Admin port(s) exposed
What has been found
Admin port(s) exposed.
An administrative port has been detected as publicly accessible from the internet. Administrative ports (e.g., SSH, RDP, web admin consoles) exposed directly to the internet are high-risk vectors frequently exploited by threat actors. Attackers leverage exposed admin ports to gain unauthorised system access, often leading to ransomware deployment, data breaches, or full system compromise.
Why this is a potential risk
Exposing administrative interfaces to the internet significantly increases the attack surface. These ports often provide elevated privileges or access to critical infrastructure components, making them prime targets for automated scanning and brute-force attacks. Once compromised, attackers can:
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Deploy ransomware or malware to disrupt operations.
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Exfiltrate sensitive data.
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Escalate privileges and move laterally within the network.
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Cause prolonged downtime and significant financial impact.
Even when strong passwords are used, exposed admin ports remain vulnerable due to potential zero-day exploits or credential compromise. Moreover, the presence of such ports publicly visible often indicates weak network segmentation or misconfigured firewall rules, amplifying overall risk.
Potential solutions/Improvements
Consider protecting the admin interface(s) with a VPN, or IP whitelisting to known networks.
How to verify it is resolved:
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Confirm no administrative ports are accessible from external IP ranges through independent external scans (e.g., using tools like Nmap, Shodan).
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Review firewall and network ACL configurations to verify appropriate restrictions are in place.
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Check VPN and MFA configurations for enforced strong authentication.
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Review access logs for evidence of unauthorised access attempts or anomalies post-remediation.