CVE-2024-2168 in Online Tours & Travels Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 03/04/2024
A vulnerability was found in SourceCodester Online Tours & Travels Management System 1.0. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the file /admin/operations/expense_category.php of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument status leads to sql injection. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-255678 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2025
This critical vulnerability exists within the SourceCodester Online Tours & Travels Management System version 1.0, specifically in the HTTP POST request handler component located at /admin/operations/expense_category.php. The flaw represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability that occurs when processing user-supplied input through the status parameter in HTTP POST requests. The vulnerability classification as critical indicates the potential for severe impact on system security and data integrity, as SQL injection attacks can enable attackers to execute arbitrary database commands and potentially gain complete control over the affected system. The attack vector is remote, meaning that malicious actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications exposed to public networks. The vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is actively being used in the wild, as evidenced by the VDB-255678 identifier assigned by the vulnerability database.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the status parameter received through HTTP POST requests. This parameter is directly incorporated into database queries without appropriate input filtering or parameterization, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can manipulate the SQL execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects an administrative component of the system, suggesting that successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to sensitive operational data. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is directly included in SQL commands without proper sanitization. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a database attack technique where adversaries leverage injection flaws to manipulate database queries and extract, modify, or delete sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to perform complete system compromise through database-level access. An attacker could potentially extract user credentials, customer information, travel bookings, and financial data from the database, leading to significant financial losses and privacy violations. The remote exploit capability means that organizations cannot rely solely on network segmentation or firewall rules to protect against this threat, as the vulnerability can be exploited from anywhere on the internet. The administrative nature of the affected component suggests that successful exploitation could provide attackers with full administrative privileges, allowing them to modify system configurations, add malicious users, or even install backdoors for persistent access. Organizations running this version of the online tours and travels management system are particularly vulnerable as the software appears to be outdated and likely lacks proper security hardening measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates or patches provided by the vendor, though given the critical nature and public disclosure status, organizations should implement additional protective measures. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems should be configured to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting this specific endpoint. Input validation and parameterized queries should be implemented at the application level to prevent similar issues in the future, with proper sanitization of all user inputs before database interaction. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected components within their systems, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security weaknesses in the application architecture. Regular security auditing and penetration testing should be implemented to proactively identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors, with particular attention to the handling of HTTP POST parameters in administrative interfaces.