CVE-2018-7445
CVE-2018-7445 is a security flaw in MikroTik RouterOS, the operating system on MikroTik’s routers. Attackers can run their own code on MikroTik RouterOS from anywhere, without logging in. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 8 Sep 2022.[1]
MikroTik RouterOS is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. MikroTik has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a stack-based buffer overflow in MikroTik RouterOS. In its words: “In MikroTik RouterOS, a stack-based buffer overflow occurs when processing NetBIOS session request messages. Remote attackers with access to the service can exploit this vulnerability and gain code execution on the system.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “A buffer overflow was found in the MikroTik RouterOS SMB service when processing NetBIOS session request messages. Remote attackers with access to the service can exploit this vulnerability and gain code execution on the system. The overflow occurs before authentication takes place, so it is possible for an unauthenticated remote attacker to exploit it. All architectures and all devices running RouterOS before versions 6.41.3/6.42rc27 are vulnerable.”[2]
The underlying weakness is memory buffer error (CWE-119), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; MikroTik’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as MikroTik RouterOS.
Most families won’t have MikroTik RouterOS; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 8 Sep 2022, 1,634 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 29 Sep 2022 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 66%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
MikroTik has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.MikroTik RouterOS is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 29 Sep 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 66%.[4] |
See also
Other MikroTik RouterOS flaws
- CVE-2026-67279: improper enforcement of behavioral workflow ·
- CVE-2026-86060: improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command ·
- CVE-2026-67277: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2018-14847: router OS directory traversal ·
Other memory buffer error flaws
- CVE-2026-88779, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88772, Citrix NetScaler: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2026-88771, Citrix NetScaler: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-8452, Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway: improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer ·
- CVE-2009-3459, Adobe Acrobat and Reader: heap-based buffer overflow ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-3075, Chrome and other Chromium browsers: insufficient data validation ·
- CVE-2022-27593, QNAP Photo Station: externally controlled reference ·
- CVE-2022-26258, D-Link DIR-820L: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2020-9934, Apple iOS, iPadOS, and macOS: input validation ·
- CVE-2018-6530, D-Link Multiple Routers: OS command injection ·
Every MikroTik flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in September 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “MikroTik RouterOS Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 8 Sep 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2018-7445 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 19 Mar 2018.
- ^ MikroTik. Advisories and fixes: coresecurity.com, mikrotik.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.658, percentile 99.3, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2018-7445”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.