CVE-2012-1672 in Hotel Booking Portal
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in getcity.php in Hotel Booking Portal 0.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the country parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The CVE-2012-1672 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw discovered in the Hotel Booking Portal version 0.1, specifically within the getcity.php script. This vulnerability resides in the web application's input validation mechanisms, where the country parameter fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql queries. The flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate the application's database interactions by injecting malicious sql code through the country parameter, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability is classified under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection attacks that occur when application code does not properly validate or escape user input before using it in sql commands. This weakness directly maps to the attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under T1190 - exploitation for lateral movement, as it provides an entry point for attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic sql injection scenario where the getcity.php script constructs sql queries using string concatenation without proper input sanitization. When a user submits a value through the country parameter, the application directly incorporates this input into a sql statement without proper escaping or parameterization techniques. This design flaw enables attackers to append malicious sql commands that can modify the original query's behavior, potentially allowing them to extract, modify, or delete database records. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects a core functionality of the hotel booking portal, enabling attackers to access customer data, reservation details, and potentially administrative credentials stored in the database. The remote nature of this attack means that an attacker does not require physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for web applications that handle sensitive personal information.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1672 extends beyond simple data theft, potentially allowing attackers to completely compromise the web application and underlying database infrastructure. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data modification, complete database disclosure, and potential privilege escalation within the application. Attackers might leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious code, create backdoors, or establish persistent access to the system. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the hotel booking portal's data, potentially exposing personal information of customers, payment details, and reservation records. Organizations using this vulnerable software face significant regulatory compliance risks, particularly under data protection laws such as gdpr and pci dss, which mandate proper security controls to protect sensitive information. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects a web-facing component, making it accessible to anyone with internet connectivity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1672 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application code, specifically in the getcity.php script and similar components. Developers should adopt prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input is never directly incorporated into sql commands. Additionally, implementing proper output encoding and input sanitization techniques will prevent malicious code from being executed. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls to detect and block sql injection attempts, while implementing regular security code reviews and penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as owasp top ten and iso 27001 security requirements. Regular patch management and vulnerability assessment programs are essential to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in legacy software systems. Security awareness training for development teams should emphasize the critical importance of input validation and sql injection prevention techniques to reduce the likelihood of similar issues in future applications.