# INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: 156.38.198.252/32
Classification: LOW RISK | Last Updated: 2026-07-23
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## EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Target IP 156.38.198.252 presents a low-risk profile with no active threat indicators. The address is associated with Hetzner IP Admin (ASN 37153) and resolves to infrastructure for core.kebc.co.za, a South African domain. Network neighborhood analysis confirms clean classification with zero abuse density.
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## RISK PROFILE
- Overall Risk Score: 0/10 (Low Risk)
- Provider Score: 0
- Authority Score: 0
- Abuse Confidence Score: Not applicable
- Blacklist Count: 0
- Threat Feeds: None detected
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## OWNERSHIP & GEOLOCATION
- ASN: 37153 (Hetzner IP Admin)
- Network Block: 156.38.198.240/28
- Country: South Africa (ZA)
- Region: Gauteng
- City: Pretoria
- Geolocation Consensus: True (800km accuracy radius)
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## NETWORK SERVICES
- Open Ports: None detected
- Service Purpose: Firewalled / No Services
- TLS Certificate: None
- HTTP Title: None
- Cloud/CDN/VPN Status: Negative across all categories
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## DNS ANALYSIS
- Reverse DNS (PTR): core.kebc.co.za
- Forward Resolution: core.kebc.co.za (confirmed)
- SPF Record: Configured
- DMARC Record: Configured
- Hosted Domain Count: 0
- Email Reputation: Not scored
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## THREAT INDICATORS
- Known Attacker: No
- Spam Source: No
- Tor Exit Node: No
- Known Campaigns: None
- Control Plane Status:
- BGP Prefix: 156.38.128.0/17
- Route Stability: False
- DNSBL Listed: 0/8 lists
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## NEIGHBORHOOD ANALYSIS
- Subnet: 156.38.198.252/24
- Abuse Density: 0 (Clean)
- Classification: Clean
- Total Siblings: 2
- Active Siblings: 0
- Threat Siblings: 0
- Neighbor IP: 156.38.198.250 (Risk Score: None)
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## OBSERVATION HISTORY
- Total Observations: 16
- Recent Activity: 2026-07-23
- Ownership Changes: 0
- Threat Persistence Days: 0
- Threat Observation Count: 0
- Persistently Malicious: False
Geolocation Signals:
- South Africa (Gauteng, Pretoria) - Confidence: 70-95%
- No geographic drift observed
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## RELATIONSHIP GRAPH
- Same Network: 156.38.198.240 - 156.38.198.255
- DNS Association: core.kebc.co.za
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## RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Firewall: No blocking required; IP presents no threat indicators
2. Monitoring: Standard monitoring sufficient
3. Investigation Priority: Low
4. Action Items: None
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## ANALYST NOTES
The target IP belongs to a Hetzner-managed block registered in South Africa. The reverse DNS resolution to core.kebc.co.za indicates association with the Kwazulu-Natal e-Library (kebc.co.za). The absence of open ports and services suggests this is a firewalled infrastructure address, likely administrative or internal-facing. The clean neighborhood profile with zero abuse density and no threat siblings supports a benign classification. No defensive action recommended.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Verify critical details independently.
🏢 Ownership & Registration
| Organization | Hetzner IP Admin |
| ASN | AS37153 |
| Network Name | 156.38.198.240 - 156.38.198.255 |
| CIDR Block | 156.38.198.240/28 |
| RIR | ARIN |
| Country | ZA |
| Abuse Contact | — |
🌐 DNS Intelligence
| PTR | core.kebc.co.za |
| Forward Confirmed | Yes — FCrDNS verified |
| Forward Hostnames | core.kebc.co.za |
🔐 DNS Hygiene
| Hygiene Score | 80% (Excellent) |
| SPF | Present |
| DMARC | Present |
| FCrDNS | Verified |
| DNSSEC | Valid |
| CAA | Not configured |
☁️ Network Classification
| Infrastructure | Unknown |
| Service Purpose | Firewalled / No Services |
| Network Tier | Unknown — Insufficient routing data to classify |
🔌 Services & Open Ports
| Port | Service | Protocol | Banner |
|---|---|---|---|
| No open ports detected | |||
| Server | — |
| HTTP Title | — |
🔐 TLS Certificate
| SANs | None |
| Valid From | — |
| Valid Until | — |
🛡️ Public Network Snapshot
| Origin ASN | AS37153 |
| Network Prefix | 156.38.128.0/17 |
| Route mapping | Found |
🎯 Confidence Breakdown
Per-dimension confidence scores based on source diversity and data freshness
| Dimension | Score | Sources | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| threat | 25% | 1 | 1 |
| routing | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| services | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| ownership | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| reputation | 25% | 1 | 1 |
| geolocation | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Overall | 8% | 2 | 2 |
| Data Coherence | Consistent (100%) |
| Attribution | Moderate (70%) |
| OwnershipFCrDNSGeo ConsensusGeo PlausibleIRR MatchRPKI Valid |
📅 Observation Timeline 🔄 Live
| First Seen | 2026-07-04 23:31:19 UTC |
| Last Seen | 2026-08-27 06:21:15 UTC |
| Profile Built | 2026-08-29 05:34:01 UTC |
| Data Freshness | Live |
| Signal Types | 19 |
| Total Observations | 21 |
Full dossier details are available via our API.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About 156.38.198.252
Who owns the IP address 156.38.198.252?
156.38.198.252 is registered to Hetzner IP Admin. The address falls within the 156.38.198.240/28 network block. Registration is held at ARIN.
Where is 156.38.198.252 located?
Geolocation data places 156.38.198.252 in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. The local time zone is Africa/Johannesburg. IP geolocation is approximate and indicates the network's registered or routed location rather than a precise physical address.
Is 156.38.198.252 malicious or safe?
156.38.198.252 currently carries a low risk assessment, meaning no significant threat indicators have been observed. This assessment is generated from continuously collected signals and can change over time.
What is the hostname for 156.38.198.252?
The reverse DNS (PTR) record for 156.38.198.252 is core.kebc.co.za. This hostname is forward-confirmed, meaning it resolves back to the same address.