Port 9418Git Pack Transfer
Port 9418 is primarily used by Git for efficient pack file transfer between repositories over the Git protocol. It facilitates rapid cloning and fetching of data directly, typically used in both open-source and enterprise environments for source code management due to Git’s popularity..
- transport
- tcp · udp
- in transit
- cleartext
- assignment
- official
- risk
- 4/10
- lookups
- 10,165
2 transports registered
payload readable on path
registered with iana
caution
rank 452 of 993 · top 45%
Technical Details
what runs on :9418Port 9418 is officially assigned for the Git pack transfer service. Git, a distributed version control system, uses this port to transport repository data efficiently between clients and servers, especially during operations like cloning, fetching, and pushing. The Git protocol operating on this port is optimized for fast, bulk data transfer of repository objects, utilizing pack files that group multiple objects together to reduce transfer time and network overhead.
Unlike HTTP(S) or SSH transports, the native Git protocol over port 9418 is unauthenticated and unencrypted, designed primarily for speed and minimal resource consumption. Clients connect directly to the server’s 'git-daemon', which listens on this port to serve repositories, enabling read-only access to advertised repositories without authentication.
While many environments prefer Git over SSH or HTTPS for security and traceability, port 9418 remains widespread for public or anonymous access to open-source repositories because of its simplicity and efficiency. It forms a key component of many infrastructure setups, particularly when download speed is a priority and security is managed through other means.
Security Information
exposure of :9418risk 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:
- Lack of encryption exposes transferred data and potentially sensitive repository metadata to eavesdropping.
- Absence of authentication can allow anonymous access, increasing the risk of unauthorized data scraping or enumeration of repository contents.
- If misconfigured, could unintentionally expose private repositories or internal source code to the public network.
Common Mitigations:
- Restrict network access to trusted IP ranges or via VPNs/firewalls to limit exposure.
- Favor alternative protocols such as Git over SSH or HTTPS for secure and authenticated transfers.
- Disable 'git-daemon' on sensitive environments unless anonymous access is explicitly desired.
- Monitor and control which repositories are exported via daemon by carefully managing 'export-ok' files in repository settings.
- Regularly audit network services to ensure unwanted exposure is minimized.
Related Ports
the 8 most looked-up other ports in file transfer — 114 ports carry that label.
| port | service | risk | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :9080 | Groove RPC | TCPUDP | Web Services | caution | 70.8k |
| :17500 | Dropbox LAN Sync | TCPUDP | File Transfer | caution | 43.7k |
| :548 | Apple Filing Protocol | TCP | File Transfer | caution | 36.8k |
| :7000 | Vuze HTTPS Tracker | TCPtls | Security | caution | 28.9k |
| :1337 | PowerFolder P2P | TCP | Security | caution | 27.1k |
| :9001 | SharePoint Authoring | Web Services | caution | 26.3k | |
| :8080 | FilePhile Relay | UDP | File Transfer | caution | 25.6k |
| :1337 | WASTE Encrypted Sharing | TCP | Security | caution | 22.9k |
risk mix of the 8 listed
- caution100%
1 of 8 encrypted