CVE-2024-42558 in Hotel Management System commit
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_modify_room.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-42558 represents a critical security flaw within a Hotel Management System where an attacker can manipulate database queries through improper input validation. This issue manifests specifically through the book_id parameter in the admin_modify_room.php script, which serves as a direct pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data, allowing arbitrary SQL commands to be injected and executed within the backend database environment. This particular weakness places the entire hotel reservation and room management system at risk of data compromise, unauthorized access, and potential system takeover.
The technical exploitation of this SQL injection vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the book_id parameter, which is then directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper input validation or parameterization. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which classifies SQL injection as a widespread and dangerous vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate database queries and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The attack vector specifically targets the administrative interface of the hotel management system, where the book_id parameter controls room modification operations. When properly exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to extract confidential guest data, modify room availability status, alter booking records, and potentially escalate privileges within the database environment.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and business disruption. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to manipulate room bookings, create fraudulent reservations, access confidential guest information including personal identification details and payment information, and potentially disrupt hotel operations through data corruption or deletion. The administrative nature of the affected script means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges within the system, allowing them to modify core operational data and potentially compromise the integrity of the entire hotel management infrastructure. This vulnerability also creates opportunities for lateral movement within the network if the database server shares resources with other systems, as identified in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-42558 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening of the affected system. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application code, specifically targeting the book_id parameter in admin_modify_room.php. This approach aligns with defensive techniques outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of least privilege by ensuring that database connections operate with minimal required permissions. Organizations should also implement proper output encoding, regular security code reviews, and input sanitization mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application. Additionally, network segmentation and database access controls should be strengthened to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection while the system is being patched and hardened against future attacks.