Port 5357 is typically used for the Microsoft Web Services for Management (WS-Management) service, often associated with the Web Services Dynamic Discovery (WS-Discovery) protocol.
On HackTricks, this port is categorized under 5357 - Pentesting WS-Discovery. Key Takeaways for Port 5357 Service: Microsoft HTTPAPI httpd 2.0 (SSDP/WS-Discovery).
Function: It is part of the Windows communication framework that allows devices to find each other on a local network using web services. Enumeration:
You can often interact with this port via a web browser or curl to see if it returns an XML response, though it frequently returns a 404 Not Found or 400 Bad Request if no specific endpoint is targeted.
Nmap scans using -sV will usually identify it as http with the service Microsoft HTTPAPI httpd 2.0. Pentesting Focus:
Information Leakage: Sometimes the service can leak the internal hostname or Windows version through the HTTP headers or XML responses.
SSRF/Relay: While less common than port 80 or 443, if the service is misconfigured, it might be leveraged in NTLM relay attacks or for internal network scanning. Common Nmap Command nmap -sV -p 5357 Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
For more detailed exploitation paths and scripts, you can refer to the official HackTricks WS-Discovery page.
Port 5357 is used by the Web Services for Devices API (WSDAPI), a Microsoft implementation of the WS-Discovery protocol. It allows Windows systems to automatically discover and communicate with network devices like printers, scanners, and cameras over HTTP. Service Summary Service Name: wsdapi Common Banner: Microsoft-HTTPAPI/2.0 Protocol: HTTP over TCP (Port 5357) or HTTPS (Port 5358).
Discovery Mechanism: Often works in tandem with UDP Port 3702 (multicast) for initial discovery before moving to TCP 5357 for communication. Security Risks & Enumeration
While HackTricks does not currently have a dedicated page for "Port 5357," it appears in general Windows enumeration checklists and involves the following risks:
Information Disclosure: WSD can leak metadata including hostnames, device models (e.g., printer types), network paths, and unique device identifiers (GUIDs).
Legacy Remote Code Execution (RCE): A critical vulnerability (MS09-063 / CVE-2009-2512) allowed unauthenticated RCE via specially crafted WSD headers on Windows Vista and Server 2008.
Fingerprinting: The Microsoft-HTTPAPI/2.0 banner confirms a Windows-based web service is running, which helps attackers identify the target OS.
Lateral Movement: Exposed printer or scanner interfaces can sometimes be accessed without authentication, potentially allowing job manipulation or further reconnaissance within a local network. Mitigation Additional WS-Discovery Functionality - Win32 apps
Port 5357: The Double-Edged Sword of Network Discovery
In the landscape of cybersecurity and penetration testing, open ports are the gateway to potential compromise. While high-profile ports like 22 (SSH), 80 (HTTP), and 445 (SMB) garner the most attention, lesser-known service ports often provide the stealthy footholds that attackers exploit. One such vector is TCP port 5357, associated with the Web Services for Devices (WSD) and the Link-Local Multicast Name Resolution (LLMNR) protocol suite. In security resources like HackTricks, this port is highlighted not necessarily for a single catastrophic vulnerability, but as a significant information disclosure vector and a relic of convenience that creates unnecessary network exposure in modern Windows environments.
Port 5357 is utilized by the "Function Discovery Resource Publication" service in Windows. This service allows the computer to publish its presence and discover other devices on the local network without requiring a centralized DNS server. While this is convenient for home users setting up printers or sharing media, in an enterprise environment, it creates a channel where machines broadcast their existence to anyone listening. In the context of penetration testing, as outlined in HackTricks methodology, the first phase of an attack is enumeration. An open port 5357 offers a low-effort, high-yield target for reconnaissance.
When assessing port 5357, the primary risk is information disclosure. By querying this port, an attacker can extract metadata about the target system without authentication. Tools such as ntbscan or custom scripts utilizing the Python impacket library can send a probe to the port and receive a response containing the computer name, workgroup, and operating system version. This is critical intelligence for an attacker; knowing the exact OS version allows them to tailor exploits specifically for that environment, bypassing generic defenses. The enumeration of this port aligns with the HackTricks philosophy of "trust but verify"—assuming a network is secure until an open port reveals that a machine is unnecessarily broadcasting its fingerprint.
Furthermore, the existence of this service suggests a broader security misconfiguration: the reliance on legacy discovery protocols. Port 5357 often works in tandem with UDP port 5355 (LLMNR) and UDP port 5353 (mDNS). The presence of port 5357 signals to an attacker that the network may be reliant on legacy broadcasting mechanisms. This opens the door to more complex attacks, such as LLMNR/NBT-NS poisoning (via tools like Responder). If a system is broadcasting its existence on port 5357, it is highly likely listening for name resolution requests on associated ports, allowing an attacker to intercept traffic and potentially capture password hashes by spoofing legitimate server responses. port 5357 hacktricks
From a defensive perspective, the mitigation strategies for port 5357 are straightforward but frequently overlooked in corporate governance. The standard recommendation is to disable the "Function Discovery Resource Publication" service and "SSDP Discovery" service on machines that do not require device broadcasting. In a hardened Active Directory environment, workstations should rely on the Domain Name System (DNS) rather than peer-to-peer discovery. Closing this port reduces the attack surface by silencing the machine on the local network segment, making it invisible to casual scanners.
In conclusion, port 5357 serves as a prime example of how convenience features can evolve into security liabilities. It is rarely the point of initial exploitation, but it acts as a signpost, directing attackers toward vulnerable hosts and legacy configurations. Security frameworks and knowledge bases like HackTricks emphasize the enumeration of such ports because security is often about eliminating small data leaks that cumulatively paint a complete picture of the target network. By understanding and securing port 5357, administrators can remove a vital reconnaissance tool from the attacker’s arsenal, reinforcing the principle that a secure network is often a silent network.
Port 5357 is primarily associated with Web Services for Devices (WSDAPI) on Windows systems. While HackTricks—a popular cybersecurity resource—doesn't have a dedicated "Port 5357" page, it discusses the relevant underlying protocols and common exploitation methods for similar Windows services. Service Overview: Port 5357 Protocol: HTTP. Service: Web Services for Devices (WSDAPI).
Purpose: Allows Windows to automatically discover and communicate with local network devices like printers and scanners.
Security Context: By default, Windows Firewall often allows traffic to this port on private or domain networks, making it a potential target for unauthenticated remote users. Review: Exploitation & Risks
From a penetration testing perspective, port 5357 is often a "quiet" target used for gathering information or facilitating lateral movement rather than direct RCE (Remote Code Execution).
Information Disclosure: This is the most common use case. Attackers can query the WSD interface to leak device hostnames, printer names, network paths, and device metadata useful for fingerprinting a target.
Historical Vulnerabilities: A critical vulnerability (MS09-063) previously allowed remote code execution through specially crafted WSD messages on ports 5357/5358. While patched in modern systems, it serves as a reminder of the risks of leaving this API exposed.
Lateral Movement & Relaying: Attackers can abuse these services to force unauthenticated NTLM authentication, which can then be relayed to other services.
Surface Area: Port 5357 essentially hosts a built-in web server. If not properly managed, it can expose administrative interfaces for printers or IoT devices. Verdict for Pentesters
If you find port 5357 open during a scan, it is rarely a "silver bullet" for immediate access. However, it is a high-value source for reconnaissance in an Active Directory environment. Use tools like nmap with HTTP-enumeration scripts to see what information the device is broadcasting. If you are hardening a system, this port should generally be blocked or restricted to trusted local segments. Penetration Testing: Re: Port 5357 -- Vista SP1 ???
Port 5357: WSDAPI Enumeration and Penetration Testing Port 5357 (TCP) is primarily used by the Web Services for Devices API (WSDAPI), Microsoft's implementation of the WS-Discovery protocol. It allows Windows systems to automatically discover and communicate with network-connected devices like printers, scanners, and file shares over HTTP. In a penetration testing context, this port is often a target for fingerprinting Windows environments or exploiting legacy memory corruption vulnerabilities. Service Overview
WSDAPI facilitates a "plug-and-play" network experience. It typically utilizes: TCP Port 5357: HTTP-based communication. TCP Port 5358: HTTPS-based communication (secure channel). UDP Port 3702: Multicast discovery (WS-Discovery).
The service is generally active on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2008 and later. Enumeration and Information Gathering
During a network assessment, port 5357 is highly useful for fingerprinting the target system. 1. Nmap Scanning
You can use Nmap to identify the service and its version. Since it runs over HTTP, standard service discovery flags are effective: nmap -p 5357 -sV Use code with caution.
Nmap typically identifies this as http or microsoft-httpapi. If the port appears open on every host in a subnet, it may be due to network-level forwarding or a firewall configuration rather than the service actually being active on every individual host. 2. Service Metadata
WSDAPI can leak significant metadata that aids in lateral movement: Hostnames and computer names. Device metadata such as printer models or scanner types. Network paths and file share locations. Known Vulnerabilities and Exploitation MS09-063: Memory Corruption (CVE-2009-2512)
One of the most critical vulnerabilities associated with WSDAPI is a stack-based buffer overflow. Port 5357 is typically used for the Microsoft
Port 5357 – WSDAPI (Web Services for Devices) - PentestPad
Many devices (and even Windows hosts with sharing enabled) expose metadata without authentication.
Related searches (suggested terms): port 5357 WSD, WSD SOAP GetDeviceInformation, disable WSD Windows, nmap http-wsd-discover
The fluorescent lights of the server room hummed in a frequency that always gave Elena a mild headache. She cracked her knuckles, the sound sharp in the quiet room. On her screen, the target was a mid-sized accounting firm—let's call them "Ledger & Sons"—who had failed their annual penetration test.
Her job was simple: find the weakness before the bad guys did.
Elena scanned the IP range. Most ports were what she expected: 443 for the web server, 22 for SSH (hardened, thankfully), and 139/445 for file sharing. But one port glowed like a red thumb on her Nmap output.
PORT STATE SERVICE
5357/tcp open wsd
"Web Services for Devices," Elena muttered to herself, opening a new tab in her browser. She navigated to HackTricks, the bible for modern penetration testers. She typed the port number into the search bar.
The page loaded, confirming her suspicion. Port 5357 was used by Windows for WS-Discovery (WSD). It was a protocol designed to help devices find each other on a network—printers announcing their presence, laptops looking for scanners. But as HackTricks noted, it was often the Achilles' heel of lazy network configurations.
"In an Active Directory environment," she read, "if this port is exposed to the internet or an untrusted zone, it can leak a wealth of information without authentication."
Elena leaned forward. The Nmap script scanner (-sV) had identified the service, but she needed more than just a version number. She needed a name.
She pulled up her terminal. According to HackTricks, the best way to interact with this service wasn't a complex exploit script, but a simple, specially crafted UDP packet sent to the multicast address. However, since she was testing from the outside, she had to target the specific IP directly.
If this was a Windows machine, and if it was chatty, she could force it to identify itself.
She typed the command, referencing a specific Python script found in the HackTricks references, a tool designed to send a Probe directive.
python wsd_probe.py target-ip
She hit Enter.
For a second, nothing happened. Then, the terminal flooded with XML data.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<soap:Envelope...>
...
<wsa:Address>urn:uuid:56e-etc...</wsa:Address>
...
<pub:Computer>LEDGER-DC01</pub:Computer>
...
Elena smirked. "Gotcha."
The machine on Port 5357 had just introduced itself. It wasn't just a workstation; LEDGER-DC01 was a Domain Controller. The most sensitive machine in the entire infrastructure, the keys to the kingdom, was responding to anonymous queries on a port that should have been firewalled. Port 5357: The Double-Edged Sword of Network Discovery
But the HackTricks page had warned about a darker possibility. Sometimes, this port was tied to the "Network Discovery" feature, which utilized the LLMNR (Link-Local Multicast Name Resolution) and NBNS protocols. While this was technically a different vector, they often overlapped in misconfigurations.
Elena decided to press her luck. She modified her probe, attempting to spoof a request.
If the system was configured poorly—and the fact that 5357 was open to the internet suggested it was—she might be able to see what other devices LEDGER-DC01 trusted.
She crafted a second packet, this time pretending to be a printer looking for a driver share.
The response came back instantly. The server provided a list of workgroups, including one named LEDGER-ADMIN, and detailed endpoint references for network shares that hadn't been mapped during the initial scan.
<xaddr>http://LEDGER-DC01:5357/37482...</xaddr>
It was a small leak, but in cybersecurity, leaks sink ships. With the hostname LEDGER-DC01 confirmed, Elena could now launch a targeted brute-force attack or a password spraying attempt against the VPN portal. She didn't need to guess the username format anymore; she knew the naming convention.
She closed her laptop and rubbed her temples. The headache was still there, but the satisfaction of a successful find dulled the pain.
She opened her report editor and began typing the executive summary.
"Recommendation: Block Port 5357/tcp on the perimeter firewall immediately. The exposed WS-Discovery service allowed for the enumeration of the primary Domain Controller hostname ('LEDGER-DC01') and internal network topology without authentication."
She added a footnote: Reference: HackTricks - Pentesting 5357 Port.
It was a classic case of convenience overriding security. Microsoft had enabled the service by default to make networking "plug and play," but for a hacker, it was a "plug and play" welcome mat. Elena saved the file. Ledger & Sons were going to have a long week of patching ahead of them.
You're likely referring to the Port 5357, which is associated with the Windows SMB (Server Message Block) protocol, specifically for the "Key Management Service" (KMS) or Windows Activation. However, another notable usage of port 5357 is related to the SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol) and UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) protocols, often exploited in IoT and network-related attacks.
Let's steer towards the information related to HackTricks, which seems to be what you're looking for:
# Check if open
nmap -p 5357 <target>
If you need specific commands, exploitation scenarios, or detailed enumeration steps for port 5357 as documented in HackTricks, I recommend checking the HackTricks website directly or searching within their content.
If the endpoint requires NTLM authentication (e.g., for GetPrinterData action), you can trigger an authentication attempt:
ntlmrelayx.py -tf targets.txt -smb2support
Then convince a user on the target host to visit an attacker-controlled SMB share or use a tool like responder + pxe to force a connection to http://target:5357/wsd.
In the world of internal network penetration testing, most hackers focus on the "big three": SMB (445), RDP (3389), and WinRM (5985/5986). However, subtle infiltration vectors often hide on less common ports. One such port is TCP 5357.
If you run a nmap -p5357 192.168.1.0/24 and see open, you might have stumbled upon a Windows service that is poorly understood but potentially dangerous: WSDAPI (Web Services for Devices on Windows).
This article acts as a HackTricks-style guide to port 5357: what it is, how to enumerate it, misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and how to abuse it for lateral movement.