CVE-2023-0532 in Online Tours & Travels Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 01/27/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in SourceCodester Online Tours & Travels Management System 1.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file admin/disapprove_user.php. The manipulation of the argument id leads to sql injection. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-219601 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0532 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Online Tours & Travels Management System version 1.0. This vulnerability specifically affects the administrative functionality of the application through the admin/disapprove_user.php file, making it a significant target for malicious actors seeking to compromise the system's database integrity. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, particularly the id parameter that is processed without proper security measures. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental weakness in application security where untrusted data is directly incorporated into sql commands without proper escaping or parameterization.
The exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attack vectors, meaning that an attacker does not require physical access to the system to execute malicious code. The attack can be initiated from any location with network connectivity to the affected application, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible. The disclosed exploit (VDB-219601) indicates that threat actors have already developed working methods to leverage this flaw, increasing the risk to organizations running this vulnerable software. When an attacker successfully injects malicious sql code through the id parameter, they can potentially extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even gain unauthorized administrative access to the entire system. The remote nature of the exploit aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the use of remote services to gain initial access to systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to user accounts within the online tours and travels management system. Attackers can manipulate user approval statuses, potentially allowing unauthorized users to bypass security controls or disable legitimate user accounts. The sql injection vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within the application's database structure, potentially accessing sensitive information such as user credentials, booking details, and personal travel information. Organizations utilizing this system face significant risks including data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses due to compromised customer information. The vulnerability's classification as critical according to standard risk assessment frameworks indicates that immediate remediation is essential to prevent exploitation by threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0532 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected software version, as this represents the most effective defense against the known exploit. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed by database operations. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit the attack surface, while comprehensive monitoring and logging should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security patches should be applied immediately, and the system should be re-evaluated for similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify and remediate other potential sql injection vulnerabilities, as this flaw demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and regular security testing to maintain application integrity and protect sensitive data assets.