CVE-2015-4713 in Hotel Site
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in ApPHP Hotel Site 3.x.x allows remote editors to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the pid parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The CVE-2015-4713 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in ApPHP Hotel Site version 3.x.x, specifically affecting the index.php script through the pid parameter. This vulnerability resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms, where user-supplied data fails to undergo proper sanitization before being incorporated into database queries. The flaw allows authenticated users with editor privileges to manipulate the application's database interactions by injecting malicious SQL commands through the pid parameter, effectively bypassing normal access controls and potentially gaining unauthorized database access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes the pid parameter without adequate input filtering or parameterized query construction. Attackers with editor accounts can craft malicious payloads that, when submitted through the index.php endpoint, are directly executed against the underlying database system. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications, and aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper database query parameterization to prevent unauthorized data access and manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4713 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, modify or delete sensitive hotel reservation data, customer information, and financial records. Remote attackers with editor access can potentially extract database schema information, dump entire databases, or even execute system commands if the database server allows such operations. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the server, making it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant hosting environments where multiple applications share the same infrastructure. This type of attack can result in significant financial loss, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage for hospitality businesses relying on the affected software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4713 require immediate implementation of proper parameterized queries and input validation mechanisms throughout the application codebase. Organizations should implement strict input sanitization routines that filter or escape special characters used in SQL syntax, ensuring that user-supplied data cannot alter the intended query structure. The principle of least privilege must be enforced by limiting editor account permissions and implementing role-based access controls that prevent non-administrative users from executing database operations. Additionally, regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify similar injection vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Database administrators should also implement proper access controls and monitoring to detect unusual query patterns that may indicate SQL injection attempts, while maintaining up-to-date security patches and application updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.