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-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/__init__.py27
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/_helpers.py121
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/http_accept.py39
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/http_accept_encoding.py41
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/http_accept_language.py35
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/http_connection.py37
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/http_user_agent.py67
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/ip_limit.py146
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/limiter.py118
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/limiter.toml22
-rw-r--r--searx/botdetection/link_token.py156
11 files changed, 809 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/__init__.py b/searx/botdetection/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fcd8e5630
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+""".. _botdetection src:
+
+X-Forwarded-For
+===============
+
+.. attention::
+
+ A correct setup of the HTTP request headers ``X-Forwarded-For`` and
+ ``X-Real-IP`` is essential to be able to assign a request to an IP correctly:
+
+ - `NGINX RequestHeader`_
+ - `Apache RequestHeader`_
+
+.. _NGINX RequestHeader:
+ https://docs.searxng.org/admin/installation-nginx.html#nginx-s-searxng-site
+.. _Apache RequestHeader:
+ https://docs.searxng.org/admin/installation-apache.html#apache-s-searxng-site
+
+.. autofunction:: searx.botdetection.get_real_ip
+
+"""
+
+from ._helpers import dump_request
+from ._helpers import get_real_ip
+from ._helpers import too_many_requests
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/_helpers.py b/searx/botdetection/_helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8e0156d6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/_helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+# pylint: disable=missing-module-docstring, invalid-name
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from ipaddress import (
+ IPv4Network,
+ IPv6Network,
+ IPv6Address,
+ ip_address,
+ ip_network,
+)
+import flask
+import werkzeug
+
+from searx.tools import config
+from searx import logger
+
+logger = logger.getChild('botdetection')
+
+
+def dump_request(request: flask.Request):
+ return (
+ request.path
+ + " || X-Forwarded-For: %s" % request.headers.get('X-Forwarded-For')
+ + " || X-Real-IP: %s" % request.headers.get('X-Real-IP')
+ + " || form: %s" % request.form
+ + " || Accept: %s" % request.headers.get('Accept')
+ + " || Accept-Language: %s" % request.headers.get('Accept-Language')
+ + " || Accept-Encoding: %s" % request.headers.get('Accept-Encoding')
+ + " || Content-Type: %s" % request.headers.get('Content-Type')
+ + " || Content-Length: %s" % request.headers.get('Content-Length')
+ + " || Connection: %s" % request.headers.get('Connection')
+ + " || User-Agent: %s" % request.headers.get('User-Agent')
+ )
+
+
+def too_many_requests(network: IPv4Network | IPv6Network, log_msg: str) -> werkzeug.Response | None:
+ """Returns a HTTP 429 response object and writes a ERROR message to the
+ 'botdetection' logger. This function is used in part by the filter methods
+ to return the default ``Too Many Requests`` response.
+
+ """
+
+ logger.debug("BLOCK %s: %s", network.compressed, log_msg)
+ return flask.make_response(('Too Many Requests', 429))
+
+
+def get_network(real_ip: str, cfg: config.Config) -> IPv4Network | IPv6Network:
+ """Returns the (client) network of whether the real_ip is part of."""
+
+ ip = ip_address(real_ip)
+ if isinstance(ip, IPv6Address):
+ prefix = cfg['real_ip.ipv6_prefix']
+ else:
+ prefix = cfg['real_ip.ipv4_prefix']
+ network = ip_network(f"{real_ip}/{prefix}", strict=False)
+ # logger.debug("get_network(): %s", network.compressed)
+ return network
+
+
+def get_real_ip(request: flask.Request) -> str:
+ """Returns real IP of the request. Since not all proxies set all the HTTP
+ headers and incoming headers can be faked it may happen that the IP cannot
+ be determined correctly.
+
+ .. sidebar:: :py:obj:`flask.Request.remote_addr`
+
+ SearXNG uses Werkzeug's ProxyFix_ (with it default ``x_for=1``).
+
+ This function tries to get the remote IP in the order listed below,
+ additional some tests are done and if inconsistencies or errors are
+ detected, they are logged.
+
+ The remote IP of the request is taken from (first match):
+
+ - X-Forwarded-For_ header
+ - `X-real-IP header <https://github.com/searxng/searxng/issues/1237#issuecomment-1147564516>`__
+ - :py:obj:`flask.Request.remote_addr`
+
+ .. _ProxyFix:
+ https://werkzeug.palletsprojects.com/middleware/proxy_fix/
+
+ .. _X-Forwarded-For:
+ https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/X-Forwarded-For
+
+ """
+
+ forwarded_for = request.headers.get("X-Forwarded-For")
+ real_ip = request.headers.get('X-Real-IP')
+ remote_addr = request.remote_addr
+ # logger.debug(
+ # "X-Forwarded-For: %s || X-Real-IP: %s || request.remote_addr: %s", forwarded_for, real_ip, remote_addr
+ # )
+
+ if not forwarded_for:
+ logger.error("X-Forwarded-For header is not set!")
+ else:
+ from .limiter import get_cfg # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel, cyclic-import
+
+ forwarded_for = [x.strip() for x in forwarded_for.split(',')]
+ x_for: int = get_cfg()['real_ip.x_for']
+ forwarded_for = forwarded_for[-min(len(forwarded_for), x_for)]
+
+ if not real_ip:
+ logger.error("X-Real-IP header is not set!")
+
+ if forwarded_for and real_ip and forwarded_for != real_ip:
+ logger.warning("IP from X-Real-IP (%s) is not equal to IP from X-Forwarded-For (%s)", real_ip, forwarded_for)
+
+ if forwarded_for and remote_addr and forwarded_for != remote_addr:
+ logger.warning(
+ "IP from WSGI environment (%s) is not equal to IP from X-Forwarded-For (%s)", remote_addr, forwarded_for
+ )
+
+ if real_ip and remote_addr and real_ip != remote_addr:
+ logger.warning("IP from WSGI environment (%s) is not equal to IP from X-Real-IP (%s)", remote_addr, real_ip)
+
+ request_ip = forwarded_for or real_ip or remote_addr or '0.0.0.0'
+ # logger.debug("get_real_ip() -> %s", request_ip)
+ return request_ip
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/http_accept.py b/searx/botdetection/http_accept.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b78a86278
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/http_accept.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+"""
+Method ``http_accept``
+----------------------
+
+The ``http_accept`` method evaluates a request as the request of a bot if the
+Accept_ header ..
+
+- did not contain ``text/html``
+
+.. _Accept:
+ https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/Accept
+
+"""
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+from ipaddress import (
+ IPv4Network,
+ IPv6Network,
+)
+
+import flask
+import werkzeug
+
+from searx.tools import config
+from ._helpers import too_many_requests
+
+
+def filter_request(
+ network: IPv4Network | IPv6Network,
+ request: flask.Request,
+ cfg: config.Config,
+) -> werkzeug.Response | None:
+
+ if 'text/html' not in request.accept_mimetypes:
+ return too_many_requests(network, "HTTP header Accept did not contain text/html")
+ return None
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/http_accept_encoding.py b/searx/botdetection/http_accept_encoding.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..60718a4ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/http_accept_encoding.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+"""
+Method ``http_accept_encoding``
+-------------------------------
+
+The ``http_accept_encoding`` method evaluates a request as the request of a
+bot if the Accept-Encoding_ header ..
+
+- did not contain ``gzip`` AND ``deflate`` (if both values are missed)
+- did not contain ``text/html``
+
+.. _Accept-Encoding:
+ https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/Accept-Encoding
+
+"""
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+from ipaddress import (
+ IPv4Network,
+ IPv6Network,
+)
+
+import flask
+import werkzeug
+
+from searx.tools import config
+from ._helpers import too_many_requests
+
+
+def filter_request(
+ network: IPv4Network | IPv6Network,
+ request: flask.Request,
+ cfg: config.Config,
+) -> werkzeug.Response | None:
+
+ accept_list = [l.strip() for l in request.headers.get('Accept-Encoding', '').split(',')]
+ if not ('gzip' in accept_list or 'deflate' in accept_list):
+ return too_many_requests(network, "HTTP header Accept-Encoding did not contain gzip nor deflate")
+ return None
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/http_accept_language.py b/searx/botdetection/http_accept_language.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..395d28bfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/http_accept_language.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+"""
+Method ``http_accept_language``
+-------------------------------
+
+The ``http_accept_language`` method evaluates a request as the request of a bot
+if the Accept-Language_ header is unset.
+
+.. _Accept-Language:
+ https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/User-Agent
+
+"""
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+from __future__ import annotations
+from ipaddress import (
+ IPv4Network,
+ IPv6Network,
+)
+
+import flask
+import werkzeug
+
+from searx.tools import config
+from ._helpers import too_many_requests
+
+
+def filter_request(
+ network: IPv4Network | IPv6Network,
+ request: flask.Request,
+ cfg: config.Config,
+) -> werkzeug.Response | None:
+ if request.headers.get('Accept-Language', '').strip() == '':
+ return too_many_requests(network, "missing HTTP header Accept-Language")
+ return None
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/http_connection.py b/searx/botdetection/http_connection.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ee0d80a23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/http_connection.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+"""
+Method ``http_connection``
+--------------------------
+
+The ``http_connection`` method evaluates a request as the request of a bot if
+the Connection_ header is set to ``close``.
+
+.. _Connection:
+ https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/Connection
+
+"""
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+from ipaddress import (
+ IPv4Network,
+ IPv6Network,
+)
+
+import flask
+import werkzeug
+
+from searx.tools import config
+from ._helpers import too_many_requests
+
+
+def filter_request(
+ network: IPv4Network | IPv6Network,
+ request: flask.Request,
+ cfg: config.Config,
+) -> werkzeug.Response | None:
+
+ if request.headers.get('Connection', '').strip() == 'close':
+ return too_many_requests(network, "HTTP header 'Connection=close")
+ return None
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/http_user_agent.py b/searx/botdetection/http_user_agent.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..17025f68b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/http_user_agent.py
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+"""
+Method ``http_user_agent``
+--------------------------
+
+The ``http_user_agent`` method evaluates a request as the request of a bot if
+the User-Agent_ header is unset or matches the regular expression
+:py:obj:`USER_AGENT`.
+
+.. _User-Agent:
+ https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/User-Agent
+
+"""
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+import re
+from ipaddress import (
+ IPv4Network,
+ IPv6Network,
+)
+
+import flask
+import werkzeug
+
+from searx.tools import config
+from ._helpers import too_many_requests
+
+
+USER_AGENT = (
+ r'('
+ + r'unknown'
+ + r'|[Cc][Uu][Rr][Ll]|[wW]get|Scrapy|splash|JavaFX|FeedFetcher|python-requests|Go-http-client|Java|Jakarta|okhttp'
+ + r'|HttpClient|Jersey|Python|libwww-perl|Ruby|SynHttpClient|UniversalFeedParser|Googlebot|GoogleImageProxy'
+ + r'|bingbot|Baiduspider|yacybot|YandexMobileBot|YandexBot|Yahoo! Slurp|MJ12bot|AhrefsBot|archive.org_bot|msnbot'
+ + r'|MJ12bot|SeznamBot|linkdexbot|Netvibes|SMTBot|zgrab|James BOT|Sogou|Abonti|Pixray|Spinn3r|SemrushBot|Exabot'
+ + r'|ZmEu|BLEXBot|bitlybot'
+ # unmaintained Farside instances
+ + r'|'
+ + re.escape(r'Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Farside/0.1.0; +https://farside.link)')
+ # other bots and client to block
+ + '|.*PetalBot.*'
+ + r')'
+)
+"""Regular expression that matches to User-Agent_ from known *bots*"""
+
+_regexp = None
+
+
+def regexp_user_agent():
+ global _regexp # pylint: disable=global-statement
+ if not _regexp:
+ _regexp = re.compile(USER_AGENT)
+ return _regexp
+
+
+def filter_request(
+ network: IPv4Network | IPv6Network,
+ request: flask.Request,
+ cfg: config.Config,
+) -> werkzeug.Response | None:
+
+ user_agent = request.headers.get('User-Agent', 'unknown')
+ if regexp_user_agent().match(user_agent):
+ return too_many_requests(network, f"bot detected, HTTP header User-Agent: {user_agent}")
+ return None
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/ip_limit.py b/searx/botdetection/ip_limit.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bb4229f0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/ip_limit.py
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+""".. _botdetection.ip_limit:
+
+Method ``ip_limit``
+-------------------
+
+The ``ip_limit`` method counts request from an IP in *sliding windows*. If
+there are to many requests in a sliding window, the request is evaluated as a
+bot request. This method requires a redis DB and needs a HTTP X-Forwarded-For_
+header. To take privacy only the hash value of an IP is stored in the redis DB
+and at least for a maximum of 10 minutes.
+
+The :py:obj:`.link_token` method can be used to investigate whether a request is
+*suspicious*. To activate the :py:obj:`.link_token` method in the
+:py:obj:`.ip_limit` method add the following to your
+``/etc/searxng/limiter.toml``:
+
+.. code:: toml
+
+ [botdetection.ip_limit]
+ link_token = true
+
+If the :py:obj:`.link_token` method is activated and a request is *suspicious*
+the request rates are reduced:
+
+- :py:obj:`BURST_MAX` -> :py:obj:`BURST_MAX_SUSPICIOUS`
+- :py:obj:`LONG_MAX` -> :py:obj:`LONG_MAX_SUSPICIOUS`
+
+To intercept bots that get their IPs from a range of IPs, there is a
+:py:obj:`SUSPICIOUS_IP_WINDOW`. In this window the suspicious IPs are stored
+for a longer time. IPs stored in this sliding window have a maximum of
+:py:obj:`SUSPICIOUS_IP_MAX` accesses before they are blocked. As soon as the IP
+makes a request that is not suspicious, the sliding window for this IP is
+droped.
+
+.. _X-Forwarded-For:
+ https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/X-Forwarded-For
+
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+from ipaddress import (
+ IPv4Network,
+ IPv6Network,
+)
+
+import flask
+import werkzeug
+from searx.tools import config
+
+from searx import redisdb
+from searx import logger
+from searx.redislib import incr_sliding_window, drop_counter
+
+from . import link_token
+from ._helpers import too_many_requests
+
+
+logger = logger.getChild('botdetection.ip_limit')
+
+BURST_WINDOW = 20
+"""Time (sec) before sliding window for *burst* requests expires."""
+
+BURST_MAX = 15
+"""Maximum requests from one IP in the :py:obj:`BURST_WINDOW`"""
+
+BURST_MAX_SUSPICIOUS = 2
+"""Maximum of suspicious requests from one IP in the :py:obj:`BURST_WINDOW`"""
+
+LONG_WINDOW = 600
+"""Time (sec) before the longer sliding window expires."""
+
+LONG_MAX = 150
+"""Maximum requests from one IP in the :py:obj:`LONG_WINDOW`"""
+
+LONG_MAX_SUSPICIOUS = 10
+"""Maximum suspicious requests from one IP in the :py:obj:`LONG_WINDOW`"""
+
+API_WONDOW = 3600
+"""Time (sec) before sliding window for API requests (format != html) expires."""
+
+API_MAX = 4
+"""Maximum requests from one IP in the :py:obj:`API_WONDOW`"""
+
+SUSPICIOUS_IP_WINDOW = 3600 * 24 * 30
+"""Time (sec) before sliding window for one suspicious IP expires."""
+
+SUSPICIOUS_IP_MAX = 3
+"""Maximum requests from one suspicious IP in the :py:obj:`SUSPICIOUS_IP_WINDOW`."""
+
+
+def filter_request(
+ network: IPv4Network | IPv6Network,
+ request: flask.Request,
+ cfg: config.Config,
+) -> werkzeug.Response | None:
+
+ # pylint: disable=too-many-return-statements
+ redis_client = redisdb.client()
+
+ if network.is_link_local and not cfg['botdetection.ip_limit.filter_link_local']:
+ logger.debug("network %s is link-local -> not monitored by ip_limit method", network.compressed)
+ return None
+
+ if request.args.get('format', 'html') != 'html':
+ c = incr_sliding_window(redis_client, 'ip_limit.API_WONDOW:' + network.compressed, API_WONDOW)
+ if c > API_MAX:
+ return too_many_requests(network, "too many request in API_WINDOW")
+
+ if cfg['botdetection.ip_limit.link_token']:
+
+ suspicious = link_token.is_suspicious(network, request, True)
+
+ if not suspicious:
+ # this IP is no longer suspicious: release ip again / delete the counter of this IP
+ drop_counter(redis_client, 'ip_limit.SUSPICIOUS_IP_WINDOW' + network.compressed)
+ return None
+
+ # this IP is suspicious: count requests from this IP
+ c = incr_sliding_window(
+ redis_client, 'ip_limit.SUSPICIOUS_IP_WINDOW' + network.compressed, SUSPICIOUS_IP_WINDOW
+ )
+ if c > SUSPICIOUS_IP_MAX:
+ logger.error("BLOCK: too many request from %s in SUSPICIOUS_IP_WINDOW (redirect to /)", network)
+ return flask.redirect(flask.url_for('index'), code=302)
+
+ c = incr_sliding_window(redis_client, 'ip_limit.BURST_WINDOW' + network.compressed, BURST_WINDOW)
+ if c > BURST_MAX_SUSPICIOUS:
+ return too_many_requests(network, "too many request in BURST_WINDOW (BURST_MAX_SUSPICIOUS)")
+
+ c = incr_sliding_window(redis_client, 'ip_limit.LONG_WINDOW' + network.compressed, LONG_WINDOW)
+ if c > LONG_MAX_SUSPICIOUS:
+ return too_many_requests(network, "too many request in LONG_WINDOW (LONG_MAX_SUSPICIOUS)")
+
+ return None
+
+ # vanilla limiter without extensions counts BURST_MAX and LONG_MAX
+ c = incr_sliding_window(redis_client, 'ip_limit.BURST_WINDOW' + network.compressed, BURST_WINDOW)
+ if c > BURST_MAX:
+ return too_many_requests(network, "too many request in BURST_WINDOW (BURST_MAX)")
+
+ c = incr_sliding_window(redis_client, 'ip_limit.LONG_WINDOW' + network.compressed, LONG_WINDOW)
+ if c > LONG_MAX:
+ return too_many_requests(network, "too many request in LONG_WINDOW (LONG_MAX)")
+
+ return None
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/limiter.py b/searx/botdetection/limiter.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..18ffc8407
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/limiter.py
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+""".. _limiter src:
+
+Limiter
+=======
+
+.. sidebar:: info
+
+ The limiter requires a :ref:`Redis <settings redis>` database.
+
+Bot protection / IP rate limitation. The intention of rate limitation is to
+limit suspicious requests from an IP. The motivation behind this is the fact
+that SearXNG passes through requests from bots and is thus classified as a bot
+itself. As a result, the SearXNG engine then receives a CAPTCHA or is blocked
+by the search engine (the origin) in some other way.
+
+To avoid blocking, the requests from bots to SearXNG must also be blocked, this
+is the task of the limiter. To perform this task, the limiter uses the methods
+from the :py:obj:`searx.botdetection`.
+
+To enable the limiter activate:
+
+.. code:: yaml
+
+ server:
+ ...
+ limiter: true # rate limit the number of request on the instance, block some bots
+
+and set the redis-url connection. Check the value, it depends on your redis DB
+(see :ref:`settings redis`), by example:
+
+.. code:: yaml
+
+ redis:
+ url: unix:///usr/local/searxng-redis/run/redis.sock?db=0
+
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+import flask
+import werkzeug
+
+from searx.tools import config
+from searx import logger
+
+from . import (
+ http_accept,
+ http_accept_encoding,
+ http_accept_language,
+ http_connection,
+ http_user_agent,
+ ip_limit,
+)
+
+from ._helpers import (
+ get_network,
+ get_real_ip,
+ dump_request,
+)
+
+logger = logger.getChild('botdetection.limiter')
+
+CFG: config.Config = None # type: ignore
+
+LIMITER_CFG_SCHEMA = Path(__file__).parent / "limiter.toml"
+"""Base configuration (schema) of the botdetection."""
+
+LIMITER_CFG = Path('/etc/searxng/limiter.toml')
+"""Lokal Limiter configuration."""
+
+CFG_DEPRECATED = {
+ # "dummy.old.foo": "config 'dummy.old.foo' exists only for tests. Don't use it in your real project config."
+}
+
+
+def get_cfg() -> config.Config:
+ global CFG # pylint: disable=global-statement
+ if CFG is None:
+ CFG = config.Config.from_toml(LIMITER_CFG_SCHEMA, LIMITER_CFG, CFG_DEPRECATED)
+ return CFG
+
+
+def filter_request(request: flask.Request) -> werkzeug.Response | None:
+
+ cfg = get_cfg()
+ real_ip = get_real_ip(request)
+ network = get_network(real_ip, cfg)
+ if network.is_link_local:
+ return None
+
+ if request.path == '/healthz':
+ return None
+
+ for func in [
+ http_user_agent,
+ ]:
+ val = func.filter_request(network, request, cfg)
+ if val is not None:
+ return val
+
+ if request.path == '/search':
+
+ for func in [
+ http_accept,
+ http_accept_encoding,
+ http_accept_language,
+ http_connection,
+ http_user_agent,
+ ip_limit,
+ ]:
+ val = func.filter_request(network, request, cfg)
+ if val is not None:
+ return val
+ logger.debug(f"OK {network}: %s", dump_request(flask.request))
+ return None
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/limiter.toml b/searx/botdetection/limiter.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..71a231e8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/limiter.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+[real_ip]
+
+# Number of values to trust for X-Forwarded-For.
+
+x_for = 1
+
+# The prefix defines the number of leading bits in an address that are compared
+# to determine whether or not an address is part of a (client) network.
+
+ipv4_prefix = 32
+ipv6_prefix = 48
+
+[botdetection.ip_limit]
+
+# To get unlimited access in a local network, by default link-lokal addresses
+# (networks) are not monitored by the ip_limit
+filter_link_local = false
+
+# acrivate link_token method in the ip_limit method
+link_token = false
+
+
diff --git a/searx/botdetection/link_token.py b/searx/botdetection/link_token.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..11a6a56b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/searx/botdetection/link_token.py
@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+# lint: pylint
+"""
+Method ``link_token``
+---------------------
+
+The ``link_token`` method evaluates a request as :py:obj:`suspicious
+<is_suspicious>` if the URL ``/client<token>.css`` is not requested by the
+client. By adding a random component (the token) in the URL, a bot can not send
+a ping by request a static URL.
+
+.. note::
+
+ This method requires a redis DB and needs a HTTP X-Forwarded-For_ header.
+
+To get in use of this method a flask URL route needs to be added:
+
+.. code:: python
+
+ @app.route('/client<token>.css', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
+ def client_token(token=None):
+ link_token.ping(request, token)
+ return Response('', mimetype='text/css')
+
+And in the HTML template from flask a stylesheet link is needed (the value of
+``link_token`` comes from :py:obj:`get_token`):
+
+.. code:: html
+
+ <link rel="stylesheet"
+ href="{{ url_for('client_token', token=link_token) }}"
+ type="text/css" />
+
+.. _X-Forwarded-For:
+ https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Headers/X-Forwarded-For
+
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+from ipaddress import (
+ IPv4Network,
+ IPv6Network,
+)
+
+import string
+import random
+import flask
+
+from searx import logger
+from searx import redisdb
+from searx.redislib import secret_hash
+
+from ._helpers import (
+ get_network,
+ get_real_ip,
+)
+
+TOKEN_LIVE_TIME = 600
+"""Livetime (sec) of limiter's CSS token."""
+
+PING_LIVE_TIME = 3600
+"""Livetime (sec) of the ping-key from a client (request)"""
+
+PING_KEY = 'SearXNG_limiter.ping'
+"""Prefix of all ping-keys generated by :py:obj:`get_ping_key`"""
+
+TOKEN_KEY = 'SearXNG_limiter.token'
+"""Key for which the current token is stored in the DB"""
+
+logger = logger.getChild('botdetection.link_token')
+
+
+def is_suspicious(network: IPv4Network | IPv6Network, request: flask.Request, renew: bool = False):
+ """Checks whether a valid ping is exists for this (client) network, if not
+ this request is rated as *suspicious*. If a valid ping exists and argument
+ ``renew`` is ``True`` the expire time of this ping is reset to
+ :py:obj:`PING_LIVE_TIME`.
+
+ """
+ redis_client = redisdb.client()
+ if not redis_client:
+ return False
+
+ ping_key = get_ping_key(network, request)
+ if not redis_client.get(ping_key):
+ logger.warning("missing ping (IP: %s) / request: %s", network.compressed, ping_key)
+ return True
+
+ if renew:
+ redis_client.set(ping_key, 1, ex=PING_LIVE_TIME)
+
+ logger.debug("found ping for (client) network %s -> %s", network.compressed, ping_key)
+ return False
+
+
+def ping(request: flask.Request, token: str):
+ """This function is called by a request to URL ``/client<token>.css``. If
+ ``token`` is valid a :py:obj:`PING_KEY` for the client is stored in the DB.
+ The expire time of this ping-key is :py:obj:`PING_LIVE_TIME`.
+
+ """
+ from . import limiter # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel, cyclic-import
+
+ redis_client = redisdb.client()
+ if not redis_client:
+ return
+ if not token_is_valid(token):
+ return
+
+ cfg = limiter.get_cfg()
+ real_ip = get_real_ip(request)
+ network = get_network(real_ip, cfg)
+
+ ping_key = get_ping_key(network, request)
+ logger.debug("store ping_key for (client) network %s (IP %s) -> %s", network.compressed, real_ip, ping_key)
+ redis_client.set(ping_key, 1, ex=PING_LIVE_TIME)
+
+
+def get_ping_key(network: IPv4Network | IPv6Network, request: flask.Request) -> str:
+ """Generates a hashed key that fits (more or less) to a *WEB-browser
+ session* in a network."""
+ return (
+ PING_KEY
+ + "["
+ + secret_hash(
+ network.compressed + request.headers.get('Accept-Language', '') + request.headers.get('User-Agent', '')
+ )
+ + "]"
+ )
+
+
+def token_is_valid(token) -> bool:
+ valid = token == get_token()
+ logger.debug("token is valid --> %s", valid)
+ return valid
+
+
+def get_token() -> str:
+ """Returns current token. If there is no currently active token a new token
+ is generated randomly and stored in the redis DB.
+
+ - :py:obj:`TOKEN_LIVE_TIME`
+ - :py:obj:`TOKEN_KEY`
+
+ """
+ redis_client = redisdb.client()
+ if not redis_client:
+ # This function is also called when limiter is inactive / no redis DB
+ # (see render function in webapp.py)
+ return '12345678'
+ token = redis_client.get(TOKEN_KEY)
+ if token:
+ token = token.decode('UTF-8')
+ else:
+ token = ''.join(random.choice(string.ascii_lowercase + string.digits) for _ in range(16))
+ redis_client.set(TOKEN_KEY, token, ex=TOKEN_LIVE_TIME)
+ return token