CVE-2022-40093 in Online Tours & Travels Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2022
Online Tours & Travels Management System v1.0 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the id parameter at /tour/admin/update_tax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2025
The Online Tours & Travels Management System version 1.0 presents a critical security vulnerability through a SQL injection flaw that compromises the integrity of its database operations. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the id parameter within the /tour/admin/update_tax.php endpoint, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors can manipulate database queries. The flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in input validation and query construction practices, allowing unauthorized users to inject malicious SQL code that can alter or extract sensitive data from the underlying database system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the administrative update functionality. When the system processes the id parameter without adequate validation or parameterization, it directly incorporates user-provided values into SQL query strings. This design flaw enables attackers to craft malicious input that can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract confidential information, modify database records, or even execute arbitrary commands on the database server. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a severe weakness in software applications where untrusted data is embedded into SQL queries without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to the system's security posture and data integrity. An attacker exploiting this flaw could gain unauthorized access to sensitive customer information, booking records, payment details, and administrative credentials stored within the database. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the vulnerability could enable privilege escalation attacks, allowing malicious users to assume administrative roles within the system. The administrative update functionality specifically targets tax-related configurations which could be manipulated to alter pricing structures or compromise financial data processing within the travel management platform.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically follows established attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1190 technique for exploitation of remote services and T1071.1004 for application layer protocol usage. Attackers would likely begin by crafting malicious payloads targeting the id parameter, potentially using tools like sqlmap to automate the detection and exploitation process. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that this vulnerability exists within the administrative interface, which typically requires elevated privileges and contains sensitive operational data. Organizations utilizing this system face heightened risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to compromised customer information and operational disruptions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements to ensure all user inputs are properly escaped and validated before database processing. The system requires comprehensive input validation mechanisms that reject malformed or suspicious input patterns, particularly those containing SQL keywords or special characters. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application codebase. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, database query logging, and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for exploitation attempts. The fix should involve updating the update_tax.php script to sanitize all input parameters and ensure that database operations are performed through secure, parameterized interfaces that prevent direct concatenation of user data into SQL commands.