In the world of cybersecurity, certain network ports are frequently targeted by hackers due to the services they provide. Understanding these ports and their vulnerabilities is crucial for anyone looking to secure a network.
Here’s a breakdown of 40 commonly targeted ports and the reasons why they are attractive to cybercriminals.
1. Port 21 (FTP) (File Transfer Protocol (FTP))
Often used for file transfers, FTP transmits data unencrypted, making it vulnerable to interception and attacks like brute force.
2. Port 22 (SSH) (Secure Shell (SSH))
Used for secure logins, file transfers, and port forwarding, SSH is often targeted by attackers attempting to gain unauthorized remote access.
3. Port 23 (Telnet) (Telnet)
Like FTP, Telnet transmits data in plain text, making it susceptible to eavesdropping and credential theft.
4. Port 25 (SMTP) (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP))
Often exploited for spamming, email spoofing, and other email-based attacks.
5. Port 53 (DNS) (Domain Name System (DNS))
DNS servers are a target for DNS poisoning and amplification attacks.
6. Port 80 (HTTP) (Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP))
HTTP is commonly used for web traffic and is vulnerable to various attacks, including man-in-the-middle (MITM) and cross-site scripting (XSS).
7. Port 443 (HTTPS) (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS))
While HTTPS is secure, it can still be a target for attacks like SSL stripping and other man-in-the-middle exploits.
8. Port 3074 (Xbox Live) (Xbox Live Gaming Service)
This port is targeted by attackers looking to disrupt online gaming experiences or gain unauthorized access to user data.
9. Port 5060 (SIP) (Session Initiation Protocol (SIP))
SIP is used in VoIP communications and can be exploited for eavesdropping or hijacking calls.
10. Port 8080 (Proxy) (HTTP Proxy)
Often used as an alternative HTTP port, 8080 is targeted for bypassing security controls and gaining unauthorized access to network resources.
11. Port 135 (RPC) (Remote Procedure Call (RPC))
This port is commonly exploited for spreading malware and conducting denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
12. Port 139 (NetBIOS) (NetBIOS)
Used in file and printer sharing, this port can be exploited for network reconnaissance and lateral movement within a network.
13. Port 1433 (MSSQL) (Microsoft SQL Server)
A popular target for SQL injection attacks and brute-force attempts to gain access to sensitive database information.
14. Port 1521 (Oracle) (Oracle Database)
Similar to MSSQL, Oracle databases are targeted for SQL injection and unauthorized access.
15. Port 1723 (PPTP) (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP))
Commonly used for VPNs, PPTP has known vulnerabilities that can be exploited to compromise a VPN connection.
16. Port 1900 (UPnP) (Universal Plug and Play (UPnP))
UPnP can be exploited for DDoS amplification attacks and unauthorized access to network devices.
17. Port 2302 (DayZ) (DayZ Gaming Server)
Online game servers like DayZ are targeted for disrupting gameplay or gaining access to user data.
18. Port 3389 (RDP) (Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP))
A common target for brute-force attacks, RDP allows attackers to gain control of a system remotely if compromised.
19. Port 3306 (MySQL) (MySQL Database)
Like other database ports, MySQL is targeted for SQL injection and unauthorized access to database information.
20. Port 4000 (Elasticsearch) (Elasticsearch)
Often targeted in data breaches, Elasticsearch can be exploited for unauthorized data retrieval and server compromise.
21. Port 4444 (Metasploit) (Metasploit Framework)
Commonly used by penetration testers, this port is also targeted by attackers to gain control over compromised systems.
22. Port 5000 (Python Flask) (Python Flask Development Server)
Used for web applications, this port can be targeted to exploit vulnerabilities in development environments.
23. Port 5555 (Android Debug Bridge) (Android Debug Bridge (ADB))
ADB is often targeted for unauthorized access to Android devices, especially if the device is in debug mode.
24. Port 5900 (VNC) (Virtual Network Computing (VNC))
VNC is targeted for remote access to systems, often through brute force or credential stuffing attacks.
25. Port 6667 (IRC) (Internet Relay Chat (IRC))
IRC is a target for botnets and command-and-control (C&C) servers used by malware.
26. Port 6697 (IRC SSL) (Secure IRC)
While secured, this port is still targeted for IRC-based attacks, particularly by those looking to evade detection.
27. Port 8000 (HTTP Alt) (HTTP Alternate)
Used as an alternative to HTTP, this port is targeted for the same reasons as Port 80, including web-based attacks.
28. Port 8081 (HTTP Proxy) (HTTP Proxy)
Similar to Port 8080, this port is targeted for bypassing network security controls.
29. Port 9100 (Printer) (Printer Services)
Targeted for printer-related attacks, including unauthorized access and document theft.
30. Port 9090 (Web Debugging) (Web Debugging Tools)
Development and debugging tools on this port can be exploited to gain unauthorized access or to execute code remotely.
31. Port 445 (SMB) (Server Message Block (SMB))
Used for file sharing, SMB is a common target for ransomware attacks and lateral movement within networks.
32. Ports 5985/5986 (WinRM) (Windows Remote Management (WinRM))
Targeted for remote code execution and unauthorized access to Windows systems.
33. Port 6379 (Redis) (Redis Database)
Redis is targeted for data theft and exploitation, especially if misconfigured.
34. Port 6666 (IRC) (Internet Relay Chat (IRC))
Like other IRC ports, this one is targeted by attackers for botnet control and C&C communications.
35. Port 993 (IMAP SSL) (Secure IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol))
Even though encrypted, this port can be targeted for email-related attacks, including credential harvesting.
36. Port 995 (POP3 SSL) (Secure POP3 (Post Office Protocol))
Like IMAP SSL, this port is targeted for intercepting email data and credentials.
37. Port 1434 (Microsoft SQL Monitor) (Microsoft SQL Server Monitor)
Targeted for database exploitation, including unauthorized access and SQL injection attacks.
38. Port 27017 (MongoDB) (MongoDB Database)
Often left unsecured, this port is a target for data theft and ransomware attacks.
39. Port 28017 (MongoDB HTTP Interface) (MongoDB HTTP Interface)
This port is targeted for unauthorized access to MongoDB databases through its HTTP interface.
40. Port 9100 (Printer) (Printer Services)
A common target for printer exploitation, this port can be used for data interception and unauthorized printing.
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