S0167: Matryoshka
Matryoshka is a malware framework used by CopyKittens that consists of a dropper, loader, and RAT. It has multiple versions; v1 was seen in the wild from July 2016 until January 2017. v2 has fewer commands and other minor differences. [1] [2]
Security context for executives and security teams
S0167: Matryoshka describes [Matryoshka](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0167) is a malware framework used by [CopyKittens](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0052) that consists of a dropper, loader, and RAT. It has multiple versions; v1 was seen in the wild from July 2016 until January 2017. v2 has fewer commands and other minor differences. (Citation: ClearSky Wilted Tulip July 2017) (Citation: CopyKittens Nov 2015)
Executive priority
S0167: Matryoshka is an official MITRE ATT&CK software. Glexia treats it as defensive behavior context for prioritizing monitoring, control validation, and response planning without using the object by itself as an attribution claim.
Technical view
Security teams should validate S0167: Matryoshka by reviewing the official ATT&CK relationships, mapped tactics (the mapped ATT&CK tactic context), supported platforms (Windows), and available local telemetry before making detection or mitigation decisions.
Likely telemetry
- Official ATT&CK relationships and object metadata
- Network, endpoint, and security-tool telemetry
Detection direction
- Validate whether S0167: Matryoshka appears in your detection coverage and tabletop scenarios.
- Use the object to align executive risk language with SOC, incident response, and detection engineering work.
- Do not treat ATT&CK relationship context as attribution without corroborating evidence.
Mitigation priorities
- Map the object to existing controls and identify missing telemetry or response ownership.
- Prioritize mitigations that reduce exposure on the listed platforms and tactics.
- Review adjacent ATT&CK relationships before changing policy, detections, or reporting language.
Additional notes and limits
Baseline Glexia take generated from the official MITRE ATT&CK STIX object, source hash, tactics, platforms, and detection fields. It is safe to replace with a richer model-generated take for the same source hash later.
This baseline take is source-grounded and schema-validated, but it does not include environment-specific telemetry, incident evidence, or threat-intelligence corroboration.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Matryoshka
Matryoshka is a malware framework used by CopyKittens that consists of a dropper, loader, and RAT. It has multiple versions; v1 was seen in the wild from July 2016 until January 2017. v2 has fewer commands and other minor differences. [1] [2]
How security teams should use this page
Treat this object as behavior context, not an attribution claim. Validate the related groups, software, data sources, and mitigations against official ATT&CK relationships and your own telemetry before making control-coverage decisions.
Techniques used
This mirrors the MITRE pattern of making group, software, campaign, and technique relationships scannable. Relationship notes come from mirrored ATT&CK relationship text when available.
| Domain | ID | Name | Relationship / procedure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | T1056.001 | KeyloggingSub-technique | Matryoshka is capable of keylogging.[1][2] |
| Enterprise | T1059 | Command and Scripting Interpreter | Matryoshka is capable of providing Meterpreter shell access.[1] |
| Enterprise | T1547.001 | Registry Run Keys / Startup FolderSub-technique | Matryoshka can establish persistence by adding Registry Run keys.[1][2] |
| Enterprise | T1055.001 | Dynamic-link Library InjectionSub-technique | Matryoshka uses reflective DLL injection to inject the malicious library and execute the RAT.[2] |
| Enterprise | T1555 | Credentials from Password Stores | Matryoshka is capable of stealing Outlook passwords.[1][2] |
| Enterprise | T1027 | Obfuscated Files or Information | Matryoshka obfuscates API function names using a substitute cipher combined with Base64 encoding.[2] |
| Enterprise | T1113 | Screen Capture | Matryoshka is capable of performing screen captures.[1][2] |
| Enterprise | T1071.004 | DNSSub-technique | Matryoshka uses DNS for C2.[1][2] |
| Enterprise | T1218.011 | Rundll32Sub-technique | Matryoshka uses rundll32.exe in a Registry Run key value for execution as part of its persistence mechanism.[2] |
| Enterprise | T1053.005 | Scheduled TaskSub-technique | Matryoshka can establish persistence by adding a Scheduled Task named "Microsoft Boost Kernel Optimization".[1][2] |
Groups, software, and campaigns
G0052: CopyKittens
CopyKittens is an Iranian cyber espionage group that has been operating since at least 2013. It has targeted countries including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the U.S., Jordan, and Germany. The group is responsible for the campaign known as Operation Wilted Tulip.[1][2][3]
All related ATT&CK context
Object version and sync metadata
The fields below describe the current mirrored snapshot. When Glexia retains multiple ATT&CK source imports, you can open the table to compare the same object across releases (hashes and MITRE timestamps). For MITRE’s own release notes and roadmap, see ATT&CK resources — Updates.
Imported snapshots across ATT&CK releases(2)
| Release | Bundle imported | Object version | Modified | Status | Raw hash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.2 | 2.0 | Current bundle | 05ec7c49a5d6… | ||
| 19.1 | 2.0 | Older bundle | 05ec7c49a5d6… |
Mirrored ATT&CK source object
The raw object is retained through the mirrored ATT&CK source bundle and object hash. The raw endpoint returns the exact object from the mirrored bundle when available.
External references and citations
MITRE external references are preserved separately from Glexia analysis so citations remain traceable to their original source records.
- [1]ClearSky Wilted Tulip July 2017
ClearSky Cyber Security and Trend Micro. (2017, July). Operation Wilted Tulip: Exposing a cyber espionage apparatus. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
- [2]CopyKittens Nov 2015
Minerva Labs LTD and ClearSky Cyber Security. (2015, November 23). CopyKittens Attack Group. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
Open source URL - [3]Matryoshka
(Citation: ClearSky Wilted Tulip July 2017)
- [4]mitre-attackS0167Open source URL
Source: MITRE ATT&CK®. © 2026 The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation. MITRE ATT&CK and ATT&CK are registered trademarks of The MITRE Corporation. Glexia is not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE.