MikroTik RouterOS's Argument Injection in a Command-Processing Component Allows Unauthenticated Attackers to Execute Arbitrary Commands on the Router; CISA's September 13th KEV Deadline Has Passed

Last refreshed2026-09-27

Status: KEV | Advisory ID: CVE-2026-86060

Key Details

CVE	CVE-2026-86060
Vulnerability Name	MikroTik RouterOS Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command Vulnerability
CVSS Score / Version	9.8 (Critical) / CVSS v3.1
Updated	2026-09-20
CVSS Vector	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
CVSS Prose	attack vector is network; attack complexity is low; privileges required is none; user interaction is none; scope is unchanged; confidentiality impact is high; integrity impact is high; availability impact is high.
Affected products	MikroTik RouterOS
Exploitation status	Listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating confirmed active exploitation.
Classified as	CWE-88 (Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection'))
KEV listing	Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on 2026-09-10.
Exploitation prediction (EPSS)	1.85% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days (78% percentile) -- FIRST.org's EPSS model.
Federal remediation deadline	2026-09-13 (CISA KEV, Binding Operational Directive).

Affected Products, Subsystems & Sectors

Vendor	Product	Affected Versions	Patch Status
MikroTik	RouterOS

Vendor

Product

Affected Versions

Patch Status

MikroTik

RouterOS

Subsystems	Industrial Network - Routers/Firewalls
Sectors	Multi-sector

What to Know

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)

What to Do

Monitor MikroTik's web page for any future patch releases. See vendor advisory link below.

References

Source	Reference
NVD	https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86060
CVE	https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-86060
Vendor advisory	https://mikrotik.com/supportsec/september-2026-vulnerability/

Source

Reference

NVD

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-86060

CVE

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-86060

Vendor advisory

https://mikrotik.com/supportsec/september-2026-vulnerability/

KEV Required Action

Field	Value
KEV Link	https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
Date Added to KEV	2026-09-10
Required Action Due Date	2026-09-13
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.

Field

Value

KEV Link

https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog

Date Added to KEV

2026-09-10

Required Action Due Date

2026-09-13

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.