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Biotime CVE-2023-38952

HIGH
Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties (CWE-552)
2023-08-03 cve@mitre.org
7.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling File access restriction
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 1 tactic: 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 7.5 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 2.44%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the high-severity affected system.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 2.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Insecure access control in ZKTeco BioTime through 9.0.1 allows authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges due to the fact that session ids are not validated for the type of user accessing. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

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 under CWE-552. Insecure access control in ZKTeco BioTime through 9.0.1 allows authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges due to the fact that session ids are not validated for the type of user accessing the application by default. Privilege restrictions between non-admin and admin users are not enforced and any authenticated user can leverage admin functions without restriction by making direct requests to administrative endpoints. Affected products include: Zkteco Biotime. Version information: through 9.0.1.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.5 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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
None
Availability
None

DescriptionNVD

Insecure access control in ZKTeco BioTime through 9.0.1 allows authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges due to the fact that session ids are not validated for the type of user accessing the application by default. Privilege restrictions between non-admin and admin users are not enforced and any authenticated user can leverage admin functions without restriction by making direct requests to administrative endpoints.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
2.4%
Top 18% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
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 HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 2.4%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
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
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

60
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +2
CVSS: +38
PoC: +20
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.

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

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-2023-51142 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-2023-38951 CRITICAL
9.8 Aug 03

ZKTeco BioTime 8.5.5 through 9.x before 9.0.1 (20240617.19506) allows authenticated attackers to create or overwrite arb

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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