sa-msg-port
SA-MSG-PORT (port 1646) is primarily used in the RADIUS protocol for receiving accounting messages. RADIUS is a networking protocol that provides centralized Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) management for users who connect and use a network service. This port is crucial for tracking user activities and resource usage.
What is sa-msg-port
SA-MSG-PORT, designated as port 1646, is utilized in the RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) protocol for receiving accounting messages. RADIUS is a networking protocol that offers centralized Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) management for users who connect to and use a network service. The accounting messages received on this port help in tracking user activities, resource usage, and network statistics.
RADIUS was developed by Livingston Enterprises, Inc. in 1991 as an access server authentication and accounting protocol. It has since become a standard for network access, particularly in ISP environments and enterprise networks. The protocol operates in a client-server model, where the RADIUS server handles authentication requests from clients, typically network access servers (NAS).
Port 1646 specifically handles accounting messages, which are essential for maintaining logs of user activities, such as session duration, data usage, and other metrics. This information is vital for billing, auditing, and monitoring purposes. The use of this port ensures that accounting data is separated from authentication and authorization data, which typically use port 1812.
Given its role in accounting, SA-MSG-PORT is a critical component in network management and security. Proper configuration and monitoring of this port can help in maintaining the integrity and reliability of the network's accounting processes.
sa-msg-port runs on TCP and UDP port 1646 and is official IANA port.Security risk
If port 1646 is left open and the service is running, it could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to accounting data. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized usage tracking, and potential manipulation of accounting records. Ensuring proper firewall rules and monitoring is essential to mitigate these risks.
In our UFW tutorial you can follow instructions how you can configure UFW to close port 1646. Use StackChanges to monitor if the sa-msg-port port is closed and stays closed. StackChanges will send an alert if port 1646 is open again.