Inside the Router Hijack Factory: How China’s DKnife Framework Turns Home Networks into Cyber Weapons

It starts at your Wi-Fi router - a device most people ignore after setup, but now the launchpad for a new breed of cyberattacks. In the digital underworld, a framework called DKnife has quietly turned ordinary Linux-powered routers and edge devices into covert spies and malware delivery systems, all while remaining invisible to the untrained eye. Operated by China-linked threat actors since at least 2019, DKnife is rewriting the rules of attack by lurking in the very gateways that connect us to the internet.

DKnife is not just another piece of malware - it’s a Swiss Army knife for cybercriminals. According to Cisco Talos, the framework consists of seven Linux implants, each with specialized roles. The main component, dknife.bin, acts as the nervous system, conducting deep packet inspection and reporting user activity. Other modules function as updaters, VPN clients, reverse proxies, and credential harvesters. Together, they allow attackers to monitor, manipulate, and hijack internet traffic at the gateway, before it even reaches a victim’s device.

What makes DKnife especially dangerous is its versatility. By intercepting and decrypting traffic, it can inject malicious payloads into legitimate downloads - such as Windows DLLs or Android APK updates - using pre-set rules. This enables silent installation of advanced backdoors like ShadowPad and DarkNimbus, both notorious for their stealth and persistence. DKnife can also hijack app updates for popular Chinese news, video, and e-commerce platforms, redirecting users to booby-trapped versions without their knowledge.

Its targeting is precise: phishing pages and credential-stealing modules focus on Chinese email providers and mobile apps like WeChat. Yet, its infrastructure suggests broader ambitions. Research shows overlaps with other China-linked operations, including the “Earth Minotaur” and “TheWizards” groups, whose activities span gambling sectors and individuals across Asia and the Middle East. One clue: a shared command-and-control server hosting configuration files and other attack toolkits, hinting at a coordinated cyber espionage ecosystem.

Unlike more scattershot attacks, DKnife’s approach is stealthy and tailored. By compromising routers and edge devices - often overlooked in security planning - it bypasses traditional endpoint protections. The attackers can monitor, manipulate, or halt communications with antivirus and management tools like 360 Total Security and Tencent, further blinding defenders.

As routers become smarter and more interconnected, they also become juicier targets. DKnife is a stark reminder that the battle for network security now starts at the gateway, with attackers exploiting the very infrastructure meant to keep us connected and safe.

In the age of smart everything, the humble router is now a frontline asset in the global cyber conflict. As frameworks like DKnife evolve, staying ahead requires vigilance - not just on our laptops and phones, but at the digital doors we so often leave unlocked.

WIKICROOK

• Adversary: An adversary is any person or group attempting to breach computer systems or data, often for malicious purposes like theft or disruption.
• Deep Packet Inspection: Deep Packet Inspection examines both the headers and payloads of network packets to detect threats, manage traffic, and enforce security policies.
• Command: A command is an instruction sent to a device or software, often by a C2 server, directing it to perform specific actions, sometimes for malicious purposes.
• ELF Downloader: An ELF Downloader is Linux malware that installs extra malicious software by exploiting the ELF executable format, often as part of a multi-stage attack.
• DLL Side: DLL Side is a technique where attackers trick programs into loading malicious DLL files, bypassing security and gaining unauthorized access or control.