CVE-2024-2528: Event Hall Reservation System SQL Injection

CVE-2024-2528 Overview

CVE-2024-2528 is a SQL injection vulnerability in MAGESH-K21 Online-College-Event-Hall-Reservation-System version 1.0. The flaw resides in the /admin/update-rooms.php script, where the room_id parameter is passed to a database query without proper sanitization. Attackers can inject arbitrary SQL statements remotely over the network with low-privileged authentication. Public exploit details have been disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks. The vendor was contacted but did not respond, and no official patch is available. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low privileges can read, modify, or delete arbitrary database records by manipulating the room_id parameter in /admin/update-rooms.php.

Affected Products

MAGESH-K21 Online-College-Event-Hall-Reservation-System 1.0
Component: /admin/update-rooms.php
CPE: cpe:2.3:a:magesh-k21:online-college-event-hall-reservation-system:1.0

Discovery Timeline

2024-03-16 - CVE-2024-2528 published to NVD with VulDB identifier VDB-256965
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-2528

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the administrative interface of the Online-College-Event-Hall-Reservation-System, a PHP application used for managing event hall bookings. The update-rooms.php endpoint accepts a room_id parameter that is concatenated directly into a SQL query. Because the parameter is not validated, sanitized, or bound as a prepared statement placeholder, attackers can supply crafted input that alters the query structure.

Exploitation requires network access and authenticated administrator-level session context to reach the endpoint. Successful injection allows the attacker to extract database contents, modify records, escalate privileges within the application, or corrupt reservation data. Depending on database user privileges, the attacker may also read arbitrary files or execute stored procedures.

The EPSS score of 0.514% places this vulnerability in the 41st percentile for likelihood of exploitation within 30 days.

Root Cause

The root cause is the direct concatenation of untrusted user input into a SQL statement without the use of parameterized queries or input validation. This is a textbook CWE-89 pattern where the room_id value from an HTTP request is embedded into a query string executed against the backend database.

Attack Vector

An attacker sends an HTTP request to /admin/update-rooms.php with a manipulated room_id parameter containing SQL metacharacters and injected clauses. The vulnerable query executes the attacker-controlled portion, returning data or performing operations outside the intended application logic. Because the flaw is reachable over the network, it can be exploited from any host that can reach the web application. Refer to the GitHub proof-of-concept for a documented exploitation example.

No verified exploit code is reproduced here. See the VulDB entry for additional analysis.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-2528

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /admin/update-rooms.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, --, or /* in the room_id parameter
Unusual database error responses returned from the application (for example, MySQL syntax errors) logged near administrative sessions
Unexpected changes to room, reservation, or user records within the application database
Web server access logs showing repeated room_id values with encoded payloads (%27, %20OR%20, 0x)

Detection Strategies

Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule set that flags SQL injection patterns targeting the room_id parameter and any other administrative endpoints
Enable database query logging and alert on queries with syntactically anomalous WHERE clauses referencing the rooms table
Correlate authenticated administrator sessions with outbound database errors to identify probing activity

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward web server, application, and database logs to a centralized analytics platform for SQL injection pattern matching
Baseline normal request payloads for /admin/update-rooms.php and alert on deviations in parameter length or character composition
Monitor for privilege escalation attempts or credential dumps following suspected injection activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-2528

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the /admin/ directory using IP allowlists, VPN, or authenticated reverse proxy controls
Disable or take offline the Online-College-Event-Hall-Reservation-System deployment if it is exposed to untrusted networks
Rotate database and administrator credentials if exploitation is suspected, and audit the database for unauthorized modifications
Deploy WAF rules that block SQL metacharacters in the room_id parameter

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is available. The vendor did not respond to the disclosure reported through VulDB entry VDB-256965. Organizations should apply source-level fixes by replacing string concatenation in /admin/update-rooms.php with parameterized queries using PDO prepared statements or mysqli::prepare with bound parameters. Validate room_id as a positive integer before use.

Workarounds

Modify /admin/update-rooms.php to cast room_id to an integer with (int)$_POST['room_id'] or intval() before use in queries
Place the application behind a reverse proxy that enforces strict input validation on administrative endpoints
Consider migrating to an actively maintained reservation system, since this project appears unmaintained
Apply database least-privilege principles so the web application account cannot execute schema changes or access unrelated tables

bash

# Example PHP mitigation using PDO prepared statements
# Replace vulnerable concatenation in /admin/update-rooms.php
$room_id = filter_input(INPUT_POST, 'room_id', FILTER_VALIDATE_INT);
if ($room_id === false || $room_id === null) {
    http_response_code(400);
    exit('Invalid room_id');
}
$stmt = $pdo->prepare('UPDATE rooms SET name = :name WHERE id = :id');
$stmt->execute([':name' => $name, ':id' => $room_id]);