CVE-2017-12812 in Night Club Booking Software
Summary
by MITRE
PHPJabbers Night Club Booking Software has stored XSS in the name parameter in the reservations tab.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12812 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the PHPJabbers Night Club Booking Software platform. This security weakness specifically affects the reservations tab functionality where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored in the application's database. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker submits malicious script code through the name parameter field, which then gets persisted in the system and executed whenever other users view the reservation records. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains embedded in the application's database and can affect multiple users over time, unlike reflected XSS attacks that require specific user interaction to trigger.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the booking software's reservation handling module. When users enter data into the name field during reservation creation, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code. The vulnerability specifically impacts the reservations tab functionality where reservation records are displayed, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions or extract sensitive information. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects a core booking functionality that likely handles sensitive customer information and reservation details.
From an operational standpoint, this stored XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to both the application's integrity and the privacy of its users. Attackers could leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject additional malicious code that could compromise the entire booking system. The vulnerability's persistence means that once exploited, the malicious code continues to execute for all users who view the affected reservation records, potentially affecting hundreds or thousands of users depending on the system's usage patterns. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through the injection of malicious code into web applications. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can also enable attackers to manipulate booking records, potentially causing financial losses or operational disruptions for the night club business. Organizations relying on this software face increased risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12812 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls. The primary fix involves sanitizing all user input through proper escaping mechanisms before storing data in the database, with particular attention to the name parameter in reservation records. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits should verify that all user-facing input fields are properly validated. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, and establish proper code review processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the need for comprehensive input validation across all application components. Regular patch management and vulnerability assessment programs are essential to maintain the security posture of the booking system and prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in other application modules.