Unauthenticated arbitrary file read via iclock path traversal
Published Aug 3, 2023 · Updated Jul 9, 2026
Path traversal in the iclock API of ZKTeco BioTime 8.5.5 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary server files through crafted requests. The /iclock/file endpoint accepts ../ sequences in its url parameter and resolves the resulting path outside the intended directory. No authentication or user interaction is required, and exposed configuration files can disclose database credentials.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in the iclock API of ZKTeco BioTime 8.5.5 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary server files through crafted requests. The /iclock/file endpoint accepts ../ sequences in its url parameter and resolves the resulting path outside the intended directory. No authentication or user interaction is required, and exposed configuration files can disclose database credentials.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-38950
- Published
- Aug 3, 2023
- Updated
- Jul 9, 2026
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-22, T1190, T1005
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 14, 2024Exploitation reportedFortiGuard-observed exploitation of BIOTIME-1
- Jul 9, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Published CVSS scores
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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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- ZKBioTime directory traversal PoCfunctional · observed in use
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Reported exploitation
- FortiGuard-observed exploitation of BIOTIME-1reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listingknown exploited catalog
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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