- Keep directory and authentication services on internal networks.
- Require signing or TLS and disable anonymous queries.
- Monitor authentication failures for spraying and brute force.
Port 56: XNS Authentication
Port 56 is assigned by IANA to xns-auth (XNS Authentication).
56
How xns-auth works
Directory & authenticationThe client proves who it is on port 56 and gets an answer (or a ticket) it can use with other services.
- 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
- Directory & authentication
Is port 56 dangerous?
We have no specific security note for port 56. Its risk depends on the program actually listening on it. General advice for directory & authentication services:
IANA registry entries for port 56
| Service | Port | Transport | Description | Reference | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xns-auth | 56 | TCP, UDP | XNS Authentication | - | - |
// source: IANA service name and port number registry
Which program uses port 56, and is it reachable?
Linux
sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :56' # process listening on 56
sudo lsof -nP -i :56macOS
sudo lsof -nP -i :56
Windows (PowerShell)
Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 56 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 56 netstat -ano | findstr :56
From another machine
nmap -p 56 -sV <host> sudo nmap -sU -p 56 <host> nc -zv <host> 56
Block it in the firewall
sudo ufw deny 56/tcp # Linux (ufw) New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 56" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 56 -Protocol TCP -Action Block # Windows
What is port 56 used for?
Port 56 is assigned by IANA to xns-auth (XNS Authentication).
Is port 56 TCP or UDP?
Port 56 is registered for TCP and UDP.
Is it safe to open port 56?
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. Keep directory and authentication services on internal networks.
How do I check if port 56 is open?
On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :56'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :56", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :56" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 56 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.
Other directory & authentication ports
:389 LDAP tcp · udp · high risk :636 LDAPS tcp · udp · moderate risk :88 Kerberos tcp · udp · high risk :3268 Global Catalog (LDAP) tcp · udp · high risk :1812 RADIUS udp · tcp · moderate risk :31 MSG Authentication tcp · udp :49 Login Host Protocol (TACACS) tcp · udp :113 Authentication Service tcp · udp