CVE-2017-17634 in Single Theater Booking Script
Summary
by MITRE
Single Theater Booking Script 3.2.1 has SQL Injection via the findcity.php q parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17634 resides within the Single Theater Booking Script version 3.2.1, a web application designed for managing theater bookings and reservations. This particular software solution appears to have been developed for small to medium-sized theater operations, providing functionality for users to search for available shows and book seats through a web interface. The application's architecture likely includes a backend database system to store information about theaters, shows, seating arrangements, and booking records. The vulnerability manifests in the findcity.php script which serves as a search functionality component, allowing users to query for specific city-based theater information. This script acts as an interface between user input and the database backend, processing search requests and returning relevant results to the end user. The security flaw emerges from inadequate input validation and sanitization within this search mechanism, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted database queries.
The technical flaw represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability that occurs when user-supplied input is directly incorporated into database queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. In this case, the q parameter within the findcity.php script serves as the attack vector where malicious input can be injected into the SQL execution process. When an attacker submits specially crafted input through this parameter, the application fails to properly escape or validate the data before incorporating it into SQL statements. This allows the attacker to manipulate the intended database query structure, potentially executing unauthorized database operations such as data retrieval, modification, deletion, or even administrative commands. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without adequate protection mechanisms. The attack typically involves injecting SQL syntax elements such as single quotes, semicolons, or comment markers that alter the query execution flow and provide unauthorized access to the underlying database system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating significant risks for theater operators and their customers. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to sensitive information including customer booking details, personal identification data, payment information, and potentially the entire database structure. The compromised system might reveal confidential theater operations data, including show schedules, seating arrangements, and pricing information that could be exploited for competitive advantage or financial gain. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable attackers to modify or delete booking records, potentially causing operational disruptions and financial losses for the theater business. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005, which involves application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web application interfaces to gain unauthorized database access. The impact on business operations could include regulatory compliance violations, reputational damage, customer trust erosion, and potential legal consequences related to data breaches and privacy violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17634 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized query execution throughout the application codebase. The primary defense mechanism involves adopting prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate user input from SQL command structure, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped and treated as literal values rather than executable code. Input validation should be implemented at multiple layers including client-side and server-side checks to prevent malformed data from reaching the database processing components. The application should enforce strict data type validation for the q parameter, rejecting any input containing SQL-specific characters or sequences that could indicate malicious intent. Security patches and updates should be applied immediately to address the vulnerability, as the Single Theater Booking Script version 3.2.1 is likely outdated and may contain additional security flaws. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional monitoring and blocking capabilities for SQL injection attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components, ensuring comprehensive protection against database injection attacks. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and database permissions to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.