TCP Traceroute via RST and SYN-ACK for Encrypted Tunnel Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traceroute tools are ineffective in determining network performance through encrypted tunnels and cloud-based systems, as they lack visibility into opaque tunnels, fail to accurately measure latency at the final hop, and cannot detect proxies or firewalls, leading to incomplete and inaccurate network path analysis.
Innovation Solution
The use of traceroute techniques combined with API detection to identify tunnels, proxies, and firewalls, employing ICMP and UDP probes to detect network hops and latency, and adaptive probing to determine packet loss and latency through encrypted tunnels, allowing for a holistic view of network performance by segmenting the path into distinct legs and aggregating results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional traceroute tools are used, then network path tracing is provided, but visibility into encrypted tunnels is lost and measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary components including a traceroute server and probe mechanism that act as mediators between the client and the network path. The traceroute server receives probe packets, processes them through multiple hops, and returns response packets with timing information. This intermediary system enables visibility through encrypted tunnels by establishing a controlled communication channel that preserves path information without requiring decryption of the actual data traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network path into discrete hops, with each hop processed independently by the traceroute server. The probe packet traverses each network segment sequentially, and the server records the arrival time at each hop. This segmentation allows precise measurement of latency at each individual hop while maintaining overall path visibility, resolving the contradiction between information loss and measurement precision.
2Reliability
If TCP traceroute is used, then connection establishment is improved, but ability to read destination response is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the traceroute server sends probe packets to the destination and waits for response packets in return. The server monitors the response to determine whether the destination has been reached, creating a closed-loop feedback system. This feedback mechanism maintains reliable connection establishment through TCP while simultaneously enabling detection of destination responses, as the server can analyze the returned packets to confirm successful delivery.
3Ease of operation
If conventional traceroute is used, then basic path tracing is provided, but complete network performance analysis is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional traceroute system that performs multiple operations through a single integrated mechanism. The traceroute server not only traces the network path but also measures latency at each hop, detects packet loss, identifies proxies and firewalls, and analyzes overall network performance. This universal system consolidates multiple diagnostic functions into one tool, maintaining ease of operation while eliminating information loss about network performance details.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for using traceroute with tunnels and cloud-based systems for determining measures of network performance are presented. Systems and methods implemented by a traceroute application implementing a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) stack in a processing device include sending a plurality of TCP packets via a raw socket to perform a trace to a destination; receiving responses to the plurality of TCP packets; detecting the responses in the TCP stack and diverting the responses to the raw socket; and aggregating the responses by the traceroute application to determine details of a service path from the processing device to the destination.