Known exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV

CVE-2018-7445: MikroTik RouterOS Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

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.

CVE-2018-7445

Exploited in the wild. Fix this first.

CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-09-08: attackers are using it right now.

CISA KEV: Listed; Added 2022-09-08 · federal fix-by 2022-09-29
EPSS (30 days): 66%; Higher than 99.3% of CVEs · 2026-11-01
CVSS v3.1: 9.8 Critical; CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

What CISA says

MikroTik RouterOS Stack-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

NVD description · published 2018-03-19

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.

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How to check if you are exposed to CVE-2018-7445

Find every MikroTik RouterOS system you or your clients run, including ones exposed to the internet. Those come first: CISA only lists flaws attackers are already using.
Compare each version with the fixed versions in the vendor advisory below. Where no fix exists yet, apply the vendor’s mitigation or take the system off the internet.
Run a credentialed vulnerability scan to catch the systems you missed, then check that the next scan no longer reports CVE-2018-7445.

US federal agencies had to fix this by 2022-09-29. Everyone else should treat that deadline as a guide: if it has passed, this is overdue.

Affected versions

Versions the National Vulnerability Database lists as vulnerable to CVE-2018-7445. Check the vendor advisory for the exact fixed builds before you sign anything off.

Product	Vulnerable versions
MikroTik Routeros	before 6.41.3; 6.42-rc11; 6.42-rc12; 6.42-rc14; 6.42-rc15; 6.42-rc18 and 7 more

Timeline

2018-03-19 · Published in the National Vulnerability Database
2022-09-08 · Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, 1,634 days after it was published
2022-09-29 · Fix-by date for US federal agencies, passed 1,494 days ago

Vendor advisories and fixes

Weakness type

CWE-119

More exploited MikroTik vulnerabilities

CISA lists 5 exploited MikroTik vulnerabilities. The closest matches:

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Sources: CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog (version 2026.10.30); EPSS data from FIRST.org; CVSS and descriptions from the NIST National Vulnerability Database. Checked 2026-11-01. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.