CVE-2026-86060
MikroTik RouterOS Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 13 September 2026). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
RouterOS contains an argument-handling flaw in the SSH login path involving usernames that begin with a prohibited character, allowing for the trusted RouterOS policy mask to be changed, leading to privilege escalation. Exploitation requires an unauthenticated SSH session to reach the RouterOS login helper.This issue was fixed in versions: 6.49.21 (Long-term), 7.23.4 (Long-term) and 7.24.2 (Stable)
- CVSS 4.0
- 9.2 CRITICALCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/M
- EPSS
- 6.39% probability · 94th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · first 24 September 2026
- CISA KEV
- Listed 10 September 2026 · due 13 September 2026
- Weakness
- CWE-88
- Affected
- mikrotik/routeros
- Source
- cvd@cert.pl
EPSS moved from 6.4% on 2 October 2026 to 6.4% on 29 October 2026. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”.
CISA notes
Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines. https://mikrotik.com/supportsec/september-2026-vulnerability ; BOD 26-04: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; Forensics Triage Requirements: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86060
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- https://cert.pl/en/posts/2026/09/mikrotik-routeros-cveThird Party Advisory
- https://cert.pl/en/posts/2026/09/vulnerabilities-in-mikrotik-routeros-actively-exploited/Mitigation, Third Party Advisory
- https://forum.mikrotik.com/t/6-49-21-long-term-is-released/272802Release Notes
- https://forum.mikrotik.com/t/7-23-4-long-term-is-released/272801Release Notes
- https://forum.mikrotik.com/t/7-24-2-stable-is-released/272800Release Notes
- https://mikrotik.com/supportsec/september-2026-vulnerability/Vendor Advisory
- https://npratley.net/reversing-mikrotiks-silent-patch-the-routeros-7-23-4-fix-they-wouldnt-explain/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-86060US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.