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

> Remote unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary code via a buffer overflow in the SMB service of MikroTik RouterOS devices.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 8 Sep 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Mar 2018
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v596-x9hf-63gj

## What is CVE-2018-7445?

CVE-2018-7445 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Mikrotik Routeros, published on 19 Mar 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-7445?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mikrotik Routeros.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-7445?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-7445 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 29 Sep 2022.

## Is CVE-2018-7445 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-7445 in the wild since at least 8 Sep 2022.

Public exploit code:

- MikroTik RouterOS < 6.41.3/6.42rc27 - SMB Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Mikrotik Routeros

- [CVE-2026-86060](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-86060/): MikroTik RouterOS Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command (critical 9.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-14847](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14847/): MikroTik Router OS Directory Traversal (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-67277](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-67277/): MikroTik RouterOS Missing Authentication for Critical Function (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-67279](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-67279/): Mikrotik RouterOS Improper Enforcement of Behavioral Workflow (medium 6.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-20149](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-20149/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-7445 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-7445 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Mikrotik Routeros, published on 19 Mar 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2018-7445 in the wild since at least 8 Sep 2022.

Affected product: Mikrotik Routeros. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7445/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7445/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-7445
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-7445
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-7445

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7445/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.