Port 5357 Hacktricks !exclusive! Jun 2026

: The most severe risk comes from the service's history. A critical vulnerability, documented in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-063 and assigned CVE-2009-2512 , was found in the way WSDAPI processed the headers of Web Services messages. This memory corruption flaw allowed a remote attacker on the same subnet to send a specially crafted packet to TCP ports 5357 or 5358 and execute arbitrary code, potentially taking full control of the system. It's crucial to note: Microsoft released a patch for this vulnerability over a decade ago. However, unpatched legacy systems, or those with custom configurations, can still be vulnerable, as highlighted in the next section.

to Port 5357 so it is only reachable on trusted local subnets. Disabling Network Discovery for public profiles via Advanced Sharing Settings. Unchecking WSD ports in printer properties if they are not strictly required.

In local network environments, services tied to network discovery can sometimes be coerced into authenticating against an attacker-controlled machine. While tools like Responder target LLMNR/NBT-NS (UDP 137/138) or mDNS, WSD configurations can occasionally be manipulated to force a machine to initiate an outbound SMB connection, exposing NTLM hashes for cracking or relaying. 4. Remediation and Hardening

TCP 0.0.0.0:5357 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING ``` port 5357 hacktricks

Note: Seeing a "404 Not Found" or "503 Service Unavailable" response via a standard browser request is normal. The server requires specific endpoints or SOAP requests to yield data. Interacting via HTTP

In the context of HackTricks, a popular platform for learning penetration testing and cybersecurity, Port 5357 is an interesting target for exploration.

Tracing the digital breadcrumbs, the analyst discovered this port belongs to the Web Services for Devices API (WSDAPI) : The most severe risk comes from the service's history

For an attacker to successfully exploit CVE-2009-2512 on a target, they must know the target's , a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier)..

The primary risk associated with an exposed Port 5357 is information leakage. By querying the WSD endpoints, an unauthenticated attacker on the network can often discover: : The NetBIOS or DNS hostname of the target.

Attackers on the local subnet (intranet) can send malicious packets to the service, though it is usually blocked by firewall settings from the public internet. 4. Mitigation and Security Best Practices Disable Network Discovery: It's crucial to note: Microsoft released a patch

When auditing a network via an Nmap scan, port 5357 typically presents with specific structural signatures: nmap -p 5357 -sV -sC Use code with caution. Expected Scan Output

to verify that the system is actively listening and to confirm it is indeed the Windows WSD service. Service Probing

the internal network to identify specific Windows versions or hardware models. Vulnerability Surface

WSD services occasionally make outbound connections or attempt to authenticate when parsing complex SOAP/XML payloads. If an application or service on the host can be coerced into authenticating against an attacker-controlled machine, it may leak NetNTLM hashes that can be cracked offline or relayed to compromise other network resources. Defensive Countermeasures and Remediation