CVE-2008-4204 in Hotel Reservation System
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in city.asp in SoftAcid Hotel Reservation System (HRS) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the city parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The CVE-2008-4204 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SoftAcid Hotel Reservation System HRS application, specifically targeting the city.asp component. This vulnerability resides in the web application's input validation mechanisms where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected parameter named city allows malicious actors to manipulate the sql execution flow by injecting specially crafted sql code through the web interface. This vulnerability type falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a severe input validation issue that can lead to complete system compromise when exploited properly.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database system hosting the hotel reservation information. When an attacker submits malicious input through the city parameter, the application fails to properly escape or parameterize the input before incorporating it into sql statements. This allows attackers to manipulate the sql query structure and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify database contents, or even execute system-level commands depending on the database permissions and configuration. The vulnerability specifically targets the city.asp script which likely handles location-based searches or filtering of hotel reservations, making it a prime target for data exfiltration and system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it represents a fundamental breach in application security that can result in complete database compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract all reservation data, customer information, payment details, and potentially access administrative accounts. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system or local network connectivity to exploit the vulnerability. This makes the attack surface significantly larger and more dangerous as attackers can target the system from anywhere on the internet. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a backdoor into the core reservation database, enabling them to conduct data breaches, financial fraud, and potentially disrupt hotel operations through data manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4204 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. Organizations should implement input sanitization techniques that properly escape special sql characters and utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries to separate sql code from user data. The application should also implement proper access controls and database permissions limiting the privileges of the web application's database user account. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (exploitation of known vulnerabilities) and T1071.004 (application layer protocol: dns) as attackers may use this vulnerability to establish persistent access. The remediation approach should follow NIST SP 800-53 guidelines for secure coding practices and vulnerability management to prevent similar issues in future system development cycles.