WBEM WS-Management HTTP

WSMAN, or Windows Remote Management, is a service that enables remote management of Windows systems. It uses the WS-Management protocol to facilitate communication between systems. This service is essential for administrators to manage and configure remote Windows machines efficiently.

What is WBEM WS-Management HTTP

WSMAN, short for Windows Remote Management, is a Microsoft implementation of the WS-Management protocol, which is a standard web services protocol used for remote software and hardware management. This service allows administrators to manage and configure Windows systems remotely, making it a crucial tool for IT management.

Introduced with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, WSMAN has become a standard feature in subsequent Windows versions. It leverages the HTTP and HTTPS protocols to ensure secure communication between the client and server, providing a robust framework for remote management tasks.

WSMAN is particularly useful in large enterprise environments where managing numerous systems manually would be impractical. It supports a wide range of management tasks, including querying system information, executing commands, and configuring system settings. By using WSMAN, administrators can streamline their workflows and improve overall efficiency.

WBEM WS-Management HTTP runs on TCP and UDP port 5985 and is official IANA port.

Security risk

If port 5985 is open and the WSMAN service is running, it could be a potential security risk if not properly secured. Unauthorized access could allow attackers to remotely manage and configure the system, leading to data breaches or system compromise. It is crucial to implement strong authentication and encryption measures to mitigate these risks.

In our UFW tutorial you can follow instructions how you can configure UFW to close port 5985. Use StackChanges to monitor if the WBEM WS-Management HTTP port is closed and stays closed. StackChanges will send an alert if port 5985 is open again.