CVE-2000-1069 in Poll It
Summary
by MITRE
pollit.cgi in Poll It 2.01 and earlier allows remote attackers to access administrative functions without knowing the real password by specifying the same value to the entered_password and admin_password parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-1069 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in the pollit.cgi script of Poll It 2.01 and earlier versions. This issue stems from a fundamental design flaw in the password validation mechanism where the application fails to properly verify administrative credentials. The vulnerability occurs when an attacker can manipulate the entered_password and admin_password parameters to be identical, thereby gaining unauthorized access to administrative functions without possessing the legitimate administrative password. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and improper input validation.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient authentication checks within web applications. The pollit.cgi script appears to validate administrative access by comparing the provided password against a stored value, but due to improper parameter handling, it accepts any value when both parameters are set to the same string. This creates a scenario where an attacker can bypass the authentication process entirely by simply submitting identical values for both password fields. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it eliminates the need for legitimate password knowledge, effectively creating a backdoor into the administrative interface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using Poll It 2.01 or earlier versions. Attackers can gain full administrative control over the polling system, potentially allowing them to manipulate poll results, modify system configurations, delete data, or even inject malicious code into the application. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire polling infrastructure. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the issue of broken authentication and session management. The flaw also aligns with CWE-287, which describes improper handling of authentication credentials, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through simple parameter manipulation techniques. Attackers can leverage standard web application penetration testing tools to identify and exploit this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such tools are readily available. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions of the Poll It application indicates a systemic issue in the software's security implementation that was not adequately addressed through patching or code review processes. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including software updates, parameter validation enhancements, and access control restrictions. The recommended approach involves ensuring that administrative functions require proper authentication mechanisms with strong password validation and implementing proper input sanitization to prevent parameter manipulation attacks. Additionally, this vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security testing and code review processes to identify authentication bypass opportunities before deployment in production environments.