Old firmware Router eats my messages

[trakais]

I made a report here, but maybe a discussion is better, not sure (logs are there too): #6338

My nodes are located nearby another node, which runs Router_Client and an old version of firmware (Unknown how old, as owner is not available and node is not possible to reach). When any one of my nodes send a message out, it gets lost and is not received by any nodes further away. I do receive some messages though. Only sending fails here. When my nodes are moved outside the "influence zone" of this node, their messages get delivered in all channels so my config is fine. When they are within vicinity of the "bad" node, all messages are lost.

We tested Router_Client with newer firmwares and can't replicate the issue in new versions, so it might be something in this other nodes config, or an old bug, or mismatch in encryption or something like that.

Apart from reaching the owner - not possible - is there any compatibility fix possible in the firmware to avoid this? Basically it allows somebody to easily cripple a whole network.

[garthvh]

Router client after 2.3.15 just switches to client in the firmware.

[trakais]

I know, but the device is not accessible and nobody can find the owner. His firmware is old and stays old. How can we solve the issue without accessing this old node?

[madeofstown]

Coordinated DDOS with direct messages? Try to triangulate it from its transmissions and either attempt to find the owner in its vicinity or take it offline manually.