cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/56484546
Here is the technical report: ENDLESSDOORS Is Phoning Home. Pick Up.
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Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of a “factory-shipped backdoor” implanted in at least 20 Chinese router models from Zbtlink.
According to a new report from VulnCheck, the implant appears in all 21 firmware images currently available from Zbtlink that span more than 2 years. The backdoors are designed such that they start automatically and attempt to beacon to Chinese command-and-control (C2) infrastructure as often as every 35 seconds.
They masquerade as a Linux kernel thread, but are actually userland processes running with root privileges while blending their true functionality with other legitimate kworker processes. The “phone home” implants have been codenamed ENDLESSDOORS.
“ENDLESSDOORS, at its core, is a small tool called rctl (remote control linux),” Jacob Baines, VulnCheck Chief Technology Officer, said. “Uploaded to GitHub on January 14, 2015 and never touched again, this obscure repository implements a simple command and control client and server.”
“The server listens on port 7000 for clients to connect. It can send the client individual shell commands or tell the client to spawn a reverse bash shell.” Cybersecurity
The “kworker” worker process running on Zbtlink AX3000, which VulnCheck analyzed, is a customized version of rctl that’s configured to contact the following -
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Something the US has in common with China, they intercepted network gear and installed backdoors too while also demanding backdoors be installed in regular consumer devices. Plus the telecom/ISP secret surveillance rooms… Both countries governments are evil.
Every time I mention this being a risk with Chinese tech I get flamed.
The CCP effectively controls every chinese company. If they want backdoors, they get backdoors.
I say that as a centre-left European who has just as much criticism for American tech.
They seem to think criticism of the CCP means support for the US fascists.
It’s possible to hate both.
Yeah. Or if you speak up about Gaza you’re antisemetic. Or defend a Jewish person you’re a fascist. Fucking hate the way things are.
Pitching us against them has been the playbook of the epstein class since forever.
Bread and circus on repeat, our planet is a giant resort for the few and we are the serf
vants
Yeah, well said. I agree with you on this, I hate both
Not sure why you’re telling me that like especially as I’m essentially saying they are the opposite sides of the same fucked up coin. I’d say the fundamental difference is on the western side it’s the child raping Epstein class is who is behind it all and who are actively working to make our lives more miserable driven by immense obsession of power and wealth. The Chinese side is more if defacto state operation which isn’t benefiting a few greedy sickos but rather maintaining the whole status quo for the state. Neither should exists, both countries are a threat to the rest of the world, though the Americans have tilted the evil scale more towards themselves at this point in time. And in Europe we’re now worried the US will flip a switch to cut us off from all cloud services too, besides spying on us, sabotage us and threatening invasion. China is somewhat less extreme now, but still undermining us and spying on is nonetheless. A swinging pendulum of who is more evil that I wish would turn into a wrecking ball and free us of this insanity.
You think they don’t have sicko billionaires in China? It’s a different country, not a different species.
They do have billionaires, but they aren’t calling the shots. Just ask Jack Ma
Everyone calling the shots in China is a Billionaire.
At least in the west the companies can fight back, like Apple has done a few times. In China the government can force companies to do their bidding.
Which router companies fight back? Or computer hardware in general? Anybody with a warrant canary?
Apple makes computers? You can turn an Apple computer into a router in 10 minutes using docker
DD-WRT solves this
Not necessarily. It would be entirely possible of the manufacturer to implement the original fw in a fused memory and restore from that. Basically persistent uefi malware. One would probably notice it, but i wouldnt bet my life on that being true forever with the rate our tech is advancing
It only solves it if you can install it on those routers. Can you??
I can, they are supported by owrt.
https://toh.openwrt.org/?view=normal
Buy compatible hardware then.
That ough to be one of the laziest genAI slop images for a “Chinese router with a backdoor”.
Damn, it’s bad.
Yeah that one is fairly hideous. Why can’t they just use a product shot?
Here you go btw
A report of China obviously and illegally spying on large amounts of people (not only in the USA I might add), and that’s the top comment?
I mean, it was assumed and mostly known that it was taking place already. Thats why the government tried to prevent them from being sold in the US. Did anyone really think they were going to give up on spying on world citizens when they were forced to sell TikTok?
No. But a hardware backdoor is a big step from whatever TikTok is doing. And I know it’s not the first one either, but still, the disclosure of each and every one deserves attention.
That flag. Ugh.
There was a time when by facebook wall was plastered with AI slop articles, and all of them had flags chucked in like this.
What are the chances this is some misguided customer support tool or someone screwing up?
I’d think if this was a deliberate attempt for hacking they’d at least have a proper authentication challenge. You wouldn’t want your enemies to have access to your toys too. No matter how socialist you are haha.
.ml moment. The party asked you not to believe your own lying eyes, and you listened.
Hanlon’s razor
At least they should have good openwrt support!
If its at the hardware level openwrt won’t help.
It isn’t.
Another case of: use an American router against the Chinese backdoor behind a Chinese router against the American backdoor.
(Or just do open source)
throw an Indian router, an Israeli router and a Turkish router into the chain for extra security
oh COME ON. The last thing I needed in this jingoistic American economy was any reason to legitimize their crap
Do you mean, legitimize the USA being anti-China?
I think it’s important to remember that the USA aren’t the only bad player on the globe.
We can be against China without being pro MAGA.In this case, I was thinking of how this could be used to legitimize the decision a couple months ago to block the sale of all foreign-made routers.
(The decision is a terrible one, but I imagine MAGA people will use it to say “I told you so” while ignoring the fact that foreign brand Netgear got an exemption and at least temporary monopoly status.)
I mean… did you miss all the reporting on Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon?
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But can i put pfsense or something on it?
