PatchTheCEVCVE-2026-86060: MikroTik RouterOS Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command Vulnerability
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CRITICAL 9.8EXPLOITEDREMOTEUPGRADE
CVE-2026-86060 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting routeros, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
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)
Why this priority
- Critical severity
- EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited
- Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
- Public exploit reference
- CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
- Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
A fixed release or distro patch exists.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 9.8 (Critical) |
| Attack vector | Network (remote) |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges needed | None |
| User interaction | None |
| EPSS exploit chance | 6.4% (top 6%) |
| CISA exploited list | Yes, fix due 2026-09-13 |
| Weakness | CWE-88 |
| Published | 2026-09-05 |
| Last modified | 2026-09-11 |
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
- Updated Record last modified
- Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
mikrotik routeros UPGRADE
Affected: >= 6.0 and < 6.49.21 · >= 7.0 and < 7.23.4 · >= 7.24 and < 7.24.2
Fixed in: 6.49.21, 7.23.4, 7.24.2
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
Exact fixes by distribution
Fedora 46 · uv · FIXED · 0.13.5-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-61ea5a28c6 · source
sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-61ea5a28c6
Public exploits and detection
Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.
- GitHub PoC: digiprosec/MicroTrick (55 stars)
- GitHub PoC: gagaltotal/CVE-2026-mikrotik-poc (4 stars)
- GitHub PoC: bahirul/cve-2026-86060 (1 stars)
- Write-up: forum.mikrotik.com/t/7-24-2-stable-is-released/272800
- Exploit-DB: MikroTrick_ 7.24_ 7.24.2_ 7.0.0_ 7.23.4_ 6.0.0_ 6.49.21 - RCE
Advisories and coverage
Official advisories
- CERT Polska: MikroTrick: technical analysis, disclosure process, and the use of LLM agents 2026-09-22
- CERT Polska: Vulnerabilities in Mikrotik RouterOS software 2026-09-05
Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.
Related CVEs
- CVE-2026-67279 MEDIUM 6.5 EXPLOITED UPGRADE Mikrotik RouterOS Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Workflow Vulnerability
- CVE-2026-67277 HIGH 8.2 EXPLOITED UPGRADE MikroTik RouterOS Missing Authentication for Critical Function Vulnerability