CVE-2023-45018 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 'username' parameter of the includes/login.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 authentication inputs, specifically within the includes/login.php component. This vulnerability manifests as multiple unauthenticated SQL injection flaws that arise from inadequate input validation mechanisms. The system fails to properly sanitize or filter the 'username' parameter before processing it through database queries, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to manipulate the underlying database structure without requiring valid credentials or authentication.
This technical flaw directly relates to CWE-89 which defines SQL injection vulnerabilities as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database engine. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-supplied data flows directly into database commands without proper sanitization or parameterization. The absence of input validation on the username field means that any character sequence including SQL metacharacters can be passed through to the database layer, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary database commands and extract sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with extensive database access capabilities that could compromise the entire booking system infrastructure. An attacker could potentially extract user credentials, booking records, personal information, and system configuration details. The unauthenticated nature of this vulnerability means that any individual with access to the web application can exploit it without requiring prior authorization, making it particularly dangerous for systems handling sensitive passenger data. This vulnerability also opens pathways for more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation and potential system compromise through database-level command execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized query execution throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate SQL commands from data payloads. Additionally, implementing input length restrictions and character set validation on the username field would prevent malicious payloads from being processed. The system should also incorporate proper error handling that does not expose database structure information to end users. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes exploitation of remote services through injection attacks, and T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation. Regular security assessments including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack, while implementing web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against such attacks.