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Chinese malware could be posing a major threat to national security.

The New York Times reported on Saturday that the U.S. believes malicious computer code has been hidden inside “networks controlling power grids, communications systems and water supplies that feed military bases.”

A congressional official described the malware as a “ticking time bomb.” They said it could allow China to cut off power and water to military bases. But the effects could also be felt by the general public, which often relies on the same infrastructure.

It remains unclear how widespread the problem is.

According to the Times, the U.S. Military has been trying to come up with a solution for the last several months.

This comes as the U.S. government and Microsoft confirmed earlier this month that Chinese hackers broke into the emails of more than two-dozen organizations, including those belonging to federal agencies.