CVE-2020-36552 in Multi Restaurant Table Reservation System
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2022
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in sourcecodester Multi Restaurant Table Reservation System 1.0 via the Made field to /dashboard/menu-list.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2022
The CVE-2020-36552 vulnerability represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the Multi Restaurant Table Reservation System version 1.0, specifically manifesting in the dashboard menu-list.php component. This vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it exists in the Made field parameter, which suggests that user-supplied data is being directly processed and rendered without proper sanitization measures, thereby enabling attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the Made field parameter in the /dashboard/menu-list.php endpoint to include malicious javascript code. When the vulnerable application processes this input and displays it within the web page context, the embedded script executes in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting conditions where untrusted data is improperly integrated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input sanitization and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to user sessions and potentially compromise the entire reservation system. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, modify reservation data, or even escalate privileges within the application. The attack surface is particularly wide given that the vulnerability exists in a dashboard component that likely handles sensitive reservation information and user data. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that could allow attackers to maintain access to the system and continue exploiting other potential vulnerabilities without requiring repeated authentication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-36552 should prioritize immediate input validation and output encoding implementation throughout the application. The system must sanitize all user inputs, particularly those that are rendered in web contexts, using proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. The application should also adopt proper input validation mechanisms that reject or sanitize potentially malicious content before processing user submissions. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the reservation system. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those addressing input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 which involves data from information repositories, as attackers could potentially extract sensitive reservation data through exploitation of the XSS vulnerability.