CVE-2006-5716: Directory traversal vulnerability in aff_news.php in FreeNews 2.1 allows remote attackers to include local fil

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MEDIUM 5.0DOWNGRADE

CVE-2006-5716 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting freenews. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Directory traversal vulnerability in aff_news.php in FreeNews 2.1 allows remote attackers to include local files via a .. (dot dot) sequence in the chemin parameter, when the aff_news parameter is not set to "1."

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	2.9% (top 13%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2006-11-04
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: freenews

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2006-11-04 01:07 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:31 UTCUpdated Record last modified

freenews freenews DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.1

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison freenews sudo apt install freenews=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.1> sudo apt-mark hold freenews

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

dnf --showduplicates list freenews sudo dnf downgrade freenews-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.1> sudo dnf versionlock add freenews

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.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Freenews 1.1 - 'Aff_News.php' Remote File Inclusion

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-2006-5716?

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

Is CVE-2006-5716 being exploited?

CVE-2006-5716 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-2006-5716 affect?

CVE-2006-5716 affects freenews. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). Directory traversal vulnerability in aff_news.php in FreeNews 2.1 allows remote attackers to include local files via a .. (dot dot) sequence in the chemin parameter, when the aff_news parameter is not set to "1."

How urgent is CVE-2006-5716?

Priority 44/100. Public exploit reference

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2006-5226 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE PHP remote file inclusion vulnerability in moteur/moteur.php in Prologin.fr Freenews 1.1 and earlier allows re

References

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