CVE-2019-25489: Homey BNB V4 SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2019-25489 Overview

CVE-2019-25489 is a SQL injection vulnerability affecting Homey BNB V4, an Airbnb clone script. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting SQL code through the hosting_id parameter. Attackers can send GET requests to the rooms/ajax_refresh_subtotal endpoint with malicious hosting_id values to extract sensitive database information or cause denial of service.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive database contents including user credentials, payment information, and booking details, or render the application unavailable through database manipulation.

Affected Products

• Homey BNB V4

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-27 - CVE CVE-2019-25489 published to NVD
• 2026-03-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2019-25489

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the Homey BNB V4 application within the rooms/ajax_refresh_subtotal endpoint. The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input in the hosting_id parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject arbitrary SQL commands.

The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication, meaning any remote attacker with network access to the application can exploit it. The attack can be performed through simple GET requests, making exploitation trivial. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data stored in the database, including user account information, booking records, and potentially payment details.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the ajax_refresh_subtotal function. The hosting_id parameter is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or use of prepared statements, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL syntax that alters query behavior.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker sends a crafted HTTP GET request to the /rooms/ajax_refresh_subtotal endpoint with a malicious hosting_id parameter containing SQL injection payloads. Common techniques include UNION-based injection to extract data from other tables, boolean-based blind injection to enumerate database contents character by character, or time-based blind injection using database sleep functions.

The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass application logic and directly interact with the underlying database, potentially extracting sensitive information such as user credentials, personal information, and booking data. In severe cases, depending on database permissions, attackers may be able to modify or delete data.

Detection Methods for CVE-2019-25489

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP access logs showing requests to /rooms/ajax_refresh_subtotal with unusual or encoded hosting_id parameter values
• Database logs indicating unexpected query patterns, errors, or slow queries from the web application
• Anomalous database traffic patterns such as bulk data extraction or multiple failed query attempts
• Error messages in application logs indicating SQL syntax errors or database connection issues

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect common SQL injection patterns in the hosting_id parameter
• Monitor HTTP request logs for characteristic SQL injection strings such as UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, single quotes, and comment sequences (--, /**/)
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or data access from the application
• Configure intrusion detection systems with signatures for SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all requests to the /rooms/ajax_refresh_subtotal endpoint
• Set up alerts for database errors or unusual response times that may indicate injection attempts
• Monitor for bulk data extraction patterns that could indicate successful exploitation
• Track failed database queries and syntax errors that may suggest probing attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2019-25489

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the /rooms/ajax_refresh_subtotal endpoint through network-level controls or authentication requirements
• Deploy WAF rules to block requests containing SQL injection patterns in the hosting_id parameter
• Consider taking the affected endpoint offline if it is not critical to business operations
• Review database permissions to ensure the application uses least-privilege access

Patch Information

No vendor patch information is currently available for this vulnerability. Organizations using Homey BNB V4 should contact DOD IT Solutions for security updates and remediation guidance. See the VulnCheck Homey BnB Advisory for additional details. Technical exploitation details are documented in Exploit-DB #46616.

Workarounds

• Implement input validation at the application level to reject non-numeric values for the hosting_id parameter
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection detection rules in front of the application
• Use database stored procedures with parameterized inputs as an additional defense layer
• Consider implementing network segmentation to limit database access from compromised web application components

# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block SQL injection attempts
# Add to modsecurity.conf or rules configuration
SecRule ARGS:hosting_id "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    block,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in hosting_id parameter',\
    log,\
    severity:CRITICAL"