IRONSMITHINTEL
CRITICALCVSS9.1
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2018-14847|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

MikroTik Router OS Directory Traversal Vulnerability

MikroTik RouterOS through 6.42 allows unauthenticated remote attackers to read arbitrary files and remote authenticated attackers to write arbitrary files due to a directory traversal vulnerability in the WinBox interface.

Published Aug 2, 2018 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2022-06-01 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Path Traversal (CWE-22) vulnerability in MikroTik RouterOS. Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and no user interaction required.

📧

Phishing link

🖼

Malicious file

🔓

Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

IT Security
Running routeros: v ≤ 6.42
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

Active exploitation documented in the wild. Threat-research write-up: https://github.com/BasuCert/WinboxPoC

How to patch

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Vendor Patch

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog — apply the vendor's security update as soon as possible.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

References

    1
    Vendor advisory: https://mikrotik.com/supportsec/winbox-vulnerability
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14847
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-14847
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