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// Network services

Port 4878: Agilent Instrument Discovery

Port 4878 is assigned by IANA to inst-discovery (Agilent Instrument Discovery).

4878

How inst-discovery works

Network services
client:4878inst-discoveryresponse client:4878inst-discoveryresponse

The client sends a request to port 4878 and the inst-discovery service answers.

Transport
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
Network services
01 Security

Is port 4878 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 4878. Its risk depends on the program actually listening on it. General advice for network services services:

  • Answer only the networks that need the service (no open resolvers, relays or reflectors).
  • UDP services can be abused for DDoS amplification: rate-limit or block them at the edge.
  • Disable legacy test services that have no use in production.
02 Registry

IANA registry entries for port 4878

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
inst-discovery 4878 UDP Agilent Instrument Discovery - 2011-02-15
-4878-Reserved--

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 4878, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :4878'      # process listening on 4878
sudo lsof -nP -i :4878

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :4878

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 4878 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 4878
netstat -ano | findstr :4878

From another machine

nmap -p 4878 -sV <host>
sudo nmap -sU -p 4878 <host>
nc -zv <host> 4878

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 4878/udp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 4878" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 4878 -Protocol UDP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 4878 used for?

Port 4878 is assigned by IANA to inst-discovery (Agilent Instrument Discovery).

Is port 4878 TCP or UDP?

Port 4878 is registered for UDP.

Is it safe to open port 4878?

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. Answer only the networks that need the service (no open resolvers, relays or reflectors).

How do I check if port 4878 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :4878'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :4878", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :4878" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 4878 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

05 Related
:53 DNS tcp · udp · moderate risk :135 MS RPC tcp · udp · high risk :123 NTP udp · tcp · moderate risk :67 DHCP server udp · tcp · moderate risk :111 rpcbind tcp · udp · high risk :9100 Raw printing (JetDirect) tcp · udp · high risk :631 IPP / CUPS tcp · udp · high risk :5353 mDNS udp · tcp · moderate risk

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