CVE-2008-3590 in E.z. Poll
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in admin/login.asp in E. Z. Poll 2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) Username and (2) Password parameters. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3590 represents a critical SQL injection flaw in the administrative login component of E. Z. Poll 2 software. This vulnerability exists within the admin/login.asp file and affects the authentication mechanism that processes user credentials. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the SQL query execution by injecting malicious SQL code through the Username and Password parameters, thereby bypassing the intended authentication controls. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it directly impacts the core authentication functionality of the application, potentially enabling unauthorized access to administrative interfaces. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web application's database interaction layer, where user-supplied parameters are directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any attacker with access to the vulnerable web application. The potential for privilege escalation exists since successful exploitation would allow attackers to gain administrative access to the poll system, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized modification of poll data or user information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates opportunities for data manipulation, information disclosure, and potential system disruption. Attackers could execute arbitrary SQL commands to extract sensitive information from the database, modify poll results, delete records, or even escalate privileges within the database system itself. The vulnerability's presence in the login functionality means that any attempt to authenticate would be susceptible to injection attacks, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious authentication attempts. This creates a persistent security risk that remains active as long as the vulnerable application is deployed, regardless of how often users attempt to log in. The attack could result in complete compromise of the poll system's integrity and availability, potentially affecting election results or user data. Organizations using E. Z. Poll 2 would face significant reputational damage and potential regulatory compliance issues if such vulnerabilities were exploited, particularly in environments where data privacy and security are paramount. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor software development practices that violate fundamental security principles, including the principle of least privilege and input validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3590 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to ensure that user-supplied data cannot alter the structure of SQL statements. This approach directly addresses the root cause by preventing the concatenation of user input with SQL commands, thereby eliminating the injection possibility. Organizations should also implement proper output encoding and escape sequences when handling database results, which helps prevent secondary injection attacks. Access controls should be strengthened through proper authentication mechanisms including account lockout policies and session management. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure software development. Regular security testing including penetration testing and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Additionally, network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for exploitation attempts, while regular patch management ensures that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the implemented fixes do not introduce new functionality issues while maintaining the application's intended behavior. Organizations should also consider migrating to more modern poll systems that have better security track records and are actively maintained by their vendors. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of regular security assessments in maintaining robust application security postures.