CVE-2024-3354 Overview
A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Aplaya Beach Resort Online Reservation System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the admin/mod_users/index.php file where the id parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in SQL queries. This allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries without authentication, potentially leading to complete database compromise, unauthorized data access, and system takeover.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive guest information, modify reservation data, bypass authentication mechanisms, or potentially execute arbitrary commands on the underlying database server.
Affected Products
- Janobe Aplaya Beach Resort Online Reservation System version 1.0
- admin/mod_users/index.php component
- Systems using the vulnerable id parameter handling
Discovery Timeline
- April 5, 2024 - CVE-2024-3354 published to NVD
- February 11, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-3354
Vulnerability Analysis
This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) occurs due to improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The vulnerable endpoint at admin/mod_users/index.php accepts an id parameter that is directly incorporated into database queries without adequate input validation or parameterized query implementation.
The vulnerability allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL statements through the id parameter, which can be exploited to extract database contents including user credentials, manipulate or delete records, and potentially escalate to command execution depending on the database configuration and privileges. The public disclosure of exploit details increases the risk of active exploitation.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries (prepared statements) when handling user-supplied input. The id parameter value is concatenated directly into SQL query strings rather than being treated as a data parameter, allowing attackers to break out of the intended query context and inject malicious SQL commands.
Attack Vector
The attack can be launched remotely over the network without requiring authentication. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests targeting the admin/mod_users/index.php endpoint with specially crafted id parameter values containing SQL injection payloads. This allows for techniques such as UNION-based injection to extract data, boolean-based blind injection for data enumeration, or time-based blind injection when direct output is not available.
The vulnerability mechanism involves manipulating the id parameter to inject SQL syntax that modifies the query logic. Technical details and proof-of-concept information are available in the GitHub PoC Repository and the VulDB CTI Report #259458.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-3354
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual or malformed requests to admin/mod_users/index.php containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, double dashes, UNION statements, or SELECT keywords in the id parameter
- Database error messages appearing in application logs or HTTP responses indicating SQL syntax errors
- Unexpected database queries with abnormal execution times suggesting time-based SQL injection attempts
- Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized database access in application logs
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests targeting the vulnerable endpoint
- Implement intrusion detection system (IDS) signatures to identify SQL injection attack payloads in network traffic
- Monitor application logs for error patterns consistent with SQL injection attempts, including database syntax errors and malformed query exceptions
- Utilize database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns or unauthorized data access
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging on the web server for all requests to admin/mod_users/index.php and related administrative endpoints
- Configure database audit logging to track all queries executed against user management tables
- Set up alerts for multiple failed authentication attempts or unusual administrative access patterns
- Monitor for unusual outbound data transfers that could indicate successful data exfiltration
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-3354
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the vulnerable admin/mod_users/index.php endpoint by IP whitelisting or VPN requirements
- Implement input validation to reject requests containing SQL metacharacters in the id parameter
- Place the application behind a properly configured Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection enabled
- Consider taking the application offline if it handles sensitive customer data until proper remediation can be implemented
Patch Information
No official vendor patch has been identified for this vulnerability. The SourceCodester Aplaya Beach Resort Online Reservation System 1.0 remains vulnerable as of the last update. Organizations using this software should implement the workarounds below and consider migrating to a more secure reservation system solution. Additional vulnerability details are documented at VulDB #259458.
Workarounds
- Implement server-side input validation to sanitize the id parameter, accepting only numeric integer values
- Modify the vulnerable PHP code to use prepared statements with parameterized queries instead of string concatenation
- Deploy a reverse proxy with ModSecurity or similar WAF capabilities configured with OWASP Core Rule Set
- Implement network-level access controls to restrict administrative interface access to trusted IP addresses only
- Enable PHP's magic_quotes or equivalent escaping as a temporary measure while implementing proper parameterization
# Example Apache ModSecurity rule to block SQL injection attempts
SecRule ARGS:id "(?i:(\bunion\b.*\bselect\b)|(\bselect\b.*\bfrom\b)|(')|(--))" \
"id:100001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in id parameter'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
