TCP Web

Port 8000 (HTTP Alt)

Learn about port 8000 (HTTP Alt) - security risks, vulnerabilities, and common uses. Find devices with port 8000 open.

Quick Info

Port Number

8000

Protocol

TCP

Service

HTTP Alt

IANA Name

HTTP Alt

Service Description

Network port 8000 (TCP) is commonly associated with 'HTTP Alt', indicating its usage as an alternative port for Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) traffic. While the standard port for HTTP is 80, and 443 for HTTPS, port 8000 provides flexibility in situations where port 80 is unavailable or already in use. This is often seen in development environments, internal networks, or when running multiple web applications on a single server. The protocol operates identically to HTTP, utilizing request-response cycles between clients and servers, enabling the transfer of web pages, images, and other resources.

At a technical level, a client initiates a TCP connection to the server on port 8000. After the TCP handshake (SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK), the client sends an HTTP request, specifying the requested resource and any relevant headers. The server processes the request, retrieves the requested resource (or generates a response), and sends an HTTP response back to the client, including the resource data and appropriate headers such as Content-Type and status codes (e.g., 200 OK, 404 Not Found). The connection may be closed after the response, or kept alive for subsequent requests using HTTP Keep-Alive mechanisms.

## Firewall Recommendations

Whether to allow or block port 8000 depends on the specific use case. If it hosts a legitimate web service that needs to be accessible, it should be allowed, but only from trusted sources. Best practices include: 1) Use HTTPS (TLS) to encrypt traffic and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. 2) Implement strong authentication and authorization mechanisms for the application running on port 8000. 3) Keep the application and its dependencies up to date with the latest security patches. 4) Use a web application firewall (WAF) to protect against common web application attacks. 5) Regularly monitor the service for suspicious activity. If port 8000 is not needed, it should be blocked to reduce the attack surface. If it's used internally, restrict access to only authorized internal networks.

Security Information

While port 8000 itself doesn't introduce inherent security risks, its use for HTTP services can expose the same vulnerabilities as standard HTTP. If the application running on port 8000 is not properly secured, it can be vulnerable to attacks such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL Injection, Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), and man-in-the-middle attacks if not used with HTTPS. Attackers often scan for open ports, including 8000, to identify potential targets running vulnerable web applications. Furthermore, misconfigured firewalls or access control lists can inadvertently expose the service to unauthorized access, increasing the attack surface. The presence of a web application on a non-standard port might also suggest a less hardened or less monitored environment, making it a more attractive target.

Known Vulnerabilities

CVE	Name	Severity	Description
CVE-2023-38408	Jenkins Security Advisory 2023-07-26	Critical	Jenkins is vulnerable to a security bypass, allowing unauthenticated users to create and delete temporary files and directories in the Jenkins workspace directory. This can be exploited if Jenkins runs on port 8000.
CVE-2017-1000364	Webmin information disclosure	High	Webmin before version 1.850 is vulnerable to an information disclosure vulnerability due to insecure handling of authentication cookies. If running on port 8000, this could expose sensitive system information.
CVE-2019-9740	Python SimpleHTTPServer directory traversal	Medium	Python's SimpleHTTPServer (or http.server in Python 3) is vulnerable to directory traversal if not properly secured. If run on port 8000 and exposed to the internet, attackers can access arbitrary files on the server.