After the was rolled out (v7.14+), this specific vector failed—but attackers have already moved to encrypted backup payloads.
One of the most notorious vulnerabilities in MikroTik’s history is CVE‑2018‑14847. This flaw allowed an to read arbitrary files from the router, including the user database ( user.dat ), by exploiting a directory traversal in the Winbox interface. Because RouterOS did not use standard encryption for passwords—instead, passwords were obfuscated with a simple XOR operation—attackers could easily decrypt the credentials. mikrotik backup patched
Ensure a hidden proxy hasn't been enabled in /ip socks . After the was rolled out (v7
Never store backups solely on the router ( /files ). Move them immediately to a secure, remote location. Because RouterOS did not use standard encryption for
For network administrators, backing up a MikroTik router’s configuration is second nature. However, what many don’t realize is that a patched device can still be exploited through its own backup files. If your backup process hasn’t been updated to reflect modern security standards, you might be unknowingly handing attackers the keys to your entire network.
He names backups with the RouterOS version (e.g., Backup_v7.12_Stable ).
Instead of just .backup files (which are binary), use the /export command. export file=my_config creates a readable script.