---
id: "CVE-2018-14847"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2018-14847"]
title: "MikroTik RouterOS: MikroTik Router OS Directory Traversal Vulnerability"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.1
epss: 0.95981
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "MikroTik RouterOS", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "infrastructure", "mikrotik", "routeros", "self-hosted", "winbox"]
not_affected_if: ["patched-routeros", "winbox-not-exposed"]
published_at: "2018-08-02T07:29:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2018-14847", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2018-14847", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14847", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# MikroTik RouterOS: MikroTik Router OS Directory Traversal Vulnerability

MikroTik RouterOS through 6.42 has a directory traversal flaw in its WinBox management interface. An unauthenticated remote attacker can read arbitrary files on the router, and an authenticated attacker can write arbitrary files.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:MikroTik RouterOS affected ? fixed ?

## How to check

Check the RouterOS version under System > Packages or with /system resource print; versions through 6.42 are affected.
Check whether WinBox (TCP 8291) is reachable from the internet.

## Fix

Upgrade RouterOS to a release later than 6.42 per the vendor instructions.
Restrict WinBox access to trusted management networks until patched.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2018-14847
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2018-14847
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14847

## From the sources

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.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_