Port 5357 is primarily associated with Web Services for Devices (WSDAPI)
: Windows uses it to enable seamless, configuration-free network discovery.
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Are you targeting a (e.g., Server 2012, 2019, 2022)? Is this for an active engagement or a CTF challenge ?
Often works in tandem with UDP Port 3702 (multicast) for initial discovery before moving to TCP 5357 for communication. Security Risks & Enumeration port 5357 hacktricks
If you need help digging deeper into this asset, let me know: What did Nmap report?
suggest blocking this port at the firewall level to prevent unnecessary information leakage. specific Nmap scripts for enumerating WSD services, or are you looking for firewall configuration steps to secure this port?
: Trigger a target Windows machine to attempt authentication against your rogue service, capturing NTLM hashes via tools like Responder. NTLM Relaying
Port 5357 can expose a system to several severe vulnerabilities depending on the underlying Windows patch level and service configuration. 1. HTTP.sys Remote Code Execution (CVE-2015-1635) Port 5357 is primarily associated with Web Services
: 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.
When Windows detects other computers or devices (like printers) on the network, it often interacts through this endpoint to fetch XML-based metadata about the host capability. 2. Enumeration and Information Gathering
If open, the service typically identifies itself as a Microsoft HTTPAPI httpd 2.0 . This is a lightweight web server built into Windows that hosts the WSD functionality.
Port 5357 is a classic example of a convenience feature that can introduce significant risk. While the Web Services for Devices API makes networking peripherals easier to use, it also opens a web-accessible attack surface on the host that is often forgotten. As seen with the exploitation of the HTTPAPI service, this port can be a direct path to a reverse shell. If you share with third parties, their policies apply
The process involves:
1. Remote Code Execution via Stack Corruption (CVE-2009-2512)
In a typical configuration, WSDAPI uses two primary ports: