Malware

router.elf

For your environment

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MITRE ATT&CK

Techniques & procedures

6 distinct techniques documented for this family, organized by ATT&CK tactic.

Stealth

2 techniques

T1014RootkitEvidence1

Ultimately, achieving root access grants the attackers absolute dominance over all connected workstations.

T1027Obfuscated Files or InformationEvidence1

The executable, discovered as router.elf, incorporates a stripped structure to hinder deep forensic reconstruction. Furthermore, the malware uses unique encryption to shield its internal network layout.

Command and Control

2 techniques

T1071.001Web ProtocolsEvidence1

Once router.elf is installed and running, it establishes a persistent connection to attacker servers over encrypted HTTPS traffic on port 443.

T1071.004DNSEvidence2

the threat architecture relies on DNS over HTTPS (DoH) queries to communicate. This tactical choice allows the payload to route its traffic seamlessly through the legitimate Cloudflare resolver.

Impact

1 technique

T1565.001Stored Data ManipulationEvidence2

The adversary implants persistent iptables NAT rules on the compromised router to redirect all downstream DNS traffic to attacker-controlled resolvers.

Other

1 technique

T1562.004Disable or Modify System FirewallEvidence2

The group manipulates firewall rules directly to execute massive router DNS hijacking across downstream connections. Specifically, the configuration implants rogue entries inside the device’s iptables network setup.

ACTIVITY FEED

Recent activity

1 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.

1 SOURCESView more in app

cyber security newsNews

May 26, 2026

China-Linked Hackers Target Southeast Asian Edge Routers With Custom Linux Implant

Custom-built Linux implant for edge/border routers that establishes encrypted HTTPS C2, uses DNS over HTTPS for evasion, modifies iptables to redirect DNS traffic to attacker-controlled servers, and enables monitoring/manipulation of network traffic.

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IOC matching

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Threat actor attribution

Named campaigns wielding this family, with evidence pinned to each claim.

Exploited vulnerabilities

CVEs this family uses for access and lateral movement.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

MITRE ATT&CK mapping6

Every documented technique, ranked by evidence weight.

Researcher chatter

Reddit, Mastodon, and CTI community discussion around this family.