RouterOS: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2023-30799 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in RouterOS from MikroTik, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version 6.49.7 as the first without the flaw, so updating RouterOS to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.43% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 73% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update RouterOS to 6.49.7 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | NVD |
Official description
MikroTik RouterOS stable before 6.49.7 and long-term through 6.48.6 are vulnerable to a privilege escalation issue. A remote and authenticated attacker can escalate privileges from admin to super-admin on the Winbox or HTTP interface. The attacker can abuse this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- github.com/MarginResearch/FOIStedThird Party Advisory
- vulncheck.com/advisories/mikrotik-foistedThird Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in RouterOS
- 7.4 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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