Has anybody had any issues with the Xfinity XB7 modem/router? Comcast upgraded us this week and I haven’t had access since. At the same time, I’ve been getting security alerts from Comcast related to somebody from Ireland trying to access Port 32400. The alerts are only showing up for the two computers that are hosting Plex (one Windows; one Linux). I’m thinking it has to be some type of setting relating to Port 32400, but I don’t know how or what to fix. Wondering if anybody else has experienced the same thing with the XB7?
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I don’t have the XB7, but if it may has the xFi Advanced Security turned on by default, and if so that may be your issue. Port forwarding with xFi is also unique. See the “Xfinity xFi” section of this article to see if it helps. Personally, I opted for the dumb cable modem and my own wifi/router so I don’t have to deal with it.
Having a port exposed to the internet does mean you are going to get scanned. I get scanned pretty much daily. Unfortunately some people think having their programs probe firewalls for weaknesses is a good day, but getting scanned isn’t necessarily a problem. Most of the scans I see are probing my firewall on ports I don’t even have open to the Internet. Even getting scanned on the port that you have open to the Internet for Plex isn’t a problem as long as there are no issue with Plex’s security implementation.
I would suggest making your external (Internet) port something other than 32400 since it is well know that 32400 is used for Plex. Open some randomly selected high number port to the Internet, then forward it to 32400 on your Plex server. Then update your external port in your Plex server’s remote access config. At least then the port you have open to the Internet it isn’t a “well known” port where those with malicious intent can assume they know what service is listening on that port.
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Thanks for the response. I turned off the xFi Advanced Security and that instantly solved the issue.
I’ll definitely look into changing the port number…I appreciate the suggestion.
Go Hokies!
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This seems to capture the problems that I’ve been seeing the last few months.
I’m on xFinity, and I believe that they’ve had the xFI Advanced Security on for all that time. About a month ago, I checked in on that, and saw the blocked accesses to my Plex-serving computer from Ireland, as well as blocked accesses from places where friends of mine who have been unable to reach my Plex server live.
I just this past weekend swapped in xFinitiy’s Advanced Gateway (XB6, not XB7 - https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/broadband-gateways-userguides for reference), and that did not change this behavior.
I’ve since experimented with allowing access to those IP addresses that correspond time-stamp-wise with my friends’ failed attempts to access my Plex server, and, after I’ve done that, in each case, they reported success in getting to my Plex server after that.
The problem with this , of course, is that, 1) that access grant is only good for 30 days, and 2) it seems to me unlikely that my friends’ IP addresses will stay the same through all that time.
So…not sure what any long-term solution here is going to look like, but turning off the Advanced Security feature of Xfinity does sound like it would come at the cost of some security…Still…
grumble
Very interesting. I initially tried allowing the 30-day access on the XB7 and still encountered issues with Plex. It wasn’t until I totally disabled “Advanced Security” that everything started to work.
To be honest, I’m not sure what “Advanced Security” really even is. I apparently didn’t have it on my old router (the XB3) and didn’t have any issues. My machines are well-protected with firewall and antivirus. I’m in a somewhat rural area where my wifi signal doesn’t travel far beyond my yard. So overall I’m not too worried about it.
Is everything still working fine for you?
I just got the xb7 and had the blocking access issues. I read this thread prior, so I knew I’d have to disable advanced security. But, neither the app or the website is allowing me to do it. Comcast told me, because it’s so new, that no one with the xb7 can use this disable AS function. According to this thread, that is not the case. I told them as much. I’ve been getting the run around for 6 days
When I go to the “more” section, then to “my services” to choose to disable AS, there was no opportunity to do so. No option to switch off/on. I only got this message:
This applies for both the app and the website. It’s been like this since the morning of July 2nd, 2020. It’s been randomly blocking my Plex remote access. Sometimes it works for people, sometimes it doesn’t. I get 2-3 “please take action” notifications per day saying: “xFi Advanced Security blocked a threat” when it blocks my NAS. When I click on “see threat”. I get the same message in the above pic.
More confusing is that when I click on the “network” tab, I see this:
So, apparently Comcast is simultaneously disabling and enabling advanced security and there’s nothing I can do about it.
I’ve talked to about 8 reps with zero results. The las t 3 have stated that one of their “engineers” are working on it and they’d contact me. These engineer have not contacted me. So, I’m stuck not being able to disable advanced security and hoping it doesn’t keep blocking Plex. And I’m paying $25 per month for this wonderful inconvenience.
Any suggestions?
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