TP-Link Archer AX21
Security Analysis Report

TP-Link Archer AX21

Last reviewed: March 2026 · ismyroutersafe.com

TP-Link Made in China
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F
HIGH RISK
The Verdict

This router has documented security problems. Every device on this network — your work laptop, banking app, Ring camera, smart lock — is running at higher risk than it should be.

An F is not a warning — it’s a finding that the router has been independently flagged for security or supply-chain concerns serious enough to warrant action.

  • This router model was used to break into US military and government networks

    This router model was specifically weaponized to infiltrate US military and government networks. The same firmware architecture runs on devices in people's homes.

    Show technical detail

    FBI confirmed: this router was used in a Chinese state hacking operation: Chinese state hackers (Volt Typhoon) built a botnet using TP-Link routers to infiltrate US military, government, and infrastructure networks. The FBI disrupted this botnet in January 2024. This model family was specifically named.

  • An attacker on the internet could silently take control of your home network

    An attacker anywhere on the internet could take silent control of your network — intercepting banking logins, rerouting your browsing, or recruiting your router into attacks on others.

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    A stranger can remotely take control of your router: A 9.8/10 severity flaw allowed anyone on the internet to run their own code on your router without a password. It was actively exploited before a patch was available.

  • A US ban could cut off firmware updates with little warning, leaving this router permanently exposed

    A US government ban or forced sale could cut off firmware updates with little warning. Once that happens, this router is permanently unprotected.

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    The US government is investigating this company and may force a ban: The US Department of Justice and FCC opened formal investigations into TP-Link in 2024. A forced sale or outright ban is being considered.

  • TP-Link is legally required to share your network data with the Chinese government if asked

    The manufacturer is legally required to share your network data with the Chinese government if asked. This isn't theoretical — it's a legal obligation that can't be refused.

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    Chinese law requires this company to share data with the government on demand: Chinese law legally requires companies like TP-Link to cooperate with intelligence requests. This structural risk applies regardless of current behavior.

Everything on this network shares the exposure
💻 Work laptop & remote access 🏦 Online banking & passwords 📷 Security cameras & smart locks 👧 Kids' devices & school logins 📱 Every phone & tablet at home 🔊 Smart speakers & streaming

An A-rated alternative is shown below.

FCC & Ban Risk
10 /100 F
Supply chain · FCC status · CVEs · Patch support
Security Capabilities
19 /100 F
Zero-Trust · VPN · Segmentation · Monitoring
FCC & Ban Risk measures supply-chain exposure, government flags, and CVE history. Security Capabilities measures what the router can actually do to protect your network. How we score →
2.4M US homes use this router How we estimated this ↗
Device context
Manufacturer Chinese-owned — TP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China
Country of origin Built in China
US gov status Authorized - under federal review — New models blocked from FCC authorization ↗
Security patches Active (parent co. under investigation)
📋 What to do. Start here.
1
If used for work, banking, or sensitive data: replace this router
2
Update firmware immediately if keeping it
3
Disable remote management in router settings
4
Change the admin password if you haven't recently
5
We built Rio to score 8/8 on this framework. It’s the only router we track that does — and we’d tell you if another one did
We make Rio. We rate it A. Here’s why.
Rio scores 8/8. This router doesn’t come close — and we’d tell you if it did.
✓No Chinese jurisdiction, no investigation, zero CVEs. We built Rio to score 8/8. It’s the only router we track that does.
✓Every device protected automatically — Ring camera, smart lock, work laptop, baby monitor. No app required.
✓Trusted by PCMatic and Sony VAIO. Purpose-built for security from day one.
✓Set up in under 10 minutes. Same cables, same internet provider — no tech skills needed.
Free US shipping · 30-day money-back · Any internet provider
Rio Router
🔒 Security capabilities comparison
Here's how your router compares to Rio across the 8 dimensions we built our framework around. (Yes, we made Rio.)
TP-LINK
your router
Rio Router™
full standard
Zero-Trust Device Admission
Every new device is blocked by default - admin must approve it once, even if it has the right password
Not available
Available
Network Segmentation (VLANs)
Devices on your network are isolated from each other, so a hacked smart TV can't reach your laptop
Partial
Available
Router-Level VPN for All Devices
All traffic - including smart devices that can't run VPN apps - is encrypted before leaving your home
Not available
Available
Domain Allowlisting
Block everything except approved sites; more effective than trying to blacklist billions of harmful URLs
Not available
Available
Granular Password Control
Separate passwords per network zone - changing one doesn't affect others
Partial
Available
Guest Auto-Expiry
Guest devices are automatically removed when they leave; neighbors can't reconnect without re-approval
Not available
Available
Clean Supply Chain
Manufactured outside Chinese legal jurisdiction - not subject to China's National Intelligence Law
Not available
Available
Active Threat Monitoring
Real-time detection of suspicious device behavior, unusual traffic patterns, and known attack signatures on your network
Partial
Available
Rio scores 8/8 — we built it to hit every dimension on this framework. Know a router that does? Tell us and we’ll add it. Get Rio →
See all TP-Link models: TP-Link brand overview →
You’ve seen the comparison. Rio covers every gap above.
Free US shipping · 30-day money-back · Works with any internet provider
Replace it with Rio ↗
Want to also check your current network in real time? BETA

The report above is based on your router’s model record. This optional check runs live probes against your current network to detect DNS hijacking and admin interface exposure — things static analysis can’t catch.

🔍
DNS HIJACK CHECK
Detects if your DNS has been silently rerouted to intercept your traffic
🌐
WAN EXPOSURE
Tests if your router admin panel is reachable from outside your home
No data stored · Runs entirely in your browser · ~5 seconds
FBI Confirmed Volt Typhoon
Chinese state hackers used this router brand to attack US infrastructure
The FBI and CISA documented Operation Volt Typhoon, a Chinese government campaign that specifically targeted TP-Link routers to infiltrate US critical infrastructure — water utilities, power grids, and military networks. The same firmware vulnerabilities that made them useful for nation-state hackers are present on home networks. CISA advisory ↗
This router was named by the FBI as an attack vector.
If you're replacing it, our replacement guide lists currently available options with clean security records.
Replace it with Rio ↗
How this was scored · verified March 2026: This rating combines FCC authorization status, manufacturer legal jurisdiction, CVEs from NIST NVD, active patch support status, and CISA advisory mentions. See full methodology →
Reference Data
Known CVEs - TP-Link brand history
From the NIST National Vulnerability Database. Your specific model may or may not be affected.
CVE-2023-1389 High · CVSS 8.8 Archer AX21
Command injection via country form parameter. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) listed April 2023. Actively exploited in the wild.
CVE-2022-4499 High · CVSS 7.5 TL-WR940N, TL-WR841N
Side-channel timing attack allows remote recovery of admin credentials - no authentication required.
CVE-2022-42402 Medium · CVSS 6.5 Multiple models
Authenticated remote command execution via crafted HTTP request.
See all TP-Link CVEs: NIST NVD search →
Other TP-Link models
Archer AX55FActive
Archer AX73FActive
Archer C7FEnd of security support
Deco XE75FActive
Archer BE800FActive
Deco M5FLimited
Deco W7200FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Deco XE200FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Deco BE85FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Archer AX6000FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Archer AX11000FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Archer AX3000FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Archer AXE75FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Deco X20FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Deco X55FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Deco W3600FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Archer AX1500FActive (parent co. under investigation)
OmadaFActive (parent co. under investigation)
ER605FActive (parent co. under investigation)
Archer AX1800FActive (parent co. under investigation)
See all TP-Link models: TP-Link brand overview →
Sources & evidence
All findings trace to publicly verifiable primary sources - US government databases, official FCC filings, and NIST CVE records. No proprietary or anonymous sources are used.
  1. CISA Advisory AA23-144A · 2023 ↗
  2. CVE-2023-1389 · CVSS 9.8 · NVD ↗
  3. DOJ/FCC Investigation · 2024–present ↗
  4. China National Intelligence Law · 2017 ↗
  5. FCC Equipment Authorization Database ↗
  6. FCC Covered List · National Security Designation ↗
Full data source documentation: Scoring Methodology & Citations →
🦾 This router has documented security risks. Rio is the only A-rated replacement — free shipping, 30-day guarantee.