WordPress Security: A Case Study on National Security Concerns Linked to Chinese Wi-Fi Routers
In recent headlines, a potential threat to both WordPress security and national security has been underscored. The US Congress has raised concerns about the increasing risk posed by Chinese-manufactured Wi-Fi routers within the United States.
Congressmen John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party, and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a ranking member of the same group, delivered a stern warning about the Wi-Fi routers produced by Chinese tech giant, TP-Link Technologies.
“The growing threat of Chinese Wi-Fi routers within the United States, manufactured by TP-Link Technologies cannot be ignored.”
TP-Link Technologies, based in China, is the world’s leading provider of Wi-Fi products, dispersing over 160 million products each year to more than 170 countries. Their Wi-Fi routers, manufactured in China, have sparked unease among the Congressmen. They suggest that government-backed hackers may exploit these routers to breach US systems – a frightful possibility for anyone needing to repair a hacked WordPress site.
In addition, both Congressmen expressed concerns regarding TP-Link’s obligations under China’s ironclad ‘national security’ laws. These laws could compel TP-Link to hand over sensitive US information to Chinese intelligence officials. Thus, TP-Link’s legal obligations to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) present a unique set of challenges when it comes to international cybersecurity.
In 2023, a PRC-sponsored advanced persistent threat (APT) group, nicknamed Camaro Dragon, was found to exploit TP-Link routers via a malicious firmware implant. This discovery signaled a critical need to strengthen WordPress security checks.
Another alarming case took place in December 2023 when a law enforcement operation, spearheaded by the FBI, uncovered a network of small office and home office (SOHO) routers infected by the KV Botnet malware from another Chinese APT group, Volt Typhoon.
Even though the US Justice Department clarified that a majority of the compromised devices in this campaign were sourced from Cisco and NetGear, there is a growing belief that Volt Typhoon hackers might have infiltrated US systems much earlier, possibly even five years prior.
In an open letter to US Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, Congressmen Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi issued a warning:
“TP-Link’s unusual degree of vulnerabilities and required compliance with PRC law are disconcerting on their own. Combined with the PRC government’s frequent use of SOHO routers like TP-Link to carry out extensive cyber-attacks in the United States, this situation becomes decidedly alarming.”
The Congressmen requested from Secretary Raimondo a comprehensive threat assessment and mitigation plan by the end of August.
The ongoing surveillance and investigation into TP-Link and other Chinese tech companies serve as a somber reminder of the need for diligent cybersecurity, especially for those using popular platforms such as WordPress. By regularly conducting a rigorous WordPress security check and staying informed about potential threats, one must be prepared to swiftly repair a hacked WordPress site to protect sensitive data from these troubling vulnerabilities.