CVE-2023-51333 in Cinema Booking System
Summary
by MITRE • 02/20/2025
PHPJabbers Cinema Booking System v1.0 is vulnerable to CSV Injection vulnerability which allows an attacker to execute remote code. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation on Languages section Labels any parameters field in System Options that is used to construct CSV file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-51333 affects PHPJabbers Cinema Booking System version 1.0 and represents a critical CSV injection flaw that can lead to remote code execution. This vulnerability resides within the system's handling of user input in the Languages section Labels any parameters field within System Options, where the application constructs CSV files without adequate validation of the input data. The flaw stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into CSV file generation processes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-1236, which describes the weakness of insufficient input validation in CSV file generation contexts. When an attacker submits malicious input containing CSV injection sequences such as formulas or executable commands prefixed with characters like equals signs, plus signs, or other special characters, the system processes this data without proper sanitization. This creates a pathway for attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed when the CSV file is opened in spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. The attack vector exploits the fact that spreadsheet applications interpret certain CSV data as executable commands rather than plain text, leading to potential remote code execution on the victim's system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can enable full system compromise through the execution of arbitrary commands on the server hosting the cinema booking system. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through the web interface without requiring prior authentication, making it accessible to anyone with access to the system's administrative functions. This represents a significant risk for organizations managing cinema booking systems where sensitive customer data, payment information, and operational details are stored.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures at multiple layers of the application architecture. The primary defense involves escaping or encoding special characters that could be interpreted as CSV injection sequences before any data is written to CSV files. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation for all user inputs, particularly those used in file generation processes, and employ regular expression validation to detect and reject potentially malicious payloads. The solution should also include implementing Content Security Policies and ensuring that CSV files are generated with proper escaping mechanisms that prevent formula execution. Additionally, system administrators should consider restricting file generation capabilities to authenticated users only and implementing proper access controls to limit exposure. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in file processing functions and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078.004 for valid accounts, as exploitation requires understanding of both the application's file handling behavior and appropriate system access patterns.