CVE-2002-0589 in PVote
Summary
by MITRE
PVote before 1.9 allows remote attackers to change the administrative password and gain privileges by directly calling ch_info.php with the newpass and confirm parameters both set to the new password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0589 affects PVote versions prior to 1.9, representing a critical security flaw in web application authentication mechanisms. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and improper access control within the administrative interface, specifically in the ch_info.php script that handles password modification functions. The vulnerability exists due to the application's failure to properly authenticate and authorize administrative actions, allowing any remote attacker to manipulate the password change process through direct parameter manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a design flaw in the parameter handling system where the ch_info.php script accepts user-supplied parameters without proper verification of the current administrative session or authorization status. When an attacker directly calls this script with the newpass and confirm parameters both set to the same value, the application processes this request without validating whether the caller possesses legitimate administrative privileges. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks, which falls under CWE-285 - Improper Authorization, and demonstrates poor input validation practices that enable unauthorized privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with complete administrative control over the affected PVote system. Once exploited, attackers can modify administrative passwords and gain full system privileges, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication to exploit, making it an ideal target for automated attacks and unauthorized access attempts. This flaw essentially undermines the entire security model of the application by allowing privilege escalation through direct parameter manipulation rather than proper authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the PVote application to version 1.9 or later, which addresses the improper authorization checks in the ch_info.php script. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to restrict access to administrative interfaces, deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious parameter requests, and establish proper input validation controls to prevent parameter manipulation attacks. Additionally, implementing proper authentication and session management protocols, along with regular security audits and penetration testing, can help identify similar authorization flaws in other applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1548.002 - Account Manipulation, highlighting the importance of proper access control mechanisms in preventing unauthorized administrative actions.