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Biotime CVE-2023-38951

CRITICAL
Path Traversal (CWE-22)
2023-08-03 cve@mitre.org
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. EPSS exploitation probability: 3.20%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could access files and directories outside the intended path by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
No patch listed yet 3.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

ZKTeco BioTime 8.5.5 through 9.x before 9.0.1 (20240617.19506) allows authenticated attackers to create or overwrite arbitrary files on the server via crafted requests to /base/sftpsetting/ endpoints. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Validate and canonicalize file paths. Use chroot or sandboxing. Reject input containing path separators or '../' sequences.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Path Traversal (CWE-22), which allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended path. ZKTeco BioTime 8.5.5 through 9.x before 9.0.1 (20240617.19506) allows authenticated attackers to create or overwrite arbitrary files on the server via crafted requests to /base/sftpsetting/ endpoints that abuse a path traversal issue in the Username field and a lack of input sanitization on the SSH Key field. Overwriting specific files may lead to arbitrary code execution as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. Affected products include: Zkteco Biotime. Version information: through 9..

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

ZKTeco BioTime 8.5.5 through 9.x before 9.0.1 (20240617.19506) allows authenticated attackers to create or overwrite arbitrary files on the server via crafted requests to /base/sftpsetting/ endpoints that abuse a path traversal issue in the Username field and a lack of input sanitization on the SSH Key field. Overwriting specific files may lead to arbitrary code execution as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
3.2%
Top 13% exploitable
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 3.2%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

52
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +3
CVSS: +49
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:zkteco:biotime:8.5.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2023-38950 HIGH POC
7.5 Aug 03

A path traversal vulnerability in the iclock API of ZKTeco BioTime v8.5.5 allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbit

CVE-2023-38952 HIGH POC
7.5 Aug 03

Insecure access control in ZKTeco BioTime through 9.0.1 allows authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges due

CVE-2023-51142 HIGH POC
7.5 Apr 11

An issue in ZKTeco BioTime v.8.5.4 and before allows a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information. Rated high sever

CVE-2022-38803 MEDIUM POC
6.8 Nov 30

Zkteco BioTime < 8.5.3 Build:20200816.447 is vulnerable to Incorrect Access Control via Leave, overtime, Manual log. Rat

CVE-2023-51141 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Apr 11

An issue in ZKTeko BioTime v.8.5.4 and before allows a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information via the Authentic

CVE-2022-38802 MEDIUM POC
6.2 Nov 30

Zkteco BioTime < 8.5.3 Build:20200816.447 is vulnerable to Incorrect Access Control via resign, private message, manual

CVE-2024-6523 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Jul 05

A vulnerability was found in ZKTeco BioTime up to 9.5.2. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.3), this vulnerability is remotel

CVE-2022-30515 MEDIUM POC
5.3 Nov 08

ZKTeco BioTime 8.5.4 is missing authentication on folders containing employee photos, allowing an attacker to view them

CVE-2023-38949 HIGH
7.5 Aug 03

An issue in a hidden API in ZKTeco BioTime v8.5.5 allows unauthenticated attackers to arbitrarily reset the Administrato

CVE-2026-108798 MEDIUM
6.9 Oct 12

Hard-coded cryptographic keys shipped inside ZKTeco BioTime 9.5.6 Build 20260130.3206 can be recovered by anyone with ac

CVE-2022-38801 MEDIUM
5.4 Nov 30

In Zkteco BioTime < 8.5.3 Build:20200816.447, an employee can hijack an administrator session and cookies using blind cr

CVE-2026-108797 MEDIUM
5.3 Oct 12

Authorization bypass in ZKTeco BioTime 9.5.6 Build 20260130.3206 allows an authenticated low-privilege user to read pers

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