Bitcoin Forum

Bitcoin => Bitcoin Technical Support => Topic started by: calkob on December 11, 2015, 01:07:38 PM



Title: Does running a full node and opening port 8333 cause any vulnerabilities
Post by: calkob on December 11, 2015, 01:07:38 PM
Hi all

after setting up my Full node recently, i was wondering does opening port 8333 in anyway make my computer more vulnerable.  How does opening ports work and how is it that only bitcoin qt uses port 8333.  my problem at first was McAfee was blocking access for incoming traffic, so now that i have allowed i,t does that mean i would be more at risk.

Sorry if this is a silly question, "just learning"   ;D


Title: Re: Does running a full node and opening port 8333 cause any vulnerabilities
Post by: achow101 on December 11, 2015, 01:37:16 PM
In networking, ideally each port corresponds to one service. Since port 8333 was not used for anything, it was chosen for bitcoin. That is why no other program used port 8333.

There may be vulnerabilities, but that would be a problem in bitcoin core. The vulnerabilities in ports only come from the program that opened them and the way that they handle the data from the port. If there is a vulnerability, it is a 0-day.


Title: Re: Does running a full node and opening port 8333 cause any vulnerabilities
Post by: calkob on December 11, 2015, 07:14:06 PM
In networking, ideally each port corresponds to one service. Since port 8333 was not used for anything, it was chosen for bitcoin. That is why no other program used port 8333.

There may be vulnerabilities, but that would be a problem in bitcoin core. The vulnerabilities in ports only come from the program that opened them and the way that they handle the data from the port. If there is a vulnerability, it is a 0-day.

Cheers Knightdk,  first ive heard of a zero day attack, see learning everyday   ;D