CVE-2006-4652 in Amazing Little Poll
Summary
by MITRE
(1) Amazing Little Poll and (2) Amazing Little Picture Poll have a default password of "dsapoll", which allows remote attackers to create a new poll by entering default credentials via lp_admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4652 affects two web applications named Amazing Little Poll and Amazing Little Picture Poll, both of which contain a critical security flaw involving default credentials. This issue represents a fundamental failure in authentication security implementation where the software ships with a hardcoded password that remains unchanged in production environments. The default password "dsapoll" is embedded within the application code and provides unauthorized remote access to administrative functions through the lp_admin.php interface. This configuration creates a significant attack surface that allows malicious actors to gain full administrative control over the poll systems without requiring any additional authentication factors or knowledge of legitimate user credentials.
The technical flaw manifests as a weak authentication mechanism that violates multiple security principles including the principle of least privilege and secure default configuration. The vulnerability specifically affects the administrative interface of these polling applications, enabling remote attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures entirely. When an attacker accesses the lp_admin.php file with the default credentials, they can create new polls, modify existing ones, and potentially access sensitive data or system configurations. This represents a classic case of insecure default credentials that aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hardcoded credentials in software applications. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it allows for remote exploitation without requiring any special tools or complex attack vectors, making it accessible to even novice attackers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data integrity compromise and system availability issues. Attackers can manipulate poll results, create fraudulent polls, and potentially use the administrative interface to gain deeper system access or install malicious code. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without the need for physical access or local network presence. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems, creating potential for data manipulation, service disruption, and unauthorized system modifications. Organizations using these applications face significant risk of reputational damage if their polling systems are compromised and manipulated by malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on immediate credential remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most critical immediate action is to change the default password to a strong, randomly generated credential that is unique to each installation. System administrators should ensure that all instances of these applications are updated to use secure authentication mechanisms and that default credentials are never deployed in production environments. Organizations should implement proper access control measures including role-based access controls, regular credential rotation, and monitoring of administrative access attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure software development practices and adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. This issue demonstrates the necessity of conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar insecure default configurations that may exist in other software components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under credential access and privilege escalation techniques, emphasizing the need for proper authentication controls and the importance of avoiding predictable or hardcoded credentials in software applications.