CVE-2026-86060: MikroTik RouterOS Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command Vulnerability
Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.
Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-01 19:19 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.
What it is
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)
Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by CERT-PL, published 2026-09-05).
Weakness: CWE-88 Improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command (‘argument injection’)
How it can be exploited
Exploitable over the network with low attack complexity only when specific conditions are present needing no privileges and no user interaction. Impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high. CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA assesses exploitation as active. Automatable: yes. Technical impact: total.
- On CISA KEV since
- 2026-09-10
- US federal deadline
- 2026-09-13
- Ransomware use
- Not known
Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)
Also known as: BDU:2026-14154, EDB-52683, EUVD-2026-72029, GHSA-6425-cjxv-52gp
VEDAS cluster: VEDAS:FREYASNOW
Exploit Observer links 2 pieces of public exploit code or detection modules that name this CVE or one of its aliases.
Exploit code and modules (2)
Code that names this CVE. A repository can be a working exploit, a scanner, a fake or malware; read it before running anything.
- Exploit-DB: https://www.exploit-db.com/raw/52683
- Code repository: https://github.com/bahirul/cve-2026-86060
Vulnerability databases and vendor advisories (4)
Catalogue entries, not exploit evidence.
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2026-72029
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-6425-cjxv-52gp
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86060
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-86060
17 more references returned by Exploit Observer did not name this CVE or an alias, so they are left out.
VEDAS data as of 2026-11-01T17:12 UTC; fetched 2026-11-02.
Live scores
- EPSS
- 0.064
some chance of attack soon - VEDAS
- 0.981
strong exploit evidence - On CISA KEV
- Yes, since 2026-09-10
- Detection rule
- None yet
Thin horizontal line: the “likely” (EPSS 0.10) or “strong” (VEDAS 0.90) threshold. Shaded “no data” areas are periods when cve-scores did not publish.
Who is affected
| Product | Affected | Not affected |
|---|---|---|
| Mikrotik RouterOS | from 7.24 before 7.24.2 from 7.0.0 before 7.23.4 from 6.0.0 before 6.49.21 | Not stated |
Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.
Exploit Observer also maps it to: mikrotik routeros.
How to fix it
Fixed versions stated in the CVE record: 7.24.2, 7.23.4, 6.49.21.
CISA required action: 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.
Vendor guidance:
- https://mikrotik.com/supportsec/september-2026-vulnerability/ (vendor-advisory)
- https://forum.mikrotik.com/t/6-49-21-long-term-is-released/272802 (release-notes)
- https://forum.mikrotik.com/t/7-23-4-long-term-is-released/272801 (release-notes)
- https://forum.mikrotik.com/t/7-24-2-stable-is-released/272800 (release-notes)
How to detect it
There is no open VEDAS detection rule for this bug yet. It is listed on the detection gaps page if CISA has confirmed attacks.
References
Vendor advisories and patches
- https://mikrotik.com/supportsec/september-2026-vulnerability/ (vendor-advisory)
- https://forum.mikrotik.com/t/6-49-21-long-term-is-released/272802 (release-notes)
- https://forum.mikrotik.com/t/7-23-4-long-term-is-released/272801 (release-notes)
- https://forum.mikrotik.com/t/7-24-2-stable-is-released/272800 (release-notes)
Exploits and technical analysis
- https://cert.pl/en/posts/2026/09/mikrotik-routeros-cve (third-party-advisory)
- https://cert.pl/en/posts/2026/09/vulnerabilities-in-mikrotik-routeros-actively-exploited/ (technical-description)
- https://npratley.net/reversing-mikrotiks-silent-patch-the-routeros-7-23-4-fix-they-wouldnt-explain/ (exploit)
Government sources
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-86060 (government-resource)
Other databases
Where this comes from
This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, CISA KEV, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.