Independent network scans with methods, timelines, and raw artifacts. Findings are reproducible; data and scripts are in GitHub.
Questions about methodology or findings? Check out our GitHub to discuss or contribute.
Every blockchain network has a physical fingerprint. We pointed our eBPF/XDP scanner at 1,075 hosts across multiple DeFi validator networks and mapped 3,001 timing fingerprints to reveal the structure underneath the consensus layer.
Building a production BPF/XDP scanner is an exercise in humility. Orphaned XDP programs, async Rust deadlocks, stale binaries, silent TC failures -- here is everything that broke and what we did about it.
We scanned 138 Sui validators across 20 countries using kernel-level temporal fingerprinting. 41% have SSH exposed, 57 run unexpected internet-facing services, and 9 confirmed CVEs sit on 4 hosts -- including 2 critical at CVSS 9.8. Here is what we found and why it matters for DeFi.
We're open-sourcing the tooling behind NullRabbit's autonomous kernel-level network defence: the scanning, intelligence, observation, and adversarial validation layers that feed our enforcement pipeline. Six tools, MIT licensed, with more coming.
The technology to defend networks autonomously exists. The legitimacy to deploy it does not. Introducing earned autonomy: a governance framework where defensive authority is demonstrated before granted, scoped per abuse class, and continuously re-earned or revoked.
Inline defence without understanding is guesswork. Before machines act, they need evidence. Why we're open-sourcing our scanning system, building jigs instead of shortcuts, and claiming time as a first-class signal in infrastructure security.
Machines attack at machine speed. Humans defend at human speed. The technology to close this gap exists - the governance doesn't. A framework for when machines should be permitted to act without human approval.
Inline enforcement operates at machine speed, but trust cannot. IBSR is a validation step: using XDP to observe real traffic, simulate enforcement, and generate evidence before any blocking is enabled.
Machines attack at machine speed. Humans defend at human speed. We propose a governance framework for closing that gap--not through blind trust, but through demonstrated competence.
The XDP logic came together in days. The infrastructure to prove it works took weeks. That ratio matters more than most people realise.
Solana reportedly absorbed a sustained ~6 Tbps volumetric DDoS attack with no downtime. That's real progress. It's also not the same thing as being protected.
I assumed Cloudflare would protect me from all denial-of-service attacks. It doesn't. A reality check on origin IP bypasses, non-HTTP floods, and why the gap between the edge and your kernel matters.
Demonstrating the complete XDP detection pipeline with MQTT eventing. Shows kernel-level SYN-flood detection, userspace processing, and real-time remote alerting - all in milliseconds.
Validator nodes face constant exposure. This deep dive explains how NullRabbit Guard uses eBPF and XDP to enforce security directly inside the NIC driver, dropping scans and abnormal traffic at line rate before they reach the kernel or your node.
NullRabbit's September 2025 benchmark provides a consolidated security snapshot of all Sui validators. Scores ranged from 15 to 93, with a median of 45, and 18.5% meeting our good practice threshold. This dataset and heatmap give validators tools to improve, while offering delegators transparency when choosing staking providers.
Recent Ethereum validator slashings showed how fragile infra can be. Our scan of Sui uncovered something worse: nearly 40% of validator voting power exposed.
NullRabbit's August 2025 scan of the Sui validator set revealed nearly 40% of voting power exposed to SSH, CVEs, and misconfigurations - leaving the network one step away from consensus failure.
Introducing our new research hub where we share insights on DePIN security, blockchain infrastructure, and decentralized network protection.