CVE-2009-3533 in Meeting Room Booking System
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in report.php in Meeting Room Booking System (MRBS) before 1.4.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the typematch parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2025
The CVE-2009-3533 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Meeting Room Booking System MRBS version 1.4.1 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the report.php script which serves as a reporting component for the system. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, particularly affecting the typematch parameter. The vulnerability exists in the context of web application security where proper data handling mechanisms fail to protect against malicious input that can be interpreted as executable sql commands by the underlying database engine.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of the typematch parameter in the report.php script. When attackers provide malicious input through this parameter, the system fails to properly escape or validate the data before incorporating it into sql queries. This allows an attacker to inject arbitrary sql commands that bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any special privileges or authentication. According to CWE standards, this corresponds to CWE-89 sql injection, which is classified as a high severity vulnerability in the CWE top 25 most dangerous software weaknesses. The attack vector specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol and T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary sql commands which may result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, unauthorized access to sensitive meeting room booking information, and potential system escalation. The vulnerability could enable attackers to modify or delete booking records, access confidential meeting details, or even gain administrative privileges within the system. Given that meeting room booking systems often contain sensitive organizational information including employee schedules, business meetings, and potentially confidential discussions, the implications extend beyond simple data theft to potential corporate espionage or information warfare scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3533 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary solution involves upgrading to MRBS version 1.4.2 or later where the vulnerability has been patched through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks, as recommended by both CWE guidelines and industry best practices. Input validation should be implemented at multiple levels including application firewalls, web application firewalls, and direct application code. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls, regular security audits, and monitoring for unusual database access patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping software components updated and following secure coding practices to prevent such fundamental security flaws from persisting in production environments.