---
id: "CVE-2016-20104"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2016-20104"]
title: "EyeLock nano NXT: unauthenticated path traversal reads arbitrary local files"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.7
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "EyeLock nano NXT", "fixed": [], "affected": "firmware 3.01.646, 3.03.944, 3.04.1108, 3.05.1193", "ecosystem": "hardware"}]
ecosystems: []
tags: ["embedded", "eyelock", "infrastructure", "iris-authentication", "path-traversal", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["firmware-newer-than-3.05.1193", "not-nano-nxt"]
published_at: "2026-10-20T21:17:14+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:21+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-24T00:11:30+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-20104", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:21+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-10-24T00:11:30+00:00"}]
---

# EyeLock nano NXT: unauthenticated path traversal reads arbitrary local files

EyeLock nano NXT iris-recognition devices expose a PHP log download script whose path parameter is passed unchecked to readfile(). An unauthenticated remote attacker can read any file on the device, such as /etc/passwd.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- hardware:EyeLock nano NXT affected firmware 3.01.646, 3.03.944, 3.04.1108, 3.05.1193 fixed ?

## How to check

Check whether the device's web interface is reachable and firmware is 3.01.646, 3.03.944, 3.04.1108 or 3.05.1193. Test: GET /scripts/logdownload.php?path=../../etc/passwd; if it returns file contents the device is vulnerable. Also check whether it is exposed to the internet.

## Fix

No patched firmware published in the sources; unknown. Contact EyeLock for a newer build. Meanwhile, remove internet exposure, restrict the web interface to a management VLAN or firewall, and block /scripts/logdownload.php at a proxy.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:21+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-20104
- 2026-10-24T00:11:30+00:00 analyst — CVE record + Exploit-DB 40227 (public PoC, 2016): logdownload.php path traversal; Shadowserver saw exploitation 2023-10-19. No vendor advisory or fixed firmware found; did not search social posts (old device, low chatter assumed).

## Documents

- [advisory] CVE Record: CVE-2016-20104 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-20104
- [poc] EyeLock nano NXT 3.5 - Local File Disclosure (LiquidWorm, 2016-08-10) https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40227

## From the sources

EyeLock nano NXT 3.05.1193, 3.04.1108, 3.03.944, and 3.01.646 contain a path traversal vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files via the 'path' parameter. Attackers can send GET requests to /scripts/logdownload.php with traversal sequences like ../../etc/passwd, which readfile() returns unvalidated, disclosing local system files. Exploitation evidence was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2023-10-19.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_