CVE-2021-38752 in Online Catering Reservation System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/16/2021
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Online Catering Reservation System using PHP on Sourcecodester allows an attacker to arbitrarily inject code in the search bar.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2021
The CVE-2021-38752 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Online Catering Reservation System developed using PHP technology and hosted on the Sourcecodester platform. This vulnerability specifically targets the system's search functionality, creating an exploitable entry point that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary code into the application's interface. The flaw resides in how the system processes and renders user input from the search bar, failing to properly sanitize or validate the data before incorporating it into the web page output. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it directly affects the core user interaction mechanisms of the catering reservation system, potentially compromising the security of all users who engage with the search functionality.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability demonstrates a classic failure in input validation and output encoding practices within the PHP-based web application. When users enter search queries into the system's search bar, the application does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers when they view search results or interact with pages containing the injected content. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple payload injection techniques that leverage the inherent trust users place in the application's search functionality. Attackers can potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability in a reservation system that likely handles sensitive user information and transaction data.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-38752 extends beyond simple code injection, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities within the application's ecosystem. Given that this is a reservation system, the vulnerability could enable attackers to access or manipulate booking information, user credentials, or payment details that users might have entered during the reservation process. The attack surface is particularly broad since the search functionality is likely used frequently by both customers and administrators, increasing the probability of successful exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1531, which covers "Modify System Image", as the injected code could potentially be used to modify application behavior or redirect user interactions. The persistence of the vulnerability means that once exploited, attackers can maintain access to the system's data and potentially escalate their privileges through additional attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-38752 must focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase, particularly within the search functionality. The most effective remediation involves implementing proper HTML escaping and sanitization of all user-provided input before rendering it in web pages, which directly addresses the CWE-79 weakness. Developers should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and establish a comprehensive input validation framework that rejects or sanitizes potentially dangerous characters. Additionally, the system should employ proper parameterized queries and output encoding techniques to prevent malicious code from being executed in the browser context. Regular security testing, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing of input fields, should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities throughout the application. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The remediation process must include thorough code review of all user interaction points and establishment of secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities from reoccurring in future development cycles, as outlined in industry best practices for secure web application development.