CVE-2026-103903

MikroTik RouterOS WinBox split-principal authentication bypass allows privilege escalation

Published Oct 12, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.7 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
An incorrect authorization vulnerability in the WinBox
authentication flow of MikroTik RouterOS allows a remote authenticated attacker
with credentials for a low-privilege account permitted to use WinBox to obtain
the authorization policy of a different existing account. The stage-one EC-SRP
challenge and proof are verified using the attacker's account, while the
independently supplied stage-two username is used to install the target
account's privileges. By specifying a higher-privilege account such as admin, a
low-privilege user can obtain a full administrative session without knowing the
target account's password and can use that session to increase the privileges
of the attacker's own account.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade to RouterOS 7.24.5 stable, 7.25rc1 testing, or a later vendor release containing the fix.


Vendor Workaround

Until upgrade, restrict the WinBox service to trusted management addresses, remove the winbox policy from low-privilege accounts, or disable WinBox. These measures reduce reachability but do not replace the fix.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Mikrotik
Mikrotik routeros
Vendors & Products Mikrotik
Mikrotik routeros
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description An incorrect authorization vulnerability in the WinBox authentication flow of MikroTik RouterOS allows a remote authenticated attacker with credentials for a low-privilege account permitted to use WinBox to obtain the authorization policy of a different existing account. The stage-one EC-SRP challenge and proof are verified using the attacker's account, while the independently supplied stage-two username is used to install the target account's privileges. By specifying a higher-privilege account such as admin, a low-privilege user can obtain a full administrative session without knowing the target account's password and can use that session to increase the privileges of the attacker's own account.
Title MikroTik RouterOS WinBox split-principal authentication bypass allows privilege escalation
Weaknesses CWE-863
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
ENISA
Published
Updated
Oct 13, 2026, 11:57 AM
Reserved
Oct 1, 2026, 2:12 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Oct 12, 2026, 11:17 AM
Modified
Oct 16, 2026, 5:25 PM