RouterOS: Improper Access Control
CVE-2025-6443 is a high-severity improper access control vulnerability in RouterOS from MikroTik, with a CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected RouterOS versions: 7.15.3, 7.16.2. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.57% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of RouterOS you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- LowSome restricted data can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. Scored by CNA (trendmicro.com).
Official description
Mikrotik RouterOS VXLAN Source IP Improper Access Control Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass access restrictions on affected installations of Mikrotik RouterOS. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the handling of remote IP addresses when processing VXLAN traffic. The issue results from the lack of validation of the remote IP address against configured values prior to allowing ingress traffic into the internal network. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to gain access to internal network resources. Was ZDI-CAN-26415.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized 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.
- Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-424/Third 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 Access Control vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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