CVE-2023-45014 in Online Bus Booking System
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2023
Online Bus Booking System v1.0 is vulnerable to multiple Unauthenticated SQL Injection vulnerabilities. The 'bus_id' parameter of the bus_info.php resource does not validate the characters received and they are sent unfiltered to the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2023
The Online Bus Booking System v1.0 presents a critical security weakness through its handling of user input parameters within the bus_info.php resource. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or filter the 'bus_id' parameter before executing database queries. The system processes incoming data without adequate security checks, creating an environment where malicious actors can manipulate database interactions through crafted input sequences.
This SQL injection flaw operates under the well-documented CWE-89 category, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code through the bus_id parameter, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive database information. The lack of input validation means that any character sequence submitted through this parameter is directly forwarded to the database engine without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable complete database compromise. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract confidential information including user credentials, booking details, passenger data, and potentially system configuration parameters. The unauthenticated nature of this vulnerability means that any external party can exploit it without requiring prior authorization or login credentials, making the attack surface particularly broad and accessible.
Security professionals should recognize this issue as a prime example of the ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries target vulnerable web applications to gain initial access. The vulnerability can facilitate further exploitation activities including privilege escalation, data manipulation, and potentially lateral movement within affected networks. Organizations running this system face significant risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations due to the exposed nature of the database access.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks, comprehensive input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, and regular security assessments of web applications. The system requires proper access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized database interactions. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.