CVE-2016-20023Network attack vector

Arbitrary file read via unchecked absolute path

Published Dec 5, 2025 · Updated Dec 5, 2025

Path traversal in CKSource CKFinder for ASP.NET before 2.5.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary server files. The ASP.NET connector's built-in DownloadFile command accepts an absolute file path without sufficient checks, escaping configured storage roots. A valid CKFinder session and knowledge of the target path are required, and readable files must have an allowed extension or no extension.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in CKSource CKFinder for ASP.NET before 2.5.0.1 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary server files. The ASP.NET connector's built-in DownloadFile command accepts an absolute file path without sufficient checks, escaping configured storage roots. A valid CKFinder session and knowledge of the target path are required, and readable files must have an allowed extension or no extension.

The record

CVE
CVE-2016-20023
Published
Dec 5, 2025
Updated
Dec 5, 2025
Vendor
CKSource
Product
CKFinder
Classifications
CWE-23, CWE-22, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 5, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 5, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2 <2.5.0.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

CKSource · CKFinderversion=2 <2.5.0.1

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.0MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-23Relative Path Traversal
CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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