# CVE-2016-20052: Snews CMS 1.7 Unrestricted File Upload via snews_files

> Unauthenticated attackers can upload malicious PHP files to achieve remote code execution on Snews CMS installations.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`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`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 4 Apr 2026
- **Updated:** 6 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6p9p-r3m2-r76g

## What is CVE-2016-20052?

CVE-2016-20052 is a critical vulnerability in Snewscms Snews CMS upload sheller, published on 4 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Snews CMS 1.7 contains an unrestricted file upload vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to upload arbitrary files including PHP executables to the snews_files directory. Attackers can upload malicious PHP files through the multipart form-data upload endpoint and execute them by accessing the uploaded file path to achieve remote code execution.

Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-20052?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Snewscms Snews.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-20052?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-20052 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-20052 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-20052 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Snewscms Snews CMS upload sheller

- [CVE-2016-20051](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-20051/): Snews CMS 1.7 Cross-Site Request Forgery via changeup (medium 6.9)
- [CVE-2011-2706](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-2706/): Cross-site scripting in sNews (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-20052 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-20052 is a critical vulnerability in Snewscms Snews CMS upload sheller, published on 4 Apr 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-20052 exists.

Affected product: Snewscms Snews CMS upload sheller. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-20052/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-20052/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-20052
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-20052
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-20052

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-20052/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.