CVE-2023-0531 in Online Tours & Travels Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 01/27/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in SourceCodester Online Tours & Travels Management System 1.0. Affected is an unknown function of the file admin/booking_report.php. The manipulation of the argument to_date leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-219600.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-0531 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Online Tours & Travels Management System version 1.0, specifically affecting the admin/booking_report.php component. This vulnerability resides in an unknown function that processes user input through the to_date parameter, creating a dangerous attack vector that allows remote exploitation. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious sql code through the to_date argument, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic sql injection pattern where unvalidated user input directly influences sql query construction. When the to_date parameter is processed within the admin/booking_report.php file, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into database queries. This allows malicious actors to append sql commands that can execute arbitrary database operations, potentially leading to data theft, modification, or complete database compromise. The vulnerability's classification as critical stems from its remote exploitability and the potential for widespread data breaches.
Operational impact assessment reveals severe consequences for organizations utilizing this system, as the vulnerability enables unauthorized access to sensitive customer and booking data. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract personal information, financial records, and travel itineraries from the database, creating significant privacy and compliance violations. The disclosure of the exploit (VDB-219600) increases the risk profile substantially, as malicious actors can immediately deploy automated attack tools without requiring advanced technical knowledge. Organizations may face regulatory penalties under data protection laws such as gdpr and pci dss, alongside potential legal liability from data breach incidents.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, following established security practices from the owasp top ten and cwe standards. Organizations should immediately patch the affected system or implement web application firewalls to monitor and block malicious sql injection attempts. Additional protective measures include restricting database user permissions, implementing proper access controls for admin interfaces, and conducting regular security assessments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input sanitization, aligning with att&ck technique t1190 for sql injection attacks and cwe-89 for sql injection vulnerabilities. Regular security updates and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other system components.