The Broadband Guide
SG
search advanced

Port 138 Details


known port assignments and vulnerabilities
threat/application/port search:
 search
Port(s) Protocol Service Details Source
138 tcp,udp netbios-dgm NetBIOS is a protocol used for File and Print Sharing under all current versions of Windows. While this in itself is not a problem, the way that the protocol is implemented can be.

NetBios services:
NETBIOS Name Service (TCP/UDP: 137)
NETBIOS Datagram Service (TCP/UDP: 138)
NETBIOS Session Service (TCP/UDP: 139)

By default, when File and Print Sharing is enabled it binds to everything, including TCP/IP (The Internet Protocol), rather than just the local network, meaning your shared resources are available over the entire Internet for reading and deletion, unless configured properly. Any machine with NetBIOS enabled and not configured properly should be considered at risk. The best protection is to turn off File and Print Sharing, or block ports 135-139 completely. If you must enable it, use the following guidelines:

1. Use strong passwords, containing non-alphanumeric characters.
2. Attach "$" at the end of your share names (the casual snooper using net view might not see them).
3. Unbind File and Print Sharing from TCP/IP and use NetBEUI instead (it's a non-routable protocol).
4. Block ports 135-139 in your router/firewall.

Keep in mind that you might still be leaking out information about your system that can be used against you (such as your computer and workgroup names) to the entire Internet, unless ports are filtered by a firewall.

The following trojans/backdoors also use these ports: Chode, God Message worm, Msinit, Netlog, Network, Qaz
W32.HLLW.Moega [Symantec-2003-080813-3234-99]

Sygate Personal Firewall comes with a default rule set that blocks all udp requests, however if udp requests originates from source port 137 or 138 they are allowed, thus a malicious person could get access to all open udp ports on a target merely by sending all requests from source port 137 or 138.
References: [SECUNIA-7930]
SG
138 tcp,udp NetBIOS NetBIOS Datagram Service (official) Wikipedia
138 tcp trojan Chode, Nimda Trojans
138 tcp Chode [trojan] Chode Neophasis
138 udp threat W32.Spybot Bekkoame
138 tcp,udp netbios-dgm NETBIOS Datagram Service IANA
6 records found
jump to:
 go
previous next

Related ports: 135  137  139  445  

« back to SG Ports


External Resources
SANS ISC: port 138

Notes:
Port numbers in computer networking represent communication endpoints. Ports are unsigned 16-bit integers (0-65535) that identify a specific process, or network service. IANA is responsible for internet protocol resources, including the registration of commonly used port numbers for well-known internet services.
Well Known Ports: 0 through 1023.
Registered Ports: 1024 through 49151.
Dynamic/Private : 49152 through 65535.

TCP ports use the Transmission Control Protocol, the most commonly used protocol on the Internet and any TCP/IP network. TCP enables two hosts to establish a connection and exchange streams of data. TCP guarantees delivery of data and that packets will be delivered in the same order in which they were sent. Guaranteed communication/delivery is the key difference between TCP and UDP.

UDP ports use the Datagram Protocol. Like TCP, UDP is used in combination with IP (the Internet Protocol) and facilitates the transmission of datagrams from one computer to applications on another computer, but unlike TCP, UDP is connectionless and does not guarantee reliable communication; it's up to the application that received the message to process any errors and verify correct delivery. UDP is often used with time-sensitive applications, such as audio/video streaming and realtime gaming, where dropping some packets is preferable to waiting for delayed data.

When troubleshooting unknown open ports, it is useful to find exactly what services/processes are listening to them. This can be accomplished in both Windows command prompt and Linux variants using the "netstat -aon" command. We also recommend runnig multiple anti-virus/anti-malware scans to rule out the possibility of active malicious software. For more detailed and personalized help please use our forums.

Please use the "Add Comment" button below to provide additional information or comments about port 138.
  Post your review/comments
    rate:
   avg:
News Glossary of Terms FAQs Polls Cool Links SpeedGuide Teams SG Premium Services SG Gear Store
Registry Tweaks Broadband Tools Downloads/Patches Broadband Hardware SG Ports Database Security Default Passwords User Stories
Broadband Routers Wireless Firewalls / VPNs Software Hardware User Reviews
Broadband Security Editorials General User Articles Quick Reference
Broadband Forums General Discussions
Advertising Awards Link to us Server Statistics Helping SG About