Port 27500QuakeWorld

QuakeWorld, developed by id Software, is an enhanced multiplayer-focused version of Quake that utilizes UDP ports 27500 through 27900 for network gaming communication. These ports enable player discovery, real-time gameplay data exchange, and server management within the QuakeWorld network, supporting its fast-paced first-person shooter multiplayer environment..

transport
udp

single transport

in transit
cleartext

payload readable on path

assignment
unofficial

used by convention

risk
4/10

caution

lookups
6,737

rank 756 of 993 · top 76%

Technical Details

what runs on :27500

QuakeWorld is a modified client-server architecture designed to enhance online playability of the original Quake released in 1996 by id Software. It uses a range of UDP ports, primarily 27500 through 27900, for facilitating session initiation, gameplay data transfer, and server communication. This design helps reduce latency, thereby improving the online experience for players using dial-up or other network connections at the time.

QuakeWorld servers listen on these UDP ports for incoming player connections and real-time game state updates, such as player movements, actions, and environment changes. Since it operates predominantly on UDP, which is connectionless, it achieves faster packet delivery by forgoing built-in reliability measures like retransmission, favoring speed over guaranteed delivery—crucial in fast-paced gaming scenarios.

Aside from player gameplay data, these ports also handle game session management tasks like server queries, player authentication, and customization data. The use of a wide port range supports running multiple game servers or sessions concurrently, enabling scalability within competitive multiplayer gaming environments.

Security Information

exposure of :27500

risk 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

unofficial

used by convention, not registered — what answers here varies by deployment

reachable over

udp

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

security overview

Common Vulnerabilities:

  • Exposure to UDP flood Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks since unsolicited UDP packets can be easily spoofed
  • Potential exploitation from buffer overflow vulnerabilities in outdated QuakeWorld server software
  • Unauthorized access control issues if servers are misconfigured, allowing unintended users to join or disrupt games

Common Mitigations:

  • Employ access control lists or firewall rules to restrict UDP traffic on ports 27500–27900 only to trusted IP ranges
  • Regularly update or patch QuakeWorld server implementations to remediate known security flaws
  • Implement rate limiting and connection verification to mitigate abuse of the UDP communication channels
  • Monitor network traffic for unusual UDP patterns indicative of DDoS attacks, and utilize anti-DDoS protections to absorb or deflect malicious activity

the 8 most looked-up other ports in network services — 604 ports carry that label.

risk mix of the 8 listed

  • caution100%

0 of 8 encrypted