Chinese APT Hackers Target Router Vulnerabilities to Breach Enterprise Networks

Over the past several years, Chinese state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups have conducted a concerted campaign exploiting critical vulnerabilities in enterprise-grade routers. These actors, often referred to as Salt Typhoon and OPERATOR PANDA, have systematically targeted Provider Edge (PE) and Customer Edge (CE) devices from leading vendors. They leverage publicly disclosed Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) to gain initial unauthorized access. Their operations exhibit a high degree of stealth, employing multiple exploits to move laterally and evade conventional detection tools. The typical multi-stage attack flow begins with web-component injection and culminates in embedded packet capture. Initial intrusion attempts frequently exploit CVE-2024-21887 in Ivanti Connect Secure and CVE-2024-3400 within Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS GlobalProtect. These vulnerabilities allow remote code execution through crafted HTTP requests, granting attackers access to the router’s privileged management interface.

After achieving initial access, Chinese APT groups focus on embedding themselves deeply within the router’s operating environment to ensure long-term persistence. They alter Access Control Lists (ACLs) to whitelist attacker-controlled IP addresses and open non-standard ports, such as 32768 and 8081, for covert access. In many instances, these actors exploit Cisco’s Embedded Packet Capture (EPC) functionality to siphon TACACS+ and RADIUS authentication traffic, effectively harvesting clear-text credentials. To automate this process, they deploy Tcl-based scripts stored in the router’s flash memory. These scripts facilitate the capture of sensitive data, ensuring that the attackers maintain a foothold within the network. By employing such tactics, these APT groups create a reliable chain of escalation and persistence, posing significant risks to global telecommunications and government networks. 

Categories: Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerability Exploitation, Advanced Persistent Threats 

Tags: Chinese APT Groups, Vulnerabilities, Routers, Remote Code Execution, Command Injection, Access Control Lists, Embedded Packet Capture, Exploit Code, Persistence Tactics, Telecommunications Networks