Routers are network gateways whose flaws, misconfigurations, or exposed interfaces can enable unauthorized access, interception, or service disruption.
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Background for this topic.
Routers are network devices that forward packets between separate networks, using destination addresses to choose a path. A home router usually connects a local network to the internet and may also provide wireless access, address assignment, network address translation, firewall rules, VPN termination, or DNS forwarding. Enterprise routers can connect internal segments, data centers, and remote sites.
In security, a router is both a traffic-control point and an attack surface. Vulnerable firmware, exposed administrative services, weak credentials, or unnecessary remote management can let an attacker alter routing, redirect traffic, or use the device to reach other systems; misconfigured rules can expose internal services. Reduce risk by keeping firmware supported and updated, restricting management to trusted networks, using strong unique authentication, disabling unneeded services, separating networks, and reviewing logs and configurations. During an incident, router configuration and routing or DNS changes can provide useful evidence, while tested backups help restore trusted connectivity.
The China-backed APT was using the botnet, made up of mostly end-of-life, patchless routers from Cisco and Netgear, to set up shop inside US critical infrastructure.
Volume of Poorly Secured, Legacy IoT That Can Be Turned Against Us Keeps GrowingThe FBI announcing that it has forcibly removed "KV Botnet" Chinese nation-state malware from "hundreds" of poorly secured SOHO routers across America highlights the risk posed by the growing volume of outdated IoT devices. The FBI's fix is temporary, and we need a more permanent solution.
US government agencies took down the botnet of Chinese APT Volt Typhoon, used to target critical infrastructure for nation-state espionage
The U.S. government on Wednesday said it took steps to neutralize a botnet comprising hundreds of U.S.-based small office and home office (SOHO) routers hijacked by a China-linked state-sponsored threat actor called Volt Typhoon and blunt the impact posed by the hacking campaign
Remotely disinfects Cisco and Netgear routers to block Chinese critters China's Volt Typhoon attackers used "hundreds" of outdated Cisco and NetGear routers infected with malware in an attempt to break into US critical infrastructure facilities, according to the Justice Department.…
The FBI has disrupted the KV Botnet used by Chinese Volt Typhoon state hackers to evade detection during attacks targeting U.S. critical infrastructure. [...]
CISA has urged manufacturers of small office/home office (SOHO) routers to ensure their devices' security against ongoing attacks attempting to hijack them, especially those coordinated by Chinese state-backed hacking group Volt Typhoon (Bronze Silhouette). [...]