CVE-2024-42559 in Hotel Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2024
An issue in the login component (process_login.php) of Hotel Management System commit 79d688 allows attackers to authenticate without providing a valid password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-42559 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the Hotel Management System's login component. This issue exists in the process_login.php file and stems from improper input validation and authentication logic implementation. The flaw allows unauthorized users to gain system access without providing a valid password, effectively undermining the entire authentication mechanism that should protect sensitive hotel management data and operations.
This vulnerability manifests as a classic authentication bypass weakness that can be categorized under CWE-287, which deals with improper authentication scenarios. The technical root cause appears to be a failure in validating user credentials properly, potentially due to hardcoded authentication checks or flawed conditional logic that accepts all login attempts regardless of password verification. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the nature of hotel management systems which typically contain sensitive customer data including personal information, payment details, and reservation records that require robust security controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk landscape for hotel management systems that rely on the affected software. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to administrative panels, customer databases, reservation systems, and financial transaction records. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access as this could enable attackers to modify reservations, manipulate room availability, access billing information, and potentially conduct fraudulent activities. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire system, making it a critical concern for hospitality businesses that depend on digital management solutions.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that it operates at the authentication layer, which is typically the first line of defense in any web application. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts obtained through credential access, as attackers can leverage this bypass to obtain legitimate access without needing to compromise actual user credentials. Organizations using this software should implement immediate mitigations including input validation patches, proper authentication logic enforcement, and access control reviews. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts that might exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should involve thorough code review of the authentication component, implementation of proper password verification mechanisms, and comprehensive testing to ensure that all authentication flows function correctly.