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// Gaming

Port 5688: GGZ Gaming Zone

Port 5688 is assigned by IANA to ggz (GGZ Gaming Zone).

5688

How ggz works

Gaming
playergame serverposition, input, state × 60 / s playerserver60 updates / s

The game client and server exchange small updates many times per second over port 5688.

Transport
TCP · UDP
Exposure risk
not rated depends on the program listening
Encryption
Unknownnot stated by the registry
IANA status
Assigned1 registered service
Range
Registered (1024-49151)
Category
Gaming
01 Security

Is port 5688 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 5688. Its risk depends on the program actually listening on it. General advice for gaming services:

  • Keep game servers and their plugins updated.
  • Rate-limit queries to limit DDoS amplification.
  • Run game servers under an unprivileged account.
02 Registry

IANA registry entries for port 5688

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
ggz 5688 TCP, UDP GGZ Gaming Zone - 2003-01

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 5688, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :5688'      # process listening on 5688
sudo lsof -nP -i :5688

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :5688

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 5688 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 5688
netstat -ano | findstr :5688

From another machine

nmap -p 5688 -sV <host>
sudo nmap -sU -p 5688 <host>
nc -zv <host> 5688

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 5688/tcp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 5688" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 5688 -Protocol TCP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 5688 used for?

Port 5688 is assigned by IANA to ggz (GGZ Gaming Zone).

Is port 5688 TCP or UDP?

Port 5688 is registered for TCP and UDP.

Is it safe to open port 5688?

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 game servers and their plugins updated.

How do I check if port 5688 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :5688'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :5688", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :5688" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 5688 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

05 Related
:25565 Minecraft tcp · moderate risk :27015 Steam / Source engine udp · tcp · moderate risk :666 doom Id Software tcp · udp :1926 Evolution Game Server tcp · udp :2346 Game Connection Port tcp · udp :2347 Game Announcement and Location tcp · udp :2348 Information to query for game status tcp · udp :2914 Game Lobby tcp · udp

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