Miscellaneous Hacks - Check Proxy RBL on New User Registration.

Check Proxy RBL on New User Registration Version 4.1

Version 4.1 includes remains unchanged from version 4.0 with the exception of a code fix to deal with an SQL injection security hole in the code.

What does this hack do?

Hooking in at register_addmember_process and register_addmember_complete this hack compares the IP address of the person registering with the Realtime Block List(s) of your choice. Based on your configuration the RBL Checker will then perform one of these actions:

1. Nothing, the registration continues as normal.
2. Registration continues as normal, but the user is automatically moved into the "Pending Moderation" group of your choice.
3. Registration continues as normal, but the user is automatically permanently banned.
4. Registration is blocked, an error message is displayed to the user.

Please Note: It is strongly recommended that you configure PM or Thread based notification so that you may monitor registrations that are from IPs that are a positive hit on the RBL. Especially if you configure the checker to allow registrations to complete normally.

These options are configurable in AdminCP > Options > DM-RBL Check on Registration.


Why Block Proxies?

Banned and Spammers users often get around IP bans by simply using an open proxy - of which there are thousands - to get around the IP ban. Very few legitimate users slow their surfing by using an anonymous proxy.


How do you Install?

1. Create a user from which PMs, Posts, etc. will be generated.
2. In your adminCP obtain values for the "banned" and "pending moderation" groupIDs (Defaults are 8 and 4).
3. Install the attached product.

IMPORTANT NOTE:You must specify a username if you plan on configuring the AUTOBAN or NOTIFICATION options. Otherwise you WILL get errors.


What is the default config?
By default the RBLChecker will check the IP of a new registration, allow registration to complete, but add the new user to the "COPPA Members Awaiting Moderation" usergroup. You can then approve/reject those members depending on whether you think they are/aren't spammers/trolls.

You can modify the settings in the AdminCP to Ban or Block as you like.


Hack History:

Version 4.1
- Fixed SQL Injection security hole.
- Fixed some minor typos in automatically generated messages.

Version 4.0
- Added ability to specify error reported on blocks.
- Added ability to specify ban reason and custom title.
- Added ability to move users to "pending moderation" group if registration is allowed.
- Updated list of RBLs checked based on testing with lists of "anonymous" proxies.
- Fixed IP address of Notification Posts equalling IP of blocked user. (Now Notification IP = 1.2.3.4)

Version 3.2
- Fixed typo causing blocked registrations to be reported as allowed.

Version 3.1
- change in variable name in v3.0 broke RBL checking. Corrected error.
- match notification now includes the name of the RBL that matches the IP.

Version 3.0
- plugin now fires at "register_addmember_process" allowing the user to completely fill in the form.
- Added the ability to specify more than one RBL.
- Added option to specify whether registration is blocked or allowed to complete.
- Added option to automatically ban registrations that are allowed to complete but have a positive IP match.
- Added option to specify user who is "notifier".
- Added option to specify a forum where a notification thread will be created.
- Added option to supress notification PM / Thread when an IP matches blacklist or known proxy list.
- Added customized error codes for notifications - notification now indicates whether a registration IP has matched the RBL, blacklist, or predefined list of anonymizers.
- Reworded Phrases.
- Removed 10.x.x.x IP from known proxy/anonymizer list.

version 2.0
- Added configuration options under vboptions > DM-RBL Check on Registration.
- Added PM on Block.
- Added option to select RBL.
- Added Custom Whitelist.
- Added Custom Blacklist.
- Added list of free proxies.
- Changed default RBL to sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org
- Added option to enable/disable checking.

version 1.0
- added plugin to check against opm.tornevall.org
- added custom phrase to be reported as error on registration start.


Using this Hack?
If you install this hack please click "Installed" to receive updates.

If you find this hack useful you can always hit that paypal button too...

[DaNIEL MeNTED]

Originally Posted by |Jordan|

What about web based proxies? Like anonymouse.org

See my post above... the next thing I'll be doing is spending some time updating the "known proxies" section - places like "anonymous" don't get added to the RBLs effectively enough...

[Damien001]

what we need is a database that can be shearch for these sites

[Spinball]

We have about 170 people registering per day. Since installing this hack, the amount of spam on the forums has dropped off by maybe 90% or more.
I have had one or two complaints from what sound like genuine users.
Here is such a message

Hi, I can't register because the server blacklisted my ip as an open proxy/ or as a spammer.
I'm not using an open proxy, my provider www.fastweb.it uses NAT technology to provide network access, so me and about other 1000 user that uses the same ip address can't register.
Could you please disban my ip address ?
Obviously all fastweb ip address aren't open proxy but simple Nat, so all fastweb user (about 2 million of people) cannot register to your forum.
You can read an article about Fastweb nat techonlogies here: http://www.cisco.com/application/pdf...cd801779b4.pdf

This occasional event aside, it's a very positive hack :up:

[DaNIEL MeNTED]

Its odd that fastweb's natting addresses are on a RBL. I would add the IPs to the whitelist.

Can you PM me with the fastweb.it IPs as well, I'll like to check them against the RBLs and see where the hits are coming from/why.

Thanks!

[Spinball]

Originally Posted by DaNIEL MeNTED

Its odd that fastweb's natting addresses are on a RBL. I would add the IPs to the whitelist.

Can you PM me with the fastweb.it IPs as well, I'll like to check them against the RBLs and see where the hits are coming from/why.

Thanks!

I'd love to but I have absolutely no idea what they are.

[gsk8]

Does this hack also work on site like proxy.org? I ask because I found out a few of my banned members were using that as a "work-around"....

[nsusa]

Just installed this hack due to trolls in my forum. Hopefully this will take care of them.

C.

[Spinball]

Originally Posted by DaNIEL MeNTED

Its odd that fastweb's natting addresses are on a RBL. I would add the IPs to the whitelist.

Can you PM me with the fastweb.it IPs as well, I'll like to check them against the RBLs and see where the hits are coming from/why.

Thanks!

Ok I heard back from the person using Fastweb. He said

By the way, fastweb ip addresses will always be in spamcop etc. blacklists because fastweb doesn't have an abuse center and doesn't block users who send spam. Obviously spamcop and etc block the ip address.

So Fastweb can remain in the blacklist as far as I'm concerned.

[Darat]

I've got this installed on a 3.6.4 board ( with the security patch) and it is generating 5 PM's and 5 threads every time it detects someone and although I've said allow registration to continue appears to banning them anyway.

Any ideas what could be causing this?

[Tom1234]

Darat, I think this post explains your problem (and mine since I am seeing the same as you):
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=107