CVE-2016-20028 in ZKBioSecurity
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2026
ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 contains a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that allows attackers to perform administrative actions by tricking logged-in users into visiting malicious websites. Attackers can craft HTTP requests that add superadmin accounts without validity checks, enabling unauthorized administrative access when authenticated users visit attacker-controlled pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-20028 affects ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 software, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that undermines the security posture of biometric access control systems. This vulnerability resides within the web-based administrative interface of the ZKBioSecurity platform, which is widely deployed in enterprise environments for managing access control and authentication systems. The flaw specifically manifests in the absence of proper request validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to exploit the trust relationship between authenticated users and the application's administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement anti-CSRF tokens or other validation mechanisms for administrative operations. When authenticated users navigate to malicious websites or click on compromised links, the application processes HTTP requests without verifying their origin or authenticity. This allows attackers to construct specially crafted requests that target administrative functions such as account creation, privilege modification, or system configuration changes. The vulnerability specifically enables the addition of superadmin accounts without proper validation checks, bypassing the normal authentication and authorization procedures that should protect administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the access control system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can establish persistent administrative access to the ZKBioSecurity platform, potentially gaining control over all connected biometric devices and access control points. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on these systems for physical security, as unauthorized individuals could manipulate access permissions, create new user accounts, or disable security features. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire access control infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to gain physical access to secured facilities or compromise sensitive data stored within the system.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of the ZKBioSecurity 3.0 software to the latest version that includes CSRF protection mechanisms. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the administrative interfaces, limiting exposure to external threats. Implementing proper input validation and anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the web application is essential for preventing unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as the attack requires social engineering to trick users into visiting malicious sites. Organizations should also establish regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other security systems, ensuring comprehensive protection against credential theft and unauthorized administrative access.