CVE-2023-0533 in Online Tours & Travels Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 01/27/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in SourceCodester Online Tours & Travels Management System 1.0. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file admin/expense_report.php. The manipulation of the argument from_date leads to sql injection. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-219602 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0533 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the SourceCodester Online Tours & Travels Management System version 1.0. This vulnerability specifically affects the admin/expense_report.php component and stems from improper input validation when processing the from_date parameter. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious sql commands through the from_date argument, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates severe impact potential with CVSS scores typically exceeding 9.0, making it a high-priority target for exploitation. The remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system, significantly expanding the threat surface and attack surface.
The technical implementation of this sql injection vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into sql queries. The from_date parameter in admin/expense_report.php appears to be directly concatenated into sql statements without appropriate input validation or parameterized query usage. This allows attackers to manipulate the sql query structure by injecting malicious sql code through the date parameter, potentially enabling unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability's exploitation is facilitated by the lack of input sanitization mechanisms, which is a fundamental security weakness that violates standard secure coding practices. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection flaws in software applications, and represents a classic example of unsafe sql query construction.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0533 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential business disruption. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive customer information, financial records, travel bookings, and administrative credentials stored within the database. The disclosure of the exploit to the public means that this vulnerability is no longer a theoretical threat but an active risk that malicious actors can readily leverage. Organizations using this software version face significant exposure to data breaches, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. The vulnerability affects not only the database integrity but also the overall system availability and confidentiality, potentially leading to service disruption and legal compliance violations under data protection regulations such as gdpr and pci dss.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0533 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks. Organizations should upgrade to the latest version of the SourceCodester Online Tours & Travels Management System where this vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, input sanitization mechanisms, and regular security audits can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security measures should include disabling unnecessary database permissions, implementing proper access controls, and conducting regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also involve monitoring for exploitation attempts and establishing incident response procedures to quickly address any successful breaches. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege and following secure coding guidelines as outlined in owasp top ten and iso 27001 standards to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles.