CyberHunter
// Other services

Port 8786: Message Client

Port 8786 is assigned by IANA to msgclnt (Message Client).

8786

How msgclnt works

Other services
client:8786msgclntresponse client:8786msgclntresponse

The client sends a request to port 8786 and the msgclnt 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
Registered (1024-49151)
01 Security

Is port 8786 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 8786. Its risk depends on the program actually listening on it. General advice for other services services:

  • Close the port if nothing on the host needs it.
  • Identify the process that listens on it (commands below) before opening it in a firewall.
  • Expose a service only to the networks that use it.
02 Registry

IANA registry entries for port 8786

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
msgclnt 8786 TCP, UDP Message Client - 2003-03

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 8786, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :8786'      # process listening on 8786
sudo lsof -nP -i :8786

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :8786

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 8786 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 8786
netstat -ano | findstr :8786

From another machine

nmap -p 8786 -sV <host>
sudo nmap -sU -p 8786 <host>
nc -zv <host> 8786

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 8786/tcp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 8786" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 8786 -Protocol TCP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 8786 used for?

Port 8786 is assigned by IANA to msgclnt (Message Client).

Is port 8786 TCP or UDP?

Port 8786 is registered for TCP and UDP.

Is it safe to open port 8786?

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. Close the port if nothing on the host needs it.

How do I check if port 8786 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :8786'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :8786", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :8786" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 8786 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

05 Related