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POP3
Service

POP3

Email retrieval protocol downloading messages locally.

:110 :995 4 guides 3 phases
1 min read Updated: Jul 13, 2026

What is POP3?

POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) is another email retrieval protocol that downloads messages to your device. It’s older and less feature-rich than IMAP.

Common security issues

  • Plaintext login credentials.

  • User enumeration.

  • Brute-force authentication.

  • Often enabled by default on mail servers.

Default ports

  • 110 (POP3)

  • 995 (POP3S – secure)

Enumeration

Enumerate POP3 via banners, CAPA, NTLM, and auth checks

1

Vulnerability Discovery

Guides for finding POP3 auth weaknesses and TLS misconfigs

1

Exploitation

Brute force POP3 logins and harvest mailbox data post-auth

2