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U.S. agencies warn that two separate Russian intelligence units have targeted vulnerable or poorly configured network equipment. One operation linked to the GRU changed router DNS settings to redirect users and collect information; separate activity attributed to the FSB exploited networking-device weaknesses and configuration problems. Owners should update supported equipment, replace devices that no longer receive security fixes, and follow the mitigation that fits their network.
What the agencies reported
The warnings describe distinct activity sets, not one combined campaign. The FBI and partner agencies’ April 7, 2026 public service announcement (PSA) concerns the GRU’s 85th Main Special Service Center (85th GTsSS), also tracked as APT28, Fancy Bear, and Forest Blizzard. A separate FBI PSA from August 20, 2025, and a joint advisory summarized by CISA and NSA on July 13, 2026, concern Russia’s FSB Center 16.
GRU: router DNS changes and credential theft
According to the April 2026 FBI and partner-agency PSA, GRU 85th GTsSS actors have collected credentials and exploited vulnerable routers worldwide since at least 2024. The warning specifically identifies compromised TP-Link routers affected by CVE-2023-50224.
The actors changed router DHCP and DNS settings so connected devices used DNS resolvers under their control. DNS translates website names into network addresses; a malicious resolver can record lookups or provide fraudulent answers for selected services. The PSA says that if users continued past certificate-error warnings, attackers could then conduct adversary-in-the-middle attacks against encrypted traffic. Agencies report theft of passwords, authentication tokens, email, and browsing information.
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FSB: vulnerable devices and exposed network-management services
The FBI’s August 20, 2025 PSA attributed activity to FSB Center 16. It described exploitation of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and end-of-life networking equipment running Cisco Smart Install, including devices affected by CVE-2018-0171. The FBI said it had detected actors collecting configuration files for “thousands of networking devices associated with US entities” across critical-infrastructure sectors in the prior year. That is the agency’s reported scale of devices whose files were collected, not a statement that all those devices were compromised. On some vulnerable devices, actors modified configurations to enable unauthorized access and conduct reconnaissance.
The July 13, 2026 CISA bulletin says the updated joint advisory concerns FSB Center 16 scanning for and exploiting poorly configured routers and network devices. It names Cisco CVE-2018-0171 and CVE-2008-4128, which the bulletin said were listed in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog at the time. NSA’s release on the advisory describes activity affecting U.S. and foreign networks in defense, communications, energy, financial services, government facilities, and healthcare.
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Why an unpatched router or network device matters
A router or other edge device connects a local network to outside networks and may manage traffic for many users. In the GRU activity described by the FBI, altered DNS settings could expose browsing information and help attackers redirect users; certificate warnings were an important signal when an attack against encrypted traffic was possible. In the separate FSB reporting, exploitation or weak configuration could expose device settings, support unauthorized access, or aid reconnaissance.
Unsupported equipment, old firmware, default credentials, internet-exposed remote administration, and legacy protocols can leave avoidable openings. The appropriate fix depends on the device and its role: a home router owner may be able to update firmware in the router’s app or administration page, while an organization should coordinate network-device changes with its administrators.
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What home and small-office router owners should do
- Check support status for the exact model. Find the manufacturer’s support page and confirm whether the router still receives security updates. If it has reached end of support, plan to replace it with a currently supported device; a device that cannot receive fixes cannot be made current by rebooting it.
- Install the latest available firmware. Use the manufacturer’s instructions or the router’s official app or administration interface. Menu names vary by model, so consult its documentation rather than assuming a particular path. Confirm the update completes and check again afterward that the installed version is current.
- Replace default account credentials. Change the router’s default administrator username and password, if the device permits changing both, and use a strong, unique password. Do not reuse the Wi-Fi password as the administrator password.
- Disable internet-facing remote management. Turn off remote administration exposed to the internet unless it is necessary and appropriately secured. If you need remote access, follow the manufacturer’s security guidance rather than leaving an unnecessary management interface open.
- Take certificate warnings seriously. Do not click through a browser or email-client certificate warning without understanding its cause. The FBI and partners explicitly advise users to consider such warnings carefully.
What organizations and network administrators should do
Organizations should apply the controls relevant to their equipment and environment. NSA’s July 2026 release recommends SNMPv3, strong unique passwords, disabling Cisco Smart Install, and blocking TFTP, SMI, and SNMP at firewalls where appropriate. Administrators should upgrade software and firmware to address vulnerabilities, including the CVEs identified in the applicable advisory.
Organizations supporting remote work should also review access policies, including VPNs and hardened application configurations, as recommended by the FBI. Because blocking management protocols or changing device settings can affect operations, administrators should validate the change against business requirements and coordinate implementation with the teams responsible for the network.
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How to decide whether to update or replace a device
Start with the manufacturer’s support information for the exact model and hardware revision. The agency advisories do not endorse a router brand or model or provide a consumer product ranking. Use these checks to decide whether existing equipment can remain in service:
- Support and end-of-support status: Is the device still eligible for security fixes?
- Firmware availability: Can you install a current release that addresses the relevant security issues?
- Remote administration: Can internet-exposed management be disabled or secured appropriately?
- Required protocols and authentication: For organizational equipment, does it support the security controls and protocols the network requires?
- Network role: Is it a home router or a device serving a larger enterprise network, where changes may need administrator planning?
Replace a router when it is end-of-support or cannot receive security updates. If you suspect the existing device was compromised, replacing it alone does not establish that the rest of the network is clean.
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What to do if you suspect router compromise
Take a certificate warning seriously, especially if it appears unexpectedly, but do not treat one warning by itself as proof of a router compromise. Follow the router manufacturer’s support guidance to check its firmware and configuration, and involve your organization’s network administrator if the device is managed at work. The FBI PSA directs people reporting suspected activity to a local FBI field office or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The agency asks for details such as the router type and DHCP configuration.
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