Port 108SNA Gateway
The SNA Gateway Access Server facilitates communication between IBM's Systems Network Architecture (SNA) and IP-based networks. It serves as a bridge, enabling legacy mainframe systems and applications to interact seamlessly with modern TCP/IP infrastructures, supporting both TCP and UDP protocols for versatile connectivity..
- transport
- tcp · udp
- in transit
- cleartext
- assignment
- official
- risk
- 4/10
- lookups
- 7,316
2 transports registered
payload readable on path
registered with iana
caution
rank 703 of 993 · top 71%
Technical Details
what runs on :108The SNA Gateway Access Server, operating on port 108, is designed to interconnect IBM's proprietary Systems Network Architecture (SNA) environments with TCP/IP-based networks. This gateway acts as a protocol translator, allowing traditional mainframe systems to communicate over IP networks without the need for significant changes to legacy applications or infrastructures.
Typically, the gateway encapsulates SNA data streams in TCP or UDP packets, enabling SNA traffic to be transmitted across IP-based LANs, WANs, or the internet. This functionality is especially critical in large enterprises with substantial investments in mainframe technologies, where gradual migration or interoperability with modern networked systems is essential.
Support for both TCP and UDP protocols grants flexibility, with TCP ensuring reliable connections for stateful sessions and UDP providing low-latency communication suitable for specific SNA operations. As such, the SNA Gateway Access Server remains an important component in hybrid network environments where mainframes continue to operate alongside distributed systems.
Security Information
exposure of :108risk score
4/ 10caution
worth attention. how exposed you are depends on configuration — don't leave it reachable from the internet without a reason.
network services averages 3.9 across 604 ports — this one sits 0.1 above.
in transit
cleartext
credentials and payloads are readable by anyone on path
assignment
official
registered with iana for this service — scanners fingerprint it by number
reachable over
tcp · udp
udp is connectionless — source addresses are trivially spoofed and it is a reflection favourite
security overview
Common Vulnerabilities:
- Because it connects legacy SNA systems to modern IP networks, port 108 services can expose sensitive mainframes to network-based attacks.
- Lack of encryption in native implementations can lead to data interception or session hijacking.
- Legacy protocols often lack strong authentication, increasing risks of unauthorized access.
Common Mitigations:
- Place SNA Gateway servers behind rigorous firewall rules, allowing only trusted IPs to connect.
- Use network segmentation to isolate mainframe environments from broader corporate networks.
- Employ tunneling solutions or VPNs to encrypt traffic between SNA clients and gateways.
- Monitor port 108 for anomalous activity indicative of exploitation attempts.
- Regularly update and harden gateway devices to address vulnerabilities and apply vendor patches.
Related Ports
the 8 most looked-up other ports in network services — 604 ports carry that label.
| port | service | risk | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :9080 | Groove RPC | TCPUDP | Web Services | caution | 70.8k |
| :6543 | Jetnet | UDP | Network Services | caution | 65.3k |
| :5938 | TeamViewer | TCPUDP | Remote Access | caution | 65.0k |
| :8291 | Winbox MikroTik Admin | TCP | Security | caution | 62.9k |
| :3233 | WhiskerControl Protocol | TCPUDP | Network Services | caution | 61.9k |
| :3268 | Microsoft Global Catalog (GC) | TCPUDP | Security | caution | 54.6k |
| :135 | Microsoft EPMAP | TCPUDP | Security | caution | 51.9k |
| :3128 | Tatsoft Default HTTP Proxy | TCP | Web Services | caution | 46.8k |
risk mix of the 8 listed
- caution100%
0 of 8 encrypted