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// Web

Port 9988: Software Essentials Secure HTTP server

Port 9988 is assigned by IANA to nsesrvr (Software Essentials Secure HTTP server).

9988

How nsesrvr works

Web
browser:9988nsesrvr browser:9988nsesrvr

A browser sends an HTTP request to port 9988 and the nsesrvr server sends the page back.

Transport
TCP
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
Web
01 Security

Is port 9988 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 9988. Its risk depends on the program actually listening on it. General advice for web services:

  • Serve it over HTTPS only and check the HTTP security headers.
  • Keep admin consoles and development servers off the Internet.
  • Patch the application server and remove default credentials and sample apps.
02 Registry

IANA registry entries for port 9988

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
nsesrvr 9988 TCP Software Essentials Secure HTTP server - 2009-02-05
-9988-Reserved--

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 9988, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :9988'      # process listening on 9988
sudo lsof -nP -i :9988

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :9988

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 9988 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 9988
netstat -ano | findstr :9988

From another machine

nmap -p 9988 -sV <host>
nc -zv <host> 9988

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 9988/tcp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 9988" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 9988 -Protocol TCP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 9988 used for?

Port 9988 is assigned by IANA to nsesrvr (Software Essentials Secure HTTP server).

Is port 9988 TCP or UDP?

Port 9988 is registered for TCP.

Is it safe to open port 9988?

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. Serve it over HTTPS only and check the HTTP security headers.

How do I check if port 9988 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :9988'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :9988", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :9988" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 9988 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

05 Related
:443 HTTPS tcp · udp · sctp · low risk :80 HTTP tcp · udp · sctp · moderate risk :8080 HTTP alternate tcp · udp · high risk :8443 HTTPS alternate tcp · udp · moderate risk :3000 Dev servers / Grafana tcp · udp · moderate risk :5000 Flask / Docker registry / UPnP tcp · udp · moderate risk :8000 HTTP alternate (dev) tcp · udp · moderate risk :8888 Jupyter / HTTP alternate tcp · udp · high risk

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