# Idov31/Nidhogg

Windows rootkit for Intel x64 with 25+ features, demonstrating rootkit techniques compatible with all Windows 10 and Windows 11 versions.

Repository: https://github.com/Idov31/Nidhogg
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/nidhogg
Homepage: https://idov31.github.io/posts/lord-of-the-ring0-p1
Language: C++
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: cpp, cybersecurity, infosec, kernel, red-team, redteam, rootkit, windows, windows-rootkits, cyber-security, driver
Last push: 2026-06-26T10:50:49+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 83/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 89, release rhythm 66, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 1557, "days_push": 68, "days_rel": 68, "gap_med": 132.5, "n_releases_24m": 3}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2463, forks 361 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:53.537230+00:00)

## What it is
Nidhogg is an open-source Windows x64 kernel rootkit written in C++ that demonstrates a wide range of rootkit techniques such as process, thread, file, registry, and port hiding, kernel callback manipulation, AMSI/ETW patching, and shellcode/DLL injection. It consists of a kernel driver and a user-mode C++ controller, compatible with all Windows 10 and 11 versions and designed for red team operations and security research.

## Use cases
- hide processes and threads from user-mode tools on windows
- bypass AMSI and ETW during red team operations
- inject shellcode or DLLs via APC or NtCreateThreadEx
- remove or restore kernel callbacks to evade EDR
- dump credentials from kernel space
- learn windows kernel rootkit techniques
- protect files and registry keys from deletion
- reflectively load a kernel driver with kdmapper

## When to choose
- you need an all-in-one, well-documented windows rootkit for red team engagements
- you are researching or teaching windows kernel rootkit techniques
- you want a kernel driver that integrates with your C2 framework
- you need to test EDR/AV detection against kernel-level evasion

## When to avoid
- you need a defensive or production security tool
- you cannot tolerate blue screens or system instability
- you need support for 32-bit or non-Windows platforms
- your use case requires stealth from PatchGuard when registering callbacks via reflective loading

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: active
- function: security, penetration-testing, reverse-engineering
- domain: security, penetration-testing, operating-systems, windows
- platform: windows, cpp
- tags: rootkit, kernel-driver, red-team, windows-kernel, offensive-security, edr-evasion, credential-dumping, process-hiding

## Member repositories
- Idov31/Nidhogg (main) score 83

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:53.537230+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:29:16.658671+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/Idov31/Nidhogg (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:53.537230+00:00, sha 50a7d9e453a7)
  - homepage: https://idov31.github.io/posts/lord-of-the-ring0-p1 (fetched 2026-08-29T10:10:47.133436+00:00, sha 59ad8f9e8e99)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.