CyberHunter
Local dataset, no network
// Other services

Port 6946: Biometrics Server

Port 6946 is assigned by IANA to bioserver (Biometrics Server).

6946

How bioserver works

Other services
client:6946bioserverresponse client:6946bioserverresponse

The client sends a request to port 6946 and the bioserver service answers.

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 6946 dangerous?

We have no specific security note for port 6946. 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 6946

ServicePortTransportDescriptionReferenceUpdated
bioserver 6946 TCP, UDP Biometrics Server - 2006-01

// source: IANA service name and port number registry

03 Check it

Which program uses port 6946, and is it reachable?

Linux

sudo ss -ltnup 'sport = :6946'      # process listening on 6946
sudo lsof -nP -i :6946

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -i :6946

Windows (PowerShell)

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 6946 -State Listen | Select LocalAddress, OwningProcess
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 6946
netstat -ano | findstr :6946

From another machine

nmap -p 6946 -sV <host>
sudo nmap -sU -p 6946 <host>
nc -zv <host> 6946

Block it in the firewall

sudo ufw deny 6946/tcp                                         # Linux (ufw)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block 6946" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 6946 -Protocol TCP -Action Block  # Windows
04 FAQ
What is port 6946 used for?

Port 6946 is assigned by IANA to bioserver (Biometrics Server).

Is port 6946 TCP or UDP?

Port 6946 is registered for TCP and UDP.

Is it safe to open port 6946?

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 6946 is open?

On Linux run "ss -ltnup 'sport = :6946'", on macOS "lsof -nP -i :6946", and on Windows "netstat -ano | findstr :6946" to see the local process. From another machine, "nmap -p 6946 <host>" shows whether it is reachable.

05 Related

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