Port 19788Thread Mesh Link Establishment (MLE)

Thread devices use UDP 19788 for MLE control traffic that discovers peers and establishes and maintains mesh links.

transport: udp
in transit: encrypted
assignment: official
risk: 2/10
lookups: 0

also known as mle, Mesh Link Establishment

Technical Details

what runs on :19788

MLE runs over UDP on port 19788 in Thread networks. It carries control messages for discovering neighbors, attaching devices, establishing links, exchanging network data, and maintaining mesh topology; messages may be multicast or unicast over IPv6. Operational MLE traffic is secured at the MLE layer using Thread network credentials, while discovery messages can be unsecured. This is mesh-control traffic, not a general-purpose UDP application protocol.

Security Information

exposure of :19788

risk score

2/ 10safe

routine exposure. this port is rarely the way in on its own — keep it patched and logged and move on.

network services averages 2.6 across 1,930 ports — this one sits 0.6 below.

in transit

encrypted

payloads are protected on the wire

assignment

official

registered with iana for this service — scanners fingerprint it by number

reachable over

udp

udp is connectionless — source addresses are trivially spoofed and it is a reflection favourite

security overview

MLE is intended for Thread mesh interfaces, not direct exposure to the public internet. Operational messages are authenticated and encrypted with Thread network-derived keys, but unsecured discovery messages may reveal limited network information or invite unwanted responses. An open port on a public interface is unusual; investigate whether a Thread interface or bridge is exposed and restrict access to the intended mesh.

Record

iana registry entry

port: :19788
service: Thread Mesh Link Establishment (MLE)
transport: UDP
encryption: tls / encrypted
assignment: iana registered
risk: 2/10safe
category: Network Services IoT
usage: This is the MLE control port used by Thread mesh devices, such as low-power IoT sensors and home-automation devices. Engineers are most likely to encounter it on a Thread interface or in traffic captured near a Thread border router, rather than as an internet-facing service.
lookups: 0rank 993
added: 2026-10-18
updated: 2026-10-18
references: IANA service name registry — port 19788

Something wrong?

This record is maintained by the engineers who use port 19788. Every field on it is editable — change what's wrong, say how you know, and a reviewer publishes it, usually within a minute. Last touched 2026-10-18.

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edit this record →back to the registry

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risk mix of the 8 listed

caution100%

0 of 8 encrypted

Port :19788Thread Mesh Link Establishment (MLE)

Technical Details

Security Information

Related Ports

Port 19788Thread Mesh Link Establishment (MLE)