Port 280 is officially assigned to http-mgmt (HTTP Management), a protocol designed for managing network devices through web-based interfaces.1 It sits in the well-known port range (0-1023), assigned by IANA to Adrian Pell, though historical details about its creation are scarce.
What HTTP-MGMT Does
The http-mgmt protocol allows administrators to manage and configure network equipment—routers, switches, firewalls—through a web browser. Instead of command-line interfaces or proprietary software, you access the device at something like http://192.168.1.1:280 and get a web-based control panel.2
The protocol supports:
- Device configuration (network settings, security policies, firmware updates)
- SNMP data access through web interfaces
- Monitoring and troubleshooting
- SSL/TLS encryption for secure management sessions
Both TCP and UDP are supported on port 280, though TCP is more common for the HTTP-based management traffic.3
The Honest Reality
Port 280 exists in a strange historical space. It was assigned before HTTPS on port 443 became the default for everything secure and web-based. Modern network devices rarely use port 280 anymore—they use standard HTTPS on 443 or custom high-numbered ports.
The protocol represents an earlier era of network management, when dedicated ports for specific management tasks made sense. Now, everything just uses HTTPS with different URL paths instead of different ports.
Security Considerations
Port 280 has been associated with malware in the past—trojans have used it for command-and-control communication.4 This doesn't mean traffic on port 280 is inherently malicious, but it does mean you should:
- Verify what's actually listening on the port
- Ensure management interfaces aren't exposed to the public Internet
- Use SSL/TLS encryption when possible
- Prefer modern HTTPS-based management (port 443) over legacy http-mgmt
If you see unexpected traffic on port 280, investigate it. Management ports are high-value targets.
Checking What's Listening
On Linux or macOS:
On Windows:
Most modern systems won't have anything listening here unless you're running specific network management software or legacy equipment.
Why This Port Matters
Port 280 is a reminder that the well-known port range is full of protocols that made sense at the time but have been superseded by more general solutions. Before everything was HTTPS, we had specialized protocols for specialized tasks.
The port still exists in the registry. Equipment still ships that might use it. But the Internet has largely moved on to consolidating management interfaces on standard HTTPS ports with authentication and modern security.
Port 280 is infrastructure archaeology—a working protocol that most people will never use, but that still serves its purpose for the devices that need it.
Related Ports
- Port 80 (HTTP) - Standard unencrypted web traffic
- Port 443 (HTTPS) - Modern secure web traffic, now used for most management interfaces
- Port 8080 (HTTP-Alt) - Alternative HTTP port often used for management
- Port 161 (SNMP) - Simple Network Management Protocol, another device management standard
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