CVE-2024-1823 in Simple Voting System
Summary
by MITRE • 02/23/2024
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in CodeAstro Simple Voting System 1.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file users.php of the component Backend. The manipulation leads to improper access controls. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-254611.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1823 represents a critical access control flaw within the CodeAstro Simple Voting System version 1.0, specifically affecting the backend component through the users.php file. This weakness exposes the system to unauthorized access attempts that could compromise the integrity of user accounts and voting mechanisms. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates severe implications for system security and data protection, particularly given that it affects core backend functionality that manages user authentication and authorization processes.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the users.php backend file, which likely fails to properly validate user permissions or authenticate requests before granting access to sensitive operations. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering attacks that could exploit such weaknesses. The improper access controls allow attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and potentially gain elevated privileges or access to restricted user data.
The remote exploitability of this vulnerability significantly amplifies its operational impact, as attackers can leverage this weakness from external networks without requiring physical access to the system. This characteristic enables widespread exploitation and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for online voting systems where user privacy and vote integrity are paramount. The public disclosure of the exploit further increases the risk profile, as malicious actors can immediately implement the attack without requiring advanced technical skills or extensive reconnaissance efforts. The vulnerability's potential to affect the core functionality of a voting system creates cascading security implications that extend beyond simple data theft to include potential manipulation of voting results.
Organizations utilizing the CodeAstro Simple Voting System should implement immediate mitigations including patching the affected software to the latest version, implementing additional authentication layers, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all backend components. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to backend files, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive data or critical operations such as voting systems. Security teams should also consider implementing principle of least privilege configurations and regularly review access control policies to prevent similar weaknesses from emerging in other system components.