Modifying or terminate internal connectionsīecause it's so difficult to determine if a prospective connection could facilitate a malware infection, it's best security practice to disable UPnP.Modifying IP settings for all interfaces.Changing DNS server settings so that a decoy credential stealing website is loaded instead of legitimate banking websites.Port forwarding to any external server located on either their surface or dark web.Port forwarding the router web administration details.Connecting internal ports to the router's external-facing side to create gateways ('poking holes') through firewalls.Here are just a few examples of the malicious actions that are possible with UPnP: UPnP exploitation can result in more than just the connection of an infected device. With such an autonomous, and liberal, networking mechanism, it becomes clear how easy it is for the establishment of infected connections to spiral out of control. Ports are automatically forwarded to establish a connection when a UPnP request is received. UPnP offers zero-configuration, meaning no human authentication is required to establish a connection. It only becomes dangerous when infected devices are involved.

So the original intention of UPnP technology is safe. Such connections make DDoS attacks possible.īut when UPnP allows safedevices to connect, the established network is safe. The UPnP service becomes dangerous if it establishes connections with devices that are infected with malware. This service reduces the complexity of networking devices by automatically forwarding router ports to new devices, removing the hassle of manual forwarding.īut this convenience could come at significant security risks. UPnP can also modify router settings to open ports into a firewall to facilitate the connection of devices outside of a network. Some examples of UPnP devices are printers, gaming consoles, WiFi devices, IP cameras, routers, mobile devices, and Smart TVs. UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) is a service that allows devices on the same local network to discover each other and automatically connect through standard networking protocols (such as TCP/IP HTTP, and DHCP).

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