Port4444— SNMP / alternative HTTP
IANA registers TCP 4444 for multiple services including KRB524 (Kerberos v4-to-v5 conversion). It also serves as an alternate HTTP(S) port across products — some IPMI/BMC interfaces, Kerio Control, IoT dashboards and debug endpoints. Metasploit\u2019s default reverse-shell handler also uses it, so an unexpected public listener on 4444 is often treated as suspicious.
Registry assignments, software defaults and local listeners are different things. A port number alone does not identify or secure a service.
Configuration and troubleshooting
To investigate a 4444 listener: `ss -tulpn | grep :4444` names the process. If it is unknown, check for compromise first (`lsof -p <pid>` for open files and connections). For known products like IPMI, change the port in the admin UI and update firewall rules together.
Important limitations
Because Metasploit defaults to 4444, a public listener attracts constant scanner traffic. Admin interfaces bound to 4444 (IPMI/BMC) must pair with source restrictions or VPN access.
Read-only checks: run on the server host
Choose the commands for your OS. Check TCP and UDP separately. No result is not a lasting availability guarantee; inspect host and container separately.
Linux
sudo ss -ltnp 'sport = :4444'macOS
sudo lsof -nP -iTCP:4444 -sTCP:LISTENWindows PowerShell
Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 4444 -State ListenSources and review
Sources checked on:
This review covers the explanations and sources on this page, not your device or every community software entry below.
Software Using This Port (2 software)
Community software entries: links are references, not individual verification.
Usage Suggestions
- Before using port 4444, please confirm it is not occupied by other services
- If you encounter port conflicts, consider using other ports or stopping the occupying service
Frequently asked questions
What is port 4444 used for?
Port 4444 sits in the Development category. This page lists the registered purpose and the software commonly associated with it; to see what is actually listening on a specific machine, check the process with ss/netstat.
Is port 4444 TCP or UDP?
The registered protocol on this page is TCP. The same number behaves independently on each protocol: TCP may be listening while UDP is idle, so check them separately.
How do I check if port 4444 is in use?
On Linux: sudo ss -tlnp 'sport = :4444' for an exact port match. On macOS: sudo lsof -nP -iTCP:4444 -sTCP:LISTEN. On Windows PowerShell: Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 4444 -State Listen. A listener counts as confirmed only when you can see the bind address and process name; without root/admin you will not see other users' processes.
Is port 4444 secure? Should I open it in my firewall?
A port number has no inherent security — it depends on whether the listening service is correctly configured and whether it needs exposure at all. Keep loopback/internal-only services firewalled; where public access is required, pair it with source restrictions, VPN or authentication. The caution section on this page lists port-specific risks.
Quick Info
- Port
- 4444
- Protocol
- TCP
- Categories
- Development
- Usage Status
- 2 software in use
Related Ports
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