CVE-2005-3742 in Advanced Poll
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in popup.php in Advanced Poll 2.0.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the poll_ident parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3742 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Advanced Poll 2.0.3 web application, specifically affecting the popup.php script. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which catalogs weaknesses related to cross-site scripting attacks. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input received through the poll_ident parameter, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code into the application's response. The vulnerability exists at the input validation and output encoding layer, where the application does not adequately filter or escape data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers who visit affected pages. When a user clicks on a link or interacts with the application using a crafted poll_ident parameter, the malicious code gets executed in the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects the core functionality of the polling system, making it a potential attack surface for widespread exploitation across all users of the application.
From an operational perspective, this XSS vulnerability significantly compromises the security posture of any system running Advanced Poll 2.0.3 or earlier versions. The attack requires minimal technical skill to execute, as it relies on the application's inherent failure to validate input parameters. Security teams can observe this vulnerability through standard web application scanning tools that detect reflected XSS patterns in web applications. The exploitation typically follows the ATT&CK framework's T1566.001 technique for initial access through malicious web content, potentially leading to further compromise through session hijacking or credential theft. Organizations using this vulnerable application face risks of data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate patching of the Advanced Poll application to version 2.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms should be enforced throughout the application codebase to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components. Web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter values and unusual access patterns to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also implement content security policies and ensure that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages to prevent malicious script execution. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure.