Port 13721Symantec NetBackup bpdbm

Port 13721 is primarily used by Symantec NetBackup's bpdbm service, formerly part of VERITAS, facilitating central database management for backup and recovery operations across enterprise environments. It supports both TCP and UDP protocols to enable communication between NetBackup servers, clients, and administration consoles, ensuring seamless management of backup catalog data and resource coordination..

transport
tcp · udp

2 transports registered

in transit
cleartext

payload readable on path

assignment
official

registered with iana

risk
4/10

caution

lookups
6,545

rank 776 of 993 · top 78%

Technical Details

what runs on :13721

Symantec NetBackup, previously acquired from VERITAS, is an enterprise-class backup and recovery software suite designed to protect critical data across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. The bpdbm (Backup Database Manager) service operates on port 13721 and is a core component, maintaining the NetBackup catalog database which tracks backup metadata, job records, and configuration details.

The bpdbm service plays a pivotal role during backup and recovery operations. It facilitates client-server communication, orchestrates policy execution, and manages queries related to backup images. Utilizing both TCP and UDP protocols on port 13721, bpdbm ensures reliable data transfers and efficient management commands between various NetBackup components.

Deployment of bpdbm typically occurs on the master server within a NetBackup domain, centralizing control and providing the command/control structure necessary for managing distributed backup infrastructure. Its stability and accessibility are critical for maintaining system integrity and maximizing backup and recovery performance across environments.

Security Information

exposure of :13721

risk score

4/ 10caution

worth attention. how exposed you are depends on configuration — don't leave it reachable from the internet without a reason.

file transfer averages 4.1 across 114 ports — this one sits 0.1 below.

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:

  • Unauthorized access due to exposed port and weak authentication mechanisms
  • Potential exploitation through buffer overflows or input validation flaws in the bpdbm service
  • Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks via malformed packets or request flooding
  • Information disclosure if communication is intercepted, especially since traffic is typically unencrypted

Common Mitigations:

  • Restrict port 13721 exposure using firewalls, allowing access only from trusted hosts
  • Enforce strong authentication and access controls within NetBackup configuration
  • Employ segmentation to isolate backup infrastructure from general network traffic
  • Regularly update and patch NetBackup software to remediate known vulnerabilities
  • Utilize encrypted control channels (where supported) or secure transport protocols such as VPNs to protect data in transit

the 8 most looked-up other ports in file transfer — 114 ports carry that label.

risk mix of the 8 listed

  • caution100%

1 of 8 encrypted