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Port 5060 – SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)

Service:

sip

Protocol:

TCP/UDP

Port:

5060

Used for:

Session Initiation Protocol for VoIP

Why It’s Open

Port 5060 is used by the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), a signaling protocol for initiating, maintaining, and terminating real-time sessions including voice, video, and messaging applications. It’s a core component of VoIP (Voice over IP) infrastructure and unified communications systems.

Organizations use this port for IP telephony systems, video conferencing, and real-time collaboration platforms. While essential for modern communications, SIP services are a common attack target due to the sensitivity of voice traffic and the potential for abuse.

Common Risks

  • SIP Message Tampering
    Unencrypted messages can be intercepted and modified.
  • Authentication Bypass
    Weak or misconfigured SIP authentication mechanisms.
  • Registration Hijacking
    Unauthorized users register endpoints to hijack calls.
  • Toll Fraud
    Exploitation for unauthorized international calls.
  • Information Disclosure
    SIP headers may expose system details or software versions.

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Enumeration & Testing

Check if it’s open:

Terminal window
nmap -sU -p 5060

SIP options scan:

Terminal window
svmap

Enumerate users:

Terminal window
sipvicious -m REGISTER

What to Look For

CheckpointWhat it means
Clear-text SIPCommunications can be intercepted
Weak authenticationSusceptible to credential attacks
Registration allowedUnauthorized endpoints may be accepted
Version informationMay expose vulnerable SIP software

Mitigation

  • Use SIP TLS
    Migrate to port 5061 with TLS encryption.
  • Strong Authentication
    Enforce digest auth, strong passwords, and SIP ACLs.
  • Access Controls
    Restrict access to known endpoints or trusted IPs.
  • Traffic Monitoring
    Detect toll fraud with anomaly detection or rate limits.
  • Regular Updates
    Keep SIP servers, softphones, and PBX systems patched.

TL;DR

  • Port 5060 = SIP (VoIP signaling)
  • Used for voice/video call setup
  • Frequently targeted by attackers
  • Requires TLS, monitoring, and strong auth

Known CVEs and Exploits

  • CVE-2023-41763 – Asterisk SIP channel remote code execution vulnerability
  • CVE-2021-41157 – Cisco IP Phone SIP vulnerability affecting call processing
  • CVE-2019-19474 – Kamailio SIP server buffer overflow vulnerability