Port 1417Timbuktu Remote Control
Timbuktu was a popular remote desktop and remote administration tool, primarily used on Windows and Macintosh systems in the 1990s and early 2000s. Port 1417 is one of several ports associated with Timbuktu's operational services, facilitating communication between host and client for remote access functions. Its use has largely declined with the advent of newer remote desktop solutions..
- transport
- tcp · udp
- in transit
- cleartext
- assignment
- official
- risk
- 4/10
- lookups
- 6,472
2 transports registered
payload readable on path
registered with iana
caution
rank 782 of 993 · top 79%
Technical Details
what runs on :1417Overview: Timbuktu is a remote control software suite designed to provide secure remote access, desktop sharing, and file transfer capabilities over IP networks. Originally developed by Farallon Computing (later Netopia), Timbuktu supported cross-platform remote control between Mac and Windows systems. It operates by opening multiple designated ports to handle diverse services such as control, screen sharing, and file transfer.
Role of Port 1417: Port 1417 is one of Timbuktu’s service ports, specifically involved in establishing and maintaining remote control sessions. When a client connects to a Timbuktu server, various ports—including 1417—facilitate communication related to session initiation, command exchange, and data transfer. The software relies on both TCP and UDP protocols to optimize responsiveness and reliability.
Protocols and Deployment: As a bi-directional port supporting TCP/UDP, port 1417 ensures flexible and efficient data transmission during remote sessions. Historically, its deployment required appropriate firewall rules to allow incoming and outgoing connections. Timbuktu's architecture also involved additional ports (e.g., 1418, 1419, 1420) for different control and transfer channels, necessitating holistic management of network access.
Security Information
exposure of :1417risk score
4/ 10caution
worth attention. how exposed you are depends on configuration — don't leave it reachable from the internet without a reason.
remote access averages 4.0 across 110 ports — this one sits level with it.
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:
- Remote exploitation risks if the software is outdated or improperly configured.
- Eavesdropping and session hijacking due to lack of modern encryption support.
- Brute force or unauthorized login attempts targeting exposed Timbuktu ports.
- Use of default or weak credentials increasing unauthorized access likelihood.
Common Mitigations:
- Disable or block port 1417 if Timbuktu is not in active use.
- Restrict access to trusted IP ranges via firewall policies.
- Migrate to updated, secure remote access tools with strong encryption (e.g., RDP with NLA, SSH, or commercial alternatives).
- Implement strong authentication policies, including complex passwords.
- Monitor for unexpected network activity on legacy ports indicative of misuse or reconnaissance.
Related Ports
the 8 most looked-up other ports in remote access — 110 ports carry that label.
| port | service | risk | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :8000 | Intel Remote Desktop / Alternate HTTP Port | TCP | Web Services | safe | 84.3k |
| :8888 | D2GS Admin Console | TCP | Remote Access | caution | 83.7k |
| :8881 | Atlasz Secure Server | TCP | Web Services | caution | 67.6k |
| :5938 | TeamViewer | TCPUDP | Remote Access | caution | 65.0k |
| :8291 | Winbox MikroTik Admin | TCP | Security | caution | 62.9k |
| :8008 | IBM HTTP Server Admin | TCP | Web Services | caution | 58.3k |
| :135 | Microsoft EPMAP | TCPUDP | Security | caution | 51.9k |
| :23 | Telnet | TCP | Remote Access | caution | 34.8k |
risk mix of the 8 listed
- safe13%
- caution88%
0 of 8 encrypted