[tbb-bugs] #22300 [Applications/Tor Browser]: DNSstuff (http://www.dnsstuff.com/) occasionally indicates a different IP address from the exit node IP address indicated in the Torbutton menu

[Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki]

#22300: DNSstuff (http://www.dnsstuff.com/) occasionally indicates a different IP
address from the exit node IP address indicated in the Torbutton menu
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 Reporter:  cypherpunks               |          Owner:  tbb-team
     Type:  defect                    |         Status:  closed
 Priority:  Medium                    |      Milestone:
Component:  Applications/Tor Browser  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal                    |     Resolution:  not a bug
 Keywords:                            |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                            |         Points:
 Reviewer:                            |        Sponsor:
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Changes (by yawning):

 * status:  new => closed
 * resolution:   => not a bug


Comment:

 This less a bug and more a limitation of what information is available to
 Tor Browser through the tor daemon.

 The circuit display's idea of an node's IP address is based off the
 address that the ORPort is listening on, because that's the only
 information contained in the directory documents.  There's no requirement
 for any node to use the same address that the ORPort is on, to make
 outgoing connections (this applies to all nodes, but is particularly
 relevant for exits).  So any Exit IP listing will always give incorrect
 results, if the only data source is "the list of ORPort IPs".

 Some of the other tools like check.tp.o attempt to discern the true exit
 IP by building test circuits through the network, however that approach is
 entirely inappropriate for something to include in Tor Browser.  See
 https://gitweb.torproject.org/tordnsel.git/tree/src/TorDNSEL/ExitTest for
 an example of how this is implemented.

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/22300#comment:1>
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