# CVE-2023-38950: ZKTeco BioTime Path Traversal

> Unauthenticated attackers can read arbitrary files via path traversal in the iclock API of ZKTeco BioTime.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 19 May 2025 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 9 Jul 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-27mv-5vpc-8g53

## What is CVE-2023-38950?

CVE-2023-38950 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 3 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38950?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zkteco Biotime.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-38950?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-38950 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 9 Jun 2025.

## Is CVE-2023-38950 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-38950 in the wild since at least 19 May 2025.

Public exploit code:

- ZKTeco BioTime v8.5.5 - Path Traversal (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-38950.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-38951](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38951/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-51142](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-51142/): Information disclosure in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-38949](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38949/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-38952](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38952/): Missing authorization in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2024-13966](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-13966/): ZKTeco BioTime default password (medium 6.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-38950 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-38950 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 3 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-38950 in the wild since at least 19 May 2025.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38950/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38950/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38950
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38950
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38950

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38950/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.