CyberHunter
Local dataset, no network
// Other services

Port 6401: boe-was

Port 6401 is assigned by IANA to boe-was (boe-was).

6401

How boe-was works

Other services
client:6401boe-wasresponse client:6401boe-wasresponse

The client sends a request to port 6401 and the boe-was service answers.

Transport
None registered
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
Other services
01 Security

Is port 6401 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 6401. 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 6401

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
boe-was 6401 - boe-was - 2026-05-27

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 6401, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :6401'      # process listening on 6401
sudo lsof -nP -i :6401

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :6401

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 6401 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 6401
netstat -ano | findstr :6401

From another machine

nmap -p 6401 -sV <host>
nc -zv <host> 6401

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 6401/tcp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 6401" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 6401 -Protocol TCP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 6401 used for?

Port 6401 is assigned by IANA to boe-was (boe-was).

Is port 6401 TCP or UDP?

Port 6401 has no registered transport. Any program can still use it over TCP or UDP.

Is it safe to open port 6401?

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 6401 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :6401'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :6401", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :6401" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 6401 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

05 Related
:4444 Metasploit default / krb524 tcp · udp · high risk :31337 Back Orifice / elite tcp · udp · high risk :1 TCP Port Service Multiplexer tcp · udp :5 Remote Job Entry tcp · udp :9 Discard tcp · udp · sctp · dccp :11 Active Users tcp · udp :17 Quote of the Day tcp · udp :18 Message Send Protocol (historic) tcp · udp

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