TP-Link Router Ban - US Examines Chinese Supply Chain Cyber Risks

The U.S. government’s proposed ban on TP-Link routers underscores growing concern about Chinese supply chain risk and router exploitation by nation-state actors. Citing research from Check Point and Microsoft, officials point to the Camaro Dragon APT’s use of compromised TP-Link devices for espionage campaigns against European targets, aligning with MITRE ATT&CK techniques T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1046 (Network Service Discovery). TP-Link argues it is now independent from its Chinese parent company, but investigators highlight lingering risks tied to hardware sourced and engineered in China. With an estimated 40% market share in the home and small business router market, TP-Link devices remain an attractive platform for covert access, proxying, and malware delivery. For businesses, the proposed ban reflects how geopolitical and cybersecurity risks are converging in critical supply chains. Organizations relying on consumer-grade routers for remote connectivity or small branch access could face compliance scrutiny and heightened exposure to APT activity. Defenders should inventory routers in their environment, enforce strong credentials, replace legacy hardware lacking firmware updates, and monitor router traffic for anomalies indicating exploitation. Enterprises supporting remote workers should adopt approved vendor lists and establish firmware lifecycle management for all connected networking equipment.