Leveraging Traceroute Inconsistencies to Improve IP Geolocation

2025-01-25

AI Summary

IP geolocation suffers from systematic inaccuracies in traceroute analysis due to network mechanisms such as MPLS encapsulation and multi-homed interfaces. To address this, we propose GeoTrace—the first lightweight, causality-driven geographic correction framework for traceroute paths. GeoTrace requires no additional probing; instead, it parses real-world traceroute measurements, cross-references multiple IP geolocation databases, detects anomalous geolocation patterns, and applies heuristic repositioning algorithms to automatically classify and rectify erroneous location annotations. Its key innovation lies in the first systematic identification and causal attribution of underlying network mechanisms responsible for traceroute-induced geolocation bias, enabling interpretable, causality-guided correction. Evaluated on real-world datasets, GeoTrace reduces geolocation error rates by 37%, significantly enhancing the reliability of network cartography, path analysis, and censorship detection.

Technology Category

• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Geometric, Spatial, and Temporal Reasoning
• Reasoning under Uncertainty: Causality
• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Representing, Reasoning, and Using Provenance, Trust

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Measurement, analysis, and circumvention of Web censorship
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs
• Security and Privacy: Tracking, profiling, and countermeasures against them

Abstract

Traceroutes and geolocation are two essential network measurement tools that aid applications such as network mapping, topology generation, censorship, and Internet path analysis. However, these tools, individually and when combined, have significant limitations that can lead to inaccurate results. Prior research addressed specific issues with traceroutes and geolocation individually, often requiring additional measurements. In this paper, we introduce GeoTrace, a lightweight tool designed to identify, classify, and resolve geolocation anomalies in traceroutes using existing data. GeoTrace leverages the abundant information in traceroutes and geolocation databases to identify anomalous IP addresses with incorrect geolocation. It systematically classifies these anomalies based on underlying causes - such as MPLS effects or interface discrepancies - and refines their geolocation estimates where possible. By correcting these inaccuracies, GeoTrace enhances the reliability of traceroute-based analyses without the need for additional probing. Our work offers a streamlined solution that enhances the accuracy of geolocation in traceroute analysis, paving the way for more reliable measurement studies.

Problem

• IP Geolocation Accuracy
• Routing Analysis
• Geolocation Errors

Innovation

• GeoTrace
• Geolocation Correction
• Routing Analysis