CyberHunter
// Remote access

Port 89: SU/MIT Telnet Gateway

Port 89 is assigned by IANA to su-mit-tg (SU/MIT Telnet Gateway).

89

How su-mit-tg works

Remote access
terminal:89su-mit-tg terminal:89su-mit-tg

The client opens a session to port 89: each command typed is sent to the server, which runs it and returns the output.

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)
01 Security

Is port 89 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 89. Its risk depends on the program actually listening on it. General advice for remote access services:

  • Do not expose remote administration directly: use a VPN or a zero-trust access proxy.
  • Require MFA or key-based authentication and lock out brute-force attempts.
  • Log every login and alert on new source addresses.
02 Registry

IANA registry entries for port 89

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
su-mit-tg 89 TCP, UDP SU/MIT Telnet Gateway - -

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 89, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :89'      # process listening on 89
sudo lsof -nP -i :89

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :89

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 89 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 89
netstat -ano | findstr :89

From another machine

nmap -p 89 -sV <host>
sudo nmap -sU -p 89 <host>
nc -zv <host> 89

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 89/tcp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 89" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 89 -Protocol TCP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 89 used for?

Port 89 is assigned by IANA to su-mit-tg (SU/MIT Telnet Gateway).

Is port 89 TCP or UDP?

Port 89 is registered for TCP and UDP.

Is it safe to open port 89?

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. Do not expose remote administration directly: use a VPN or a zero-trust access proxy.

How do I check if port 89 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :89'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :89", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :89" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 89 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

05 Related