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// Network services

Port 119: Network News Transfer Protocol

Port 119 is assigned by IANA to nntp (Network News Transfer Protocol).

119

How nntp works

Network services
client:119nntpresponse client:119nntpresponse

The client sends a request to port 119 and the nntp service answers.

Transport
TCP · UDP
Exposure risk
not rated depends on the program listening
Encryption
Unknownnot stated by the registry
IANA status
Assigned1 registered service
Range
Well-known (0-1023)
Category
Network services
01 Security

Is port 119 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 119. Its risk depends on the program actually listening on it. General advice for network services services:

  • Answer only the networks that need the service (no open resolvers, relays or reflectors).
  • UDP services can be abused for DDoS amplification: rate-limit or block them at the edge.
  • Disable legacy test services that have no use in production.
02 Registry

IANA registry entries for port 119

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
nntp 119 TCP, UDP Network News Transfer Protocol RFC 3977 2018-07-06

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 119, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :119'      # process listening on 119
sudo lsof -nP -i :119

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :119

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 119 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 119
netstat -ano | findstr :119

From another machine

nmap -p 119 -sV <host>
sudo nmap -sU -p 119 <host>
nc -zv <host> 119

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 119/tcp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 119" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 119 -Protocol TCP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 119 used for?

Port 119 is assigned by IANA to nntp (Network News Transfer Protocol).

Is port 119 TCP or UDP?

Port 119 is registered for TCP and UDP.

Is it safe to open port 119?

It depends on the program that listens on it. Open it only for a service you know and only to the networks that need it. Answer only the networks that need the service (no open resolvers, relays or reflectors).

How do I check if port 119 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :119'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :119", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :119" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 119 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

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