CVE-2023-3561 in PHP GZ Hotel Booking Script
Summary
by MITRE • 07/10/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in GZ Scripts PHP GZ Hotel Booking Script 1.8. This affects an unknown part of the file /load.php. The manipulation of the argument first_name/second_name/phone/address_1/country leads to cross site scripting. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-233355. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2023
This cross site scripting vulnerability exists in the GZ Scripts PHP GZ Hotel Booking Script version 1.8, specifically within the /load.php file where user input parameters including first_name, second_name, phone, address_1, and country are processed without adequate sanitization. The flaw represents a classic input validation weakness that allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web applications, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector is remotely exploitable, meaning that an attacker can initiate the malicious payload without requiring physical access to the system or direct user interaction beyond visiting a compromised page. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical weakness in the application's input handling mechanisms, where user-supplied data flows directly into the application's response without proper encoding or validation. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts suggests potential security mismanagement or insufficient security awareness within the development team, which could leave users exposed to prolonged exploitation windows. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications that handle personal information, as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized data access. The impact extends beyond simple script injection, as attackers can potentially redirect users to malicious sites or execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability's classification as remote exploitation capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which focuses on spearphishing attacks and malicious file delivery. The affected parameters suggest that the application processes user contact information in a manner that fails to properly escape or validate special characters, creating opportunities for script injection. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader assessment of the application's overall security posture, particularly examining how other input fields are handled and whether similar weaknesses exist in other parts of the codebase. The absence of vendor response indicates a potential gap in the security supply chain that organizations should monitor closely. Organizations utilizing this software should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and consider implementing content security policies to limit the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to user privacy and application integrity, warranting urgent attention and remediation efforts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other executable code within the vulnerable parameters. When the application processes these inputs and displays them in the web interface without proper sanitization, the injected scripts execute in the context of other users' browsers. This type of attack can be particularly devastating in hotel booking systems where sensitive personal information is collected and stored. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design principles and violates fundamental web application security practices. The affected parameters suggest that the application lacks proper input filtering mechanisms, particularly for fields that should only accept specific data formats. This vulnerability represents a failure in the application's defense in depth strategy, where multiple layers of security should have been implemented to prevent such attacks. The remote exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers can leverage it from anywhere on the internet without requiring local access or elevated privileges. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who can scale their attacks across multiple targets. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter attacks, specifically highlighting how malicious scripts can be injected into web applications. Organizations should examine their input validation and output encoding practices to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The lack of vendor response to disclosure creates additional risk for organizations that may continue using vulnerable software without proper security updates or patches. Security professionals should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and consider implementing web application firewalls as temporary mitigations while permanent fixes are developed. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes that can identify and remediate such issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
Organizations utilizing the GZ Hotel Booking Script version 1.8 should prioritize immediate remediation efforts to address this cross site scripting vulnerability. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing or display. Security measures should incorporate content security policies that prevent unauthorized script execution and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature suggests that the application should be updated to properly escape special characters in all user input fields, particularly those that may be displayed in web interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls to provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. The lack of vendor response indicates that organizations may need to rely on third-party security solutions or internal development resources to address the vulnerability until a formal patch is released. Security teams should conduct comprehensive testing to identify whether similar vulnerabilities exist in other parts of the application or related components. The vulnerability represents a critical security risk that could compromise user privacy and lead to unauthorized access to sensitive booking information. Implementation of proper security controls should follow established frameworks such as OWASP Top Ten or NIST cybersecurity guidelines to ensure comprehensive protection. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that organizations should continuously monitor their web applications for signs of exploitation attempts and maintain updated security monitoring tools. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities throughout the application lifecycle. The security community should continue to monitor this vulnerability for any updates or patches from the vendor despite the lack of initial response, as security issues often require iterative fixes and updates to fully address the underlying problems.