ANSWERED Trying to understand ipv6 leak implications

[yoyall 5]

I understand the implications of ipv4 leaks but I'm trying to get my head around the implications of an ipv6 leak.

 

Let's say:

1) Your ipv4 traffic is encrypted in an openvpn session.

2) You've got solid firewall rules to limit ipv4 traffic to the airvpn server.

3) BUT you've got an ipv6 leak.

 

Can your ISP see what you're doing with your ipv4 traffic?

 

Cheers,

Jules 

[OpenSourcerer 1435]

The leak occurs if an application decides to use IPv6 to connect. To not let that happen it's a good idea to disable IPv6 completely if you utilize IPv4 only. But everything IPv4 is routed via AirVPN in your post's case.

[Staff 9973]

Hello!

 

In addition: some ISPs now provide IPv6 connectivity only (IPv4 is encapsulated in IPv6). In such a case, disabling IPv6 is not an option, but you can connect directly in IPv6 to every Air VPN server supporting IPv6 (all of them do with very few exceptions). OpenVPN 2.4 or higher is required.

 

See also:

https://airvpn.org/topic/28153-ipv6-support-and-new-smart-features/

 

Kind regards

[yoyall 5]

Got it - now I understand.

 

Cheers,

Jules

[foxmulder 43]

Hello!

 

In addition: some ISPs now provide IPv6 connectivity only (IPv4 is encapsulated in IPv6). In such a case, disabling IPv6 is not an option, but you can connect directly in IPv6 to every Air VPN server supporting IPv6 (all of them do with very few exceptions). OpenVPN 2.4 or higher is required.

 

See also:

https://airvpn.org/topic/28153-ipv6-support-and-new-smart-features/

 

Kind regards

 

Just out of curiosity... why is disabling IPv6 not an option?

 

My ISP actually uses DS - Lite (IPv4 over Ipv6). However, i have deactivated IPv6 completely on system level (Ubuntu 18.04), and i have no problems. As far as i know, the IPv6 provided by DS - Lite is not routable, so why not deactivate it and avoiding the risk of an IPv6 Leak?

 

Please correct me if i am wrong...

 

Kind regards,

 

Fox.

[OpenSourcerer 1435]

It's for the newbies. Staff just wants to say that blindly disabling IPv6 is a bad idea, unless you know for sure your ISP does not route IPv6 (which newbies don't always know).

[yoyall 5]

Let's say that your ISP doesn't support IPv6 and you disable IPv6.

 

1) Is there any benefit or risk selecting (via the config generator) the option of IPv4 and IPv6 (connecting with IPv4)?

 

2) As you would be connecting with IPv4, am I correct in assuming that you would not need ip6tables rules to limit traffic to the airvpn server - as iptables rules would be sufficient???

[foxmulder 43]

It's for the newbies. Staff just wants to say that blindly disabling IPv6 is a bad idea, unless you know for sure your ISP does not route IPv6 (which newbies don't always know).

Ok, thank you for explaining.

[OpenSourcerer 1435]

1) Is there any benefit or risk selecting (via the config generator) the option of IPv4 and IPv6 (connecting with IPv4)?

 

None and none. You disabled IPv6, it will connect via v4.

 

2) As you would be connecting with IPv4, am I correct in assuming that you would not need ip6tables rules to limit traffic to the airvpn server - as iptables rules would be sufficient???

 

Well, think about it for a moment. You disabled IPv6 functionality completely. Why would you need ip6tables, then?

[yoyall 5]

Got it!

 

What I hadn't quite understood was whether the airvpn server was handling all ipv6 traffic and sending it to me via my ipv4 connection. But now that I think about it - that traffic would have to somehow be converted into ipv4 traffic - not just tunneled. I just did a test and could see that disabling ipv6 stopped ipv6 traffic even though I was connecting to airvpn via ipv4 with ipv6 support - I then enabled it and there it was. Understood...

 

Still - all things considered - I think I'm going to stick to ipv4 and leave ipv6 disabled until I have good reason to enable.

 

Thanks again for the input and assistance!