CVE-2026-86060: MikroTik RouterOS Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command Vulnerability
What it is
MikroTik RouterOS contains an improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command vulnerability which allows an attacker to change the trusted RouterOS policy mask, leading to privilege escalation.
What to do
Treat this as urgent. Identify every affected system, starting with anything internet-facing, and apply the vendor fix or mitigation within days. If you cannot patch quickly, isolate or disable the affected service and watch for signs of compromise.
- Priority
- Act now: Patch or mitigate internet-facing systems within days.
- Severity (CVSS)
- 9.2 critical
- CISA assessment (SSVC)
- actively exploited; attackers can automate it at scale; total control of the affected system
- Exploit probability (EPSS, 30 days)
- 6.4%, higher than 93% of all CVEs
- Added to CISA KEV
- 10 September 2026
- CISA fix-by date
- 13 September 2026 (US federal agencies; a sensible deadline for everyone)
- Ransomware use
- Not known
- Weakness
- CWE-88
References
- NIST NVD entry
- CISA KEV entry
- cert.pl/en/posts/2026/09/mikrotik-routeros-cve
- cert.pl/en/posts/2026/09/vulnerabilities-in-mikrotik-routeros-actively-exploited
- forum.mikrotik.com/t/6-49-21-long-term-is-released/272802
- forum.mikrotik.com/t/7-23-4-long-term-is-released/272801
- forum.mikrotik.com/t/7-24-2-stable-is-released/272800
- mikrotik.com/supportsec/september-2026-vulnerability/
Sources: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities · FIRST Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) · NIST National Vulnerability Database · CISA Vulnrichment (SSVC), via the CVE Program. This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Summaries are machine-written from CISA’s description; treat the vendor’s advisory as the authority for fixes.