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RoyalDNS is a Windows backdoor used by the China-linked cyberespionage group APT15, also known as Ke3chang. It communicates with command-and-control infrastructure using DNS TXT records and establishes persistence by installing a Windows service. It forms part of the group's custom backdoor arsenal alongside RoyalCli, BS2005, and Ketrican.
RoyalDNS was deployed during a 2017 intrusion into a company providing services to the UK government, in which attackers stole sensitive government and military-related documents. After defenders removed the attackers, APT15 regained access through a corporate VPN using a stolen VPN certificate and deployed RoyalDNS to maintain access. RoyalDNS variants were also used in 2017 against European diplomatic targets previously affected by Okrum and Ketrican. Its documented role is persistent post-compromise access; credential theft, keylogging, and lateral movement observed in associated intrusions involved separate tools and operator activity.
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1 distinct threat actor attributed by public researchers. Open in Mallory to see the full evidence chain and overlapping campaigns.
APT15 is alive and strong: An analysis of RoyalCli and RoyalDNS.
4 distinct techniques documented for this family, organized by ATT&CK tactic.
“Sandworm Team used an arbitrary system service to load at system boot for persistence for Industroyer… replaced the ImagePath registry value of a Windows service with a new backdoor binary… [multiple groups/malware] creating a service / installing as a service / modifying service configurations for persistence.”
“Sandworm Team used an arbitrary system service to load at system boot for persistence for Industroyer… replaced the ImagePath registry value of a Windows service with a new backdoor binary… [multiple groups/malware] creating a service / installing as a service / modifying service configurations for persistence.”
2 indicators attributed across vendor reports, sandbox runs, and researcher write-ups. Full values are available in Mallory.
IPs, domains, and DNS infrastructure linked to this family.
File hashes (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256) from samples and reports.
12 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
Backdoor deployed with RoyalCli and BS2005 against a UK contractor serving government customers. The campaign stole material concerning UK departments and military technology; the article does not explain this backdoor's specific functionality.
RoyalDNS is a backdoor malware used by APT15, leveraging DNS for command and control communications.
Custom backdoor used by APT15 as part of its malware arsenal for covert access.
Backdoor used by APT15; the content does not provide specific implementation details.
Match every observed IP, domain, and hash against your live telemetry.
Named campaigns wielding this family, with evidence pinned to each claim.
CVEs this family uses for access and lateral movement.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Every documented technique, ranked by evidence weight.
Reddit, Mastodon, and CTI community discussion around this family.