Port 10252 APOLLO-RELAY
Port 10252 is the IANA-assigned apollo-relay port for Apollo Relay Port (TCP / UDP).
What is port 10252 used for?
Port 10252 is assigned to apollo-relay and uses TCP / UDP. The IANA registry describes the service as “Apollo Relay Port”. It sits above the registered range, where most numbers are transient client ports. A fixed high port is worth documenting precisely because tooling often assumes the default.
Ports are the transport-layer address a service listens on. A client that wants to reach apollo-relay connects to port 10252. A TCP connection is refused when nothing is listening, while a UDP request simply goes unanswered. That is why a port conflict appears whenever two processes try to bind the same number.
Use the commands below to confirm whether port 10252 is actually in use before you change firewall rules. Blocking the port stops new inbound traffic at the firewall, but it does not stop a local process from listening, and it does not remove the service from the machine.
Source: IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry. Registered assignee: [Anthony_Carrabino].
Check and block port 10252
Copy-ready commands for the protocols assigned to this port. Run the check first, then block only what should not be reachable.
Check on Linux
sudo ss -tlpn 'sport = :10252'
sudo ss -ulpn 'sport = :10252'Check on Windows
Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 10252 -State Listen -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 10252 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinueBlock with UFW
sudo ufw deny 10252/tcp
sudo ufw deny 10252/udpBlock with iptables
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 10252 -j DROP
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 10252 -j DROPThese commands are examples for a typical host. Check the listener before you change firewall rules, and persist iptables rules with iptables-save or netfilter-persistent. On Windows, use Windows Defender Firewall or New-NetFirewallRule for persistent blocks. The iptables rules here cover IPv4; mirror them with ip6tables if IPv6 is enabled.
Is port 10252 safe to expose?
This port is not on our curated list of services with a widely exploited profile. Exposure is only safe when the listening service is intended, patched and protected by a firewall. Keep the listening service patched and remove it if unused. A default-deny firewall policy with explicit allow rules is still the safest baseline.
Where port 10252 is usually used
Most traffic on port 10252 falls into these scenarios. The demo below is a safe way to confirm the listener before you change anything.
- Custom or vendor-specific services configured to use a fixed high number.
- Short-lived container or test environments that publish the port on the host.
- Firewall planning, since most other high ports are transient client ports.
Probe the port
Confirm something is listening before you debug the client. This checks a TCP handshake on the port.
nc -vz 127.0.0.1 10252Common problems with port 10252
Connection refused or timed out
Refused usually means the host is reachable but nothing is listening on port 10252. A timeout more often means a firewall drop, a wrong host or a service bound to a different interface.
Port already in use
Find the process holding the port with sudo ss -tlpn 'sport = :10252' or sudo lsof -i :10252. Stop that process or configure it to bind another port; killing it without identifying it can take down a production service.
Firewall rule did not survive a reboot
UFW and Windows Firewall keep rules across restarts. Raw iptables rules do not: save them with iptables-save or the netfilter-persistent package, and re-apply after upgrades that reset the ruleset.
The port is blocked but still reachable
A firewall rule filters inbound traffic; it does not close the listener. Confirm with the check command above and bind the service to 127.0.0.1 when only local clients need it.
Port 10252 at a glance
| Port number | 10252 |
|---|---|
| Service name | apollo-relay |
| Transport protocol | TCP / UDP |
| Category | Custom high ports |
| Range | High port (10001–65535) |
| Risk level | Standard/Low |
| Registered assignee | [Anthony_Carrabino] |
| Registry description | Apollo Relay Port |
| Source | IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry |
Frequently asked questions
What is port 10252 used for?
Port 10252 (APOLLO-RELAY) uses TCP / UDP. Apollo Relay Port.
How do I check if port 10252 is open?
On Linux run `sudo ss -tlpn 'sport = :10252'` and `sudo ss -ulpn 'sport = :10252'`. On Windows run `Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 10252 -State Listen -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue` and `Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 10252 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue` in PowerShell. If the port is open, the output shows a process listening on port 10252; empty output usually means nothing is bound to it.
How do I block port 10252?
With UFW run `sudo ufw deny 10252/tcp` and `sudo ufw deny 10252/udp`. With iptables run `sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 10252 -j DROP` and `sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 10252 -j DROP`. Persist the iptables rules with your distribution's netfilter-persistent or iptables-save tooling so they survive a reboot.
Is port 10252 safe to expose?
This port is not on our curated list of services with a widely exploited profile. Exposure is only safe when the listening service is intended, patched and protected by a firewall. Nevertheless, keep the listening service patched and remove it if unused. A default-deny firewall policy with explicit allow rules is still the safest baseline.
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Primary data: IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry.
Last reviewed 2026-10-30 · Methodology · About · Privacy