# CVE-2023-38951: Path traversal in n/a

> Authenticated attackers can overwrite arbitrary files via path traversal in BioTime, potentially achieving arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **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-vc5p-9c2v-8jwq

## What is CVE-2023-38951?

CVE-2023-38951 is a critical 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

ZKTeco BioTime 8.5.5 through 9.x before 9.0.1 (20240617.19506) allows authenticated attackers to create or overwrite arbitrary files on the server via crafted requests to /base/sftpsetting/ endpoints that abuse a path traversal issue in the Username field and a lack of input sanitization on the SSH Key field. Overwriting specific files may lead to arbitrary code execution as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38951?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zkteco Biotime.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-38951?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-38951 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-38951 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-38951 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-38950](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38950/): ZKTeco BioTime Path Traversal (high 7.5, exploited in the wild)
- [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-2023-38951 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-38951 is a critical 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: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-38951 exists.

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-2023-38951/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38951/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38951
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38951
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38951

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38951/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.