CVE-2024-42552 in Hotel Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2024
Hotel Management System commit 91caab8 was discovered to contain a SQL injection vulnerability via the book_id parameter at admin_room_history.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-42552 represents a critical security flaw within a Hotel Management System application that has been exposed to potential unauthorized access and data manipulation. This issue was discovered in the administrative component of the system, specifically within the admin_room_history.php file, which serves as a crucial interface for managing and reviewing room booking histories. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The commit 91caab8 introduced this weakness into the codebase, likely through a coding oversight where the book_id parameter was directly embedded into SQL commands without appropriate protection measures.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection vulnerability stems from the application's failure to employ parameterized queries or prepared statements when processing the book_id input field. When an attacker submits a maliciously crafted book_id value, the system's backend database engine receives SQL commands that include unauthorized SQL code fragments, potentially allowing for unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the database communication channel, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to extract sensitive guest information, booking details, financial records, and other confidential data stored within the hotel management database. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices that should prevent user input from being interpreted as executable code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized administrative privileges within the hotel management system. An attacker could leverage this weakness to manipulate room availability status, alter booking records, modify guest information, or even delete critical database entries that could disrupt hotel operations and compromise guest privacy. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire system, as it provides a pathway for malicious actors to bypass authentication mechanisms and directly interact with the backend database. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol tunneling, and T1213.002 which addresses data from information repositories. The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in significant financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage for the affected organization, particularly given the sensitive nature of hospitality data and the potential for large-scale data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-42552 must focus on implementing robust input validation and parameterized query execution throughout the application codebase. The immediate remediation should involve replacing direct string concatenation of user input with proper parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate SQL command structure from data values. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization routines, enforcing strict data type validation for the book_id parameter, and establishing comprehensive access controls within the admin_room_history.php interface will significantly reduce exploitation risk. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, conduct regular security code reviews, and implement database activity monitoring to identify potential unauthorized access attempts. The fix should be implemented following secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ensuring that all user inputs are properly validated and that the system maintains proper separation between application logic and database commands to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other parts of the hotel management system.