The current development of three 3,5-dinitrohydroxylpyridines (2-hydroxyl-3,5-dinitropyridine, 4-hydroxyl-3,5-dinitropyridine and 4-hydroxyl-3,5-dinitropyridine-N-oxide) derived metal and nonmetal salts concerning their syntheses, crystal structures, thermochemical properties and thermokinetic behaviors as well as their effects on combustion properties of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine-composite modified doule based(RDX-CMDB) propellants was reviewed. It was founded that all lead and copper salts derived from these 3,5-dinitrohydroxylpyridine compounds present catalytic effects on the combustion of RDX-CMDB propellants, of which the lead and copper salts of 2-hydroxyl-3,5-dinitropyridine(2HDNPPb/2HDNPCu) composite catalyst is the best one. It is predicted that some candidates with better catalytic properties as burning-rate modifiers for combustion of solid propellants will be found, when more and more novel 3,5-dinitrohydroxylpyridine derivatives and their energetic salts are synthesized and their catalytic efficiencies are evaluated.