CVE-2002-2163 in KvPoll
Summary
by MITRE
KvPoll 1.1 allows remote authenticated users to vote more than once by setting the "already_voted" cookie by various methods, including a direct call to clear_cookies.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2163 affects KvPoll version 1.1, a web-based polling system that enables users to participate in surveys and voting activities. This issue represents a significant security flaw in the application's session management and authentication mechanisms, specifically targeting the integrity of the voting process. The vulnerability allows authenticated users to manipulate their voting status by directly controlling cookie values, thereby undermining the fundamental principle of single-vote-per-user in online polling systems. The affected system operates under the assumption that legitimate users will not attempt to circumvent the voting restrictions through technical means.
The technical flaw in KvPoll 1.1 stems from inadequate server-side validation of voting status indicators. The application relies on client-side cookies, particularly the "already_voted" cookie, to track whether a user has participated in a poll. This design creates a critical security weakness where authenticated users can manipulate the cookie value to bypass the intended voting restrictions. The vulnerability becomes exploitable when users can directly call the clear_cookies.php script, which provides a mechanism to reset or manipulate cookie values. This direct access to cookie management functions allows malicious actors to clear existing vote tracking cookies and then re-submit votes without proper authorization. The implementation lacks proper server-side verification that would normally validate the user's actual voting status against the database or session state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple vote manipulation to potentially compromise the integrity of entire polling systems. When authenticated users can repeatedly vote, they can skew poll results and undermine the democratic nature of online surveys. This vulnerability particularly affects applications where poll outcomes influence business decisions, user preferences, or community feedback mechanisms. The ability to bypass voting restrictions through cookie manipulation means that malicious actors can effectively vote multiple times without detection, leading to inaccurate data collection and potentially misleading conclusions. Organizations relying on such polling systems may face significant reputational damage if vote manipulation is discovered, as it directly impacts the credibility of their data collection processes. The vulnerability also represents a broader concern about session management practices in web applications, where client-side state tracking can be easily manipulated by users with basic technical knowledge.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust server-side validation mechanisms that do not rely on client-controlled cookies for critical security decisions. The recommended approach involves implementing proper session management where voting status is tracked server-side using database records or secure session storage mechanisms. Organizations should implement time-based voting restrictions, IP address monitoring, and user account verification to prevent duplicate voting attempts. The application should validate each voting attempt against a persistent database record rather than relying on temporary cookie values that can be easily modified. Security measures should include input validation, secure session handling, and proper access controls that prevent unauthorized direct calls to cookie management functions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session expiration, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1566, focusing on credential access through manipulation of authentication tokens. Organizations should also implement logging mechanisms to detect unusual voting patterns that might indicate abuse of this vulnerability, ensuring comprehensive monitoring of voting activities to maintain the integrity of their polling systems.