CVE-2016-20026
ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 Hardcoded Credentials Remote Code Execution
ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 contains hardcoded credentials in the bundled Apache Tomcat server that allow unauthenticated attackers to access the manager application. Attackers can authenticate with hardcoded credentials stored in tomcat-users.xml to upload malicious WAR archives containing JSP applications and execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
9.3
ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 Hardcoded Credentials Remote Code Execution
ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 contains hardcoded credentials in the bundled Apache Tomcat server that allow unauthenticated attackers to access the manager application. Attackers can authenticate with hardcoded credentials stored in tomcat-users.xml to upload malicious WAR archives containing JSP applications and execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
- Record
CVE-2016-20026- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-798
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2016-10807
9.3
ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 contains hardcoded credentials in the bundled Apache Tomcat server that allow unauthenticated attackers to access the manager application. Attackers can authenticate with hardcoded credentials stored in tomcat-users.xml to upload malicious WAR archives containing JSP applications and execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
- Record
EUVD-2016-10807- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-69cj-f4mg-xrg8
9.3
ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 contains hardcoded credentials in the bundled Apache Tomcat server that...
ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 contains hardcoded credentials in the bundled Apache Tomcat server that allow unauthenticated attackers to access the manager application. Attackers can authenticate with hardcoded credentials stored in tomcat-users.xml to upload malicious WAR archives containing JSP applications and execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
- Record
GHSA-69cj-f4mg-xrg8- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-798
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
9.3
ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 contains hardcoded credentials in the bundled Apache Tomcat server that allow unauthenticated attackers to access the manager application. Attackers can authenticate with hardcoded credentials stored in tomcat-users.xml to upload malicious WAR archives containing JSP applications and execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
- Record
CVE-2016-20026- CVSS 4.0
- 9.3 Critical
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-798
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| facts | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2016-20026 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.3) in Zkteco Inc. Zkbiosecurity, published March 15, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.87%, the 59th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
zeroscience.mk/en/vulnerabilities/ZSL-2016-5362.php
cxsecurity.com/issue/WLB-2016080266
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/116484
packetstormsecurity.com/files/138567
exploit-db.com/exploits/40324
vulncheck.com/advisories/zkteco-zkbiosecurity-hardcoded-credentials-remote-code-execution
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-20026
github.com/advisories/GHSA-69cj-f4mg-xrg8