CVE-2002-0286: The GetPassword function in function.php of SiteNews 0.10 and 0.11 allows remote attackers to gain privileges

This month

HIGH 7.5DOWNGRADE

CVE-2002-0286 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting sitenews. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The GetPassword function in function.php of SiteNews 0.10 and 0.11 allows remote attackers to gain privileges and add users by providing a non-existent user name and the MD5 checksum for an empty password to add_user.php, which causes GetPassword to produce and compare a blank password for the non-existent user.

Why this priority

High severity

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	1.6% (top 25%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2002-05-31
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: sitenews

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2002-05-31 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 21:57 UTCUpdated Record last modified

sitenews sitenews DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.01_beta · 0.02_beta · 0.03_beta · 0.04_beta · 0.05_beta · 0.06_beta · 0.07_beta · 0.08_beta

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.01_beta

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy sitenews || rpm -q sitenews || sitenews --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.01_beta (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison sitenews sudo apt install sitenews=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.01_beta> sudo apt-mark hold sitenews

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list sitenews sudo dnf downgrade sitenews-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.01_beta> sudo dnf versionlock add sitenews

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2002-0286?

sitenews: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2002-0286 being exploited?

CVE-2002-0286 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2002-0286 affect?

CVE-2002-0286 affects sitenews. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). The GetPassword function in function.php of SiteNews 0.10 and 0.11 allows remote attackers to gain privileges and add users by providing a non-existent user name and the MD5 checksum for an empty password to add_user.php, which causes GetPa

How urgent is CVE-2002-0286?

Priority 45/100. High severity

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

References

← Back to latest CVEs