CVE-2023-38950
CVE-2023-38950 is a security flaw in ZKTeco BioTime. Attackers can read files on ZKTeco BioTime that should be out of reach from anywhere, without logging in. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 19 May 2025.[1]
ZKTeco BioTime is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. ZKTeco has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a path traversal in ZKTeco BioTime. In its words: “ZKTeco BioTime contains a path traversal vulnerability in the iclock API that allows an unauthenticated attacker to read arbitrary files via supplying a crafted payload.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “A path traversal vulnerability in the iclock API of ZKTeco BioTime v8.5.5 allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files via supplying a crafted payload. This vulnerability was fixed in version 9.0.120240617.19506 of ZKBioTime.”[2]
The underlying weakness is path traversal (CWE-22), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 7.5 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; ZKTeco’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as ZKTeco BioTime.
Most families won’t have ZKTeco BioTime; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 19 May 2025, 655 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 9 Jun 2025 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 92%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
ZKTeco has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.ZKTeco BioTime is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 9 Jun 2025 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.5.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 92%.[4] |
See also
Other path traversal flaws
- CVE-2025-61624, Fortinet products: path traversal ·
- CVE-2021-3199, ONLYOFFICE Docs: server path traversal ·
- CVE-2026-104286, Fortinet FortiMail: path traversal ·
- CVE-2026-93616, Check Point products: path traversal ·
- CVE-2026-66384, JFrog Artifactory: improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2025-4428, Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM): code injection ·
- CVE-2025-4427, Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM): authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2025-27920, Srimax Output Messenger: directory traversal ·
- CVE-2024-27443, Synacor Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS): cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
- CVE-2024-11182, MDaemon Email Server: cross-site scripting (XSS) ·
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “ZKTeco BioTime Path Traversal Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 19 May 2025.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2023-38950 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 3 Aug 2023.
- ^ ZKTeco. Advisories and fixes: zkteco.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.925, percentile 99.8, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2023-38950”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.