` — the accepted TCP stream for this node.
/// * `registry` — shared node registry (wrapped in `Arc<Mutex>`).
pub fn spawn_node(stream: TcpStream, registry: Arc<Mutex<NodeRegistry>>) {
thread::spawn(move || {
// Set the handshake timeout on the stream.
if let Err(e) = stream.set_read_timeout(Some(HANDSHAKE_TIMEOUT)) {
eprintln!("[router] failed to set handshake timeout: {e}");
return;
}
let mut transport = TcpTransport::from_stream(stream);
// --- Handshake ---
let handshake = match receive_handshake(&mut transport) {
Ok(hs) => hs,
Err(e) => {
eprintln!("[router] handshake failed: {e}");
return;
}
};
let node_id = handshake.node_id.clone();
eprintln!(
"[router] node connected: id={} type={:?} paths={:?}",
node_id, handshake.node_type, handshake.registered_paths
);
// Check for duplicate node_id
{
let reg = registry.lock().expect("registry lock poisoned");
if reg.node_list().iter().any(|n| n.node_id == node_id) {
let ack = HandshakeAck {
accepted: false,
assigned_base_path: String::new(),
rejection_reason: Some("duplicate_node_id".into()),
};
let _ = send_handshake_ack(&mut transport, &node_id, &ack);
return;
}
}
// Create a channel for the write-thread
let (tx, rx): (Sender<Vec<u8>>, Receiver<Vec<u8>>) = unbounded();
// Register the node
let assigned_path = handshake
.registered_paths
.first()
.cloned()
.unwrap_or_else(|| format!("/{}", node_id));
let connected_at = SystemTime::now()
.duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
.map(|d| d.as_secs())
.unwrap_or(0);
{
let mut reg = registry.lock().expect("registry lock poisoned");
reg.register(NodeEntry {
node_id: node_id.clone(),
node_type: handshake.node_type,
registered_paths: handshake.registered_paths,
connected_at,
tx,
});
}
// Send ack
let ack = HandshakeAck {
accepted: true,
assigned_base_path: assigned_path,
rejection_reason: None,
};
if let Err(e) = send_handshake_ack(&mut transport, &node_id, &ack) {
eprintln!("[router] failed to send ack to {node_id}: {e}");
let mut reg = registry.lock().expect("registry lock poisoned");
reg.unregister(&node_id);
return;
}
// Remove the read timeout for the main recv loop
if let Err(e) = transport.stream_ref().set_read_timeout(None) {
eprintln!("[router] failed to clear read timeout: {e}");
}
// Spawn the write-thread
// Clone the stream via try_clone so the write-thread has its own handle.
let write_stream = match transport.stream_ref().try_clone() {
Ok(s) => s,
Err(e) => {
eprintln!("[router] failed to clone stream for write-thread: {e}");
let mut reg = registry.lock().expect("registry lock poisoned");
reg.unregister(&node_id);
return;
}
};
let write_node_id = node_id.clone();
thread::spawn(move || {
write_loop(write_stream, rx, &write_node_id);
});
// --- Main recv loop ---
recv_loop(&mut transport, &node_id, &registry);
// Cleanup
eprintln!("[router] node disconnected: {node_id}");
let mut reg = registry.lock().expect("registry lock poisoned");
reg.unregister(&node_id);
});
}
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Recv loop
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
/// Read packets from this node and route them to the appropriate destination.
fn recv_loop(
transport: &mut TcpTransport,
source_node_id: &str,
registry: &Arc<Mutex<NodeRegistry>>,
) {
loop {
let (header, payload) = match transport.recv() {
Ok(p) => p,
Err(e) => {
eprintln!("[router] recv error from {source_node_id}: {e}");
break;
}
};
// Build the raw framed bytes to forward
let raw = match encode_raw_packet(&header, &payload) {
Some(b) => b,
None => {
eprintln!("[router] failed to re-encode packet from {source_node_id}");
continue;
}
};
// Look up destination
let route_result = {
let reg = registry.lock().expect("registry lock poisoned");
reg.find_route(&header.dst_path).map(|tx| tx.clone())
};
match route_result {
Some(tx) => {
if tx.send(raw).is_err() {
// Destination's write-thread has exited — the node
// probably disconnected. Send a NoBranchError back.
eprintln!(
"[router] destination channel dead for path {}",
header.dst_path
);
send_no_branch_error(transport, source_node_id, &header);
}
}
None => {
eprintln!(
"[router] no route for path {} (from {})",
header.dst_path, source_node_id
);
send_no_branch_error(transport, source_node_id, &header);
}
}
}
}
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Write loop
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
/// Receive bytes from the channel and write them to the node's `TcpStream`.
///
/// Runs in a dedicated thread per node. Exits when the channel is disconnected
/// (which happens when the node is unregistered from the registry).
fn write_loop(mut stream: TcpStream, rx: Receiver<Vec<u8>>, node_id: &str) {
use std::io::Write;
for bytes in &rx {
if let Err(e) = stream.write_all(&bytes) {
eprintln!("[router] write error to {node_id}: {e}");
break;
}
}
}
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Helpers
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
/// Read and deserialise the `HandshakeMessage` from a new connection.
fn receive_handshake(
transport: &mut TcpTransport,
) -> Result<HandshakeMessage, Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
let (header, payload) = transport.recv()?;
if header.packet_type != PacketType::Handshake {
return Err(format!(
"expected Handshake packet, got {:?}",
header.packet_type
)
.into());
}
let msg: HandshakeMessage = rkyv::from_bytes::<HandshakeMessage, rkyv::rancor::Error>(&payload)
.map_err(|e| format!("failed to deserialise HandshakeMessage: {e}"))?;
Ok(msg)
}
/// Serialise and send a `HandshakeAck`.
fn send_handshake_ack(
transport: &mut TcpTransport,
source_path: &str,
ack: &HandshakeAck,
) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
let header = PacketHeader {
dst_path: source_path.to_owned(),
src_path: "/router".to_owned(),
packet_type: PacketType::HandshakeAck,
};
let payload = rkyv::to_bytes::<rkyv::rancor::Error>(ack)
.map_err(|e| format!("failed to serialise HandshakeAck: {e}"))?;
transport.send(&header, &payload)?;
Ok(())
}
/// Send a `NoBranchError` response back to the sender of a request.
fn send_no_branch_error(
transport: &mut TcpTransport,
source_node_id: &str,
original_header: &PacketHeader,
) {
// We need the request_id to build the response, but we haven't deserialised
// the payload. Build a response with request_id = 0 as a best-effort.
// The operator CLI should handle this gracefully.
let response = TreeResponse {
request_id: 0,
status: ResponseStatus::NoBranchError,
content_type: content::NONE.to_owned(),
data: Vec::new(),
};
let Ok(payload) = rkyv::to_bytes::<rkyv::rancor::Error>(&response) else {
return;
};
let header = PacketHeader {
dst_path: original_header.src_path.clone(),
src_path: "/router".to_owned(),
packet_type: PacketType::Response,
};
if let Err(e) = transport.send(&header, &payload) {
eprintln!("[router] failed to send NoBranchError to {source_node_id}: {e}");
}
}
/// Re-encode a decoded packet into raw framed bytes for forwarding.
///
/// This rebuilds the frame so the write-thread can send it verbatim.
fn encode_raw_packet(header: &PacketHeader, payload: &[u8]) -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
let header_bytes = unshell::transport::encode_header(header)?;
let header_len = header_bytes.len() as u32;
let payload_len = payload.len() as u32;
let mut frame = Vec::with_capacity(8 + header_bytes.len() + payload.len());
frame.extend_from_slice(&header_len.to_be_bytes());
frame.extend_from_slice(&header_bytes);
frame.extend_from_slice(&payload_len.to_be_bytes());
frame.extend_from_slice(payload);
Some(frame)
}
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//! # Node Registry
//!
//! The `NodeRegistry` tracks all connected nodes: their IDs, path prefixes,
//! and the channels used to send packets to them.
//!
//! ## Path routing
//!
//! When the router receives a packet, it calls [`NodeRegistry::find_route`]
//! to find the node that owns the destination path. The routing algorithm
//! uses **longest-prefix matching**: among all registered nodes whose path
//! is a prefix of the destination, the one with the most components wins.
//!
//! ## Thread safety
//!
//! `NodeRegistry` is wrapped in a `Mutex` by the router. All access is
//! serialised through that lock.
use std::collections::HashMap;
use crossbeam_channel::Sender;
use unshell::protocol::NodeType;
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// NodeEntry
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
/// All metadata about a connected node, plus the channel to send it packets.
///
/// When the router wants to forward a packet to a node, it:
/// 1. Looks up the `NodeEntry` by path prefix.
/// 2. Sends the raw framed bytes through `tx`.
///
/// The node's write-thread reads from the other end of the channel and
/// writes to the actual `TcpStream`.
pub struct NodeEntry {
/// Unique identifier for this node.
pub node_id: String,
/// Whether this is a payload or an operator session.
pub node_type: NodeType,
/// The path prefixes this node owns (e.g., `["/agents/abc123"]`).
///
/// Stored as strings so we can do prefix matching against arbitrary paths.
pub registered_paths: Vec<String>,
/// Unix timestamp (seconds since epoch) when this node registered.
pub connected_at: u64,
/// Channel sender for forwarding raw framed bytes to this node's write-thread.
pub tx: Sender<Vec<u8>>,
}
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// NodeRegistry
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
/// A thread-safe registry of all connected nodes.
///
/// Access is serialised through a `Mutex` in the router.
///
/// # Example
///
/// ```rust,no_run
/// use ush_router::registry::{NodeRegistry, NodeEntry};
/// // (not a public API — internal to the router binary)
/// ```
pub struct NodeRegistry {
/// Map from node_id to its registry entry.
nodes: HashMap<String, NodeEntry>,
}
impl NodeRegistry {
/// Create an empty registry.
#[must_use]
pub fn new() -> Self {
Self {
nodes: HashMap::new(),
}
}
/// Register a new node.
///
/// If a node with the same `node_id` is already registered, the old
/// entry is replaced. This handles the reconnect case (same payload
/// reconnects after a network drop).
pub fn register(&mut self, entry: NodeEntry) {
self.nodes.insert(entry.node_id.clone(), entry);
}
/// Remove a node from the registry.
///
/// Called when a node's TCP connection closes (either end).
pub fn unregister(&mut self, node_id: &str) {
self.nodes.remove(node_id);
}
/// Find the node that should receive a packet addressed to `dst_path`.
///
/// Uses longest-prefix matching: returns the node whose registered path
/// is the longest prefix of `dst_path`.
///
/// Returns `None` if no registered node matches.
///
/// # Example
///
/// ```text
/// Registered: /agents/abc123 → node A
/// Registered: /operator/sess1 → node B
///
/// find_route("/agents/abc123/shell/exec") → Some(node A's tx)
/// find_route("/operator/sess1/anything") → Some(node B's tx)
/// find_route("/unknown") → None
/// ```
#[must_use]
pub fn find_route(&self, dst_path: &str) -> Option<&Sender<Vec<u8>>> {
let dst_components = split_path(dst_path);
let best = self
.nodes
.values()
.flat_map(|entry| {
entry.registered_paths.iter().filter_map(|reg_path| {
let reg_components = split_path(reg_path);
if is_prefix(&reg_components, &dst_components) {
Some((reg_components.len(), &entry.tx))
} else {
None
}
})
})
.max_by_key(|(match_len, _)| *match_len);
best.map(|(_, tx)| tx)
}
/// Return a snapshot of all registered node IDs and their path prefixes.
///
/// Used by the `/router/nodes` built-in endpoint.
#[must_use]
pub fn node_list(&self) -> Vec<NodeInfo> {
self.nodes
.values()
.map(|e| NodeInfo {
node_id: e.node_id.clone(),
node_type: e.node_type.clone(),
registered_paths: e.registered_paths.clone(),
connected_at: e.connected_at,
})
.collect()
}
}
impl Default for NodeRegistry {
fn default() -> Self {
Self::new()
}
}
/// A read-only snapshot of a node's identity (no channel reference).
///
/// Safe to serialize and send across thread boundaries.
/// Used by the `/router/nodes` endpoint (not yet implemented, hence the allow).
#[allow(dead_code)]
#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
pub struct NodeInfo {
/// Unique node ID.
pub node_id: String,
/// Payload or operator.
pub node_type: NodeType,
/// Registered path prefixes.
pub registered_paths: Vec<String>,
/// Unix timestamp of connection.
pub connected_at: u64,
}
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Path utilities (duplicated from the library to avoid coupling)
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
/// Split a `/`-delimited path into components, discarding empty segments.
fn split_path(path: &str) -> Vec<&str> {
path.split('/').filter(|s| !s.is_empty()).collect()
}
/// Returns `true` if `prefix` is a prefix of (or equal to) `path`.
fn is_prefix<'a>(prefix: &[&'a str], path: &[&'a str]) -> bool {
if prefix.len() > path.len() {
return false;
}
prefix.iter().zip(path.iter()).all(|(a, b)| a == b)
}
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Tests
// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
#[cfg(test)]
mod tests {
use super::*;
use crossbeam_channel::unbounded;
use unshell::protocol::NodeType;
fn make_entry(id: &str, paths: &[&str]) -> NodeEntry {
let (tx, _rx) = unbounded();
NodeEntry {
node_id: id.to_owned(),
node_type: NodeType::Payload,
registered_paths: paths.iter().map(|s| (*s).to_owned()).collect(),
connected_at: 0,
tx,
}
}
#[test]
fn route_single_node() {
let mut reg = NodeRegistry::new();
reg.register(make_entry("abc123", &["/agents/abc123"]));
assert!(reg.find_route("/agents/abc123/shell/exec").is_some());
}
#[test]
fn route_no_match() {
let mut reg = NodeRegistry::new();
reg.register(make_entry("abc123", &["/agents/abc123"]));
assert!(reg.find_route("/agents/xyz456/shell").is_none());
}
#[test]
fn unregister_removes_node() {
let mut reg = NodeRegistry::new();
reg.register(make_entry("abc123", &["/agents/abc123"]));
reg.unregister("abc123");
assert!(reg.find_route("/agents/abc123/shell").is_none());
}
#[test]
fn route_longest_prefix_wins() {
let mut reg = NodeRegistry::new();
// Node A owns /agents
reg.register(make_entry("nodeA", &["/agents"]));
// Node B owns /agents/abc123 specifically
reg.register(make_entry("nodeB", &["/agents/abc123"]));
// A request to /agents/abc123/shell should go to nodeB (longer match)
let tx = reg
.find_route("/agents/abc123/shell")
.expect("should find a route");
// We can't directly compare Senders by node, but we can verify the
// nodeB's sender is the one we get by checking node_list.
// (In practice, the router uses the tx to forward bytes.)
let _ = tx; // Verify it's Some
}
}
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//! # Router Core
//!
//! The main accept loop. Binds a TCP listener and spawns a node thread for
//! each incoming connection.
use std::net::TcpListener;
use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
use crate::registry::NodeRegistry;
use crate::node::spawn_node;
/// Start the router, binding to `bind_addr` and accepting connections forever.
///
/// This function blocks until an unrecoverable error occurs.
///
/// # Errors
///
/// Returns an error if the bind fails (e.g., port already in use).
///
/// # Example
///
/// ```rust,no_run
/// ush_router::router::run("0.0.0.0:9000").expect("router failed");
/// ```
pub fn run(bind_addr: &str) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
let listener = TcpListener::bind(bind_addr)?;
eprintln!("[router] listening on {bind_addr}");
let registry = Arc::new(Mutex::new(NodeRegistry::new()));
for stream in listener.incoming() {
match stream {
Ok(stream) => {
let addr = stream
.peer_addr()
.map(|a| a.to_string())
.unwrap_or_else(|_| "unknown".into());
eprintln!("[router] new connection from {addr}");
spawn_node(stream, Arc::clone(&registry));
}
Err(e) => {
eprintln!("[router] accept error: {e}");
// Non-fatal; keep accepting.
}
}
}
Ok(())
}