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CVE-2016-20024: ZKTeco ZKTime.Net: Privilege escalation

CVE-2016-20024 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

ZKTeco ZKTime.Net 3.0.1.6 contains an insecure file permissions vulnerability that allows unprivileged users to escalate privileges by modifying executable files. Attackers can exploit world-writable permissions on the ZKTimeNet3.0 directory and its contents to replace executable files with malicious binaries for privilege escalation.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-538: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory

The product places sensitive information into files or directories that are accessible to actors who are allowed to have access to the files, but not to the sensitive information.

Affected products

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