CyberHunter
Local dataset, no network
// Remote access

Port 6623: Kerberos V5 Telnet

Port 6623 is assigned by IANA to ktelnet (Kerberos V5 Telnet).

6623

How ktelnet works

Remote access
terminal:6623ktelnet terminal:6623ktelnet

The client opens a session to port 6623: 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
Registered (1024-49151)
01 Security

Is port 6623 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 6623. 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 6623

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
ktelnet 6623 TCP, UDP Kerberos V5 Telnet - 2005-08

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 6623, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :6623'      # process listening on 6623
sudo lsof -nP -i :6623

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :6623

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 6623 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 6623
netstat -ano | findstr :6623

From another machine

nmap -p 6623 -sV <host>
sudo nmap -sU -p 6623 <host>
nc -zv <host> 6623

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 6623/tcp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 6623" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 6623 -Protocol TCP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 6623 used for?

Port 6623 is assigned by IANA to ktelnet (Kerberos V5 Telnet).

Is port 6623 TCP or UDP?

Port 6623 is registered for TCP and UDP.

Is it safe to open port 6623?

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 6623 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :6623'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :6623", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :6623" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 6623 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

05 Related

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