CVE-2015-6839 in vot.Ar
Summary
by MITRE
The parse function in MSA vot.Ar 3.1 does not check whether a candidate receives more than one vote, which allows physically proximate attackers to cast multiple votes for a candidate via a crafted RFID ballot tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6839 resides within the MSA vot.Ar 3.1 electronic voting system, specifically within its parse function implementation. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the vote counting mechanism that directly undermines the integrity of the electoral process. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper validation logic that should verify the uniqueness of votes cast by individual candidates. When an RFID ballot tag is crafted with malicious intent, it can potentially register multiple votes for the same candidate, effectively allowing attackers to manipulate the election outcome through physical proximity attacks.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the parsing logic that processes RFID ballot data without enforcing vote uniqueness constraints. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak input validation and insufficient access control measures as defined by CWE-284. The system fails to implement proper state management to track previously recorded votes, creating an opportunity for attackers to exploit the lack of duplicate vote detection. The attack vector requires physical proximity to the voting infrastructure, making it a proximity-based attack that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for physical access and T1059 for command execution through crafted hardware.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple vote manipulation to compromise the fundamental principles of democratic voting systems. An attacker with physical access to the voting infrastructure can cast multiple votes for a preferred candidate, potentially altering election results without detection. The vulnerability affects the authenticity and integrity of the voting process, undermining public trust in electronic voting systems. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through simple RFID tag manipulation, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6839 should focus on implementing robust vote validation mechanisms that track and prevent duplicate voting attempts. The system must incorporate proper state management to maintain a record of previously cast votes and enforce uniqueness constraints during the parsing process. Organizations should implement multi-factor authentication mechanisms and cryptographic validation of ballot tags to prevent unauthorized manipulation. Additionally, regular auditing procedures should be established to detect and prevent vote manipulation attempts. The implementation of proper access controls and physical security measures around voting infrastructure would further reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and state management in security-critical systems, as outlined in industry standards for secure software development practices.