CVE-2025-11351: Hotel Reservation System RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-11351 Overview

CVE-2025-11351 is an unrestricted file upload vulnerability in code-projects Online Hotel Reservation System 1.0. The flaw resides in the /admin/editpicexec.php script, where the image parameter accepts arbitrary file content without proper validation. Authenticated remote attackers can upload malicious files to the server, potentially leading to web shell deployment and further compromise of the hosting environment. The issue is categorized under [CWE-284: Improper Access Control] and affects the Fabian Online Hotel Reservation System distributed through code-projects. Public exploit details have been disclosed, increasing the risk that opportunistic attackers will target unpatched deployments.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low-privileged access can upload unrestricted file types through editpicexec.php, enabling possible web shell installation and unauthorized modification of hosted resources.

Affected Products

Fabian Online Hotel Reservation System 1.0
Deployments distributed via code-projects.org
PHP-based installations exposing /admin/editpicexec.php

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-07 - CVE-2025-11351 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-11351

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in the administrative image-editing handler /admin/editpicexec.php. The script processes the image parameter without enforcing file-type, extension, or content checks before writing the upload to disk. Because the destination directory is web-accessible, an attacker who can reach the admin endpoint can place executable PHP content directly within the application root. Successful exploitation gives the attacker the ability to execute arbitrary server-side code in the context of the web server process. This typically results in data exposure, defacement of the reservation portal, and lateral access to backend databases storing guest reservations and payment-adjacent information.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing access control and missing input validation on the file upload handler. The application does not verify the MIME type, extension allowlist, or magic bytes of the submitted image argument. It also does not enforce sufficient authentication boundaries on the admin script, allowing low-privileged sessions to reach the upload functionality.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network reachability to the admin interface and a low-privilege authenticated session. An attacker submits a crafted multipart request to /admin/editpicexec.php with the image field containing a PHP payload renamed with an image extension or with a polyglot structure. Once written to the upload directory, the attacker requests the file through the web server to trigger execution. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own session activity. Public discussion of the issue is available on the GitHub Issue Discussion and the VulDB entry #327236.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-11351

Indicators of Compromise

POST requests to /admin/editpicexec.php containing image parameters with executable extensions such as .php, .phtml, or .phar.
Newly created files in the application's image or uploads directory with non-image content or PHP tags inside the file body.
Outbound connections initiated by the web server process shortly after file uploads, indicating possible web shell callbacks.

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for unusual multipart/form-data submissions to editpicexec.php from low-privileged accounts.
Compare uploaded file MIME types against declared extensions and alert on mismatches.
Enable file integrity monitoring on the /admin/ and image upload directories to flag unauthorized additions.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward web server, PHP-FPM, and filesystem audit logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation.
Monitor for child processes spawned by the web server, such as sh, bash, or python, which are uncommon during normal reservation workflows.
Track administrative authentication events and correlate them with subsequent file write operations.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-11351

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to /admin/ paths using IP allowlisting or VPN-only access until a vendor patch is available.
Remove write permissions from the web server user on directories that do not require uploads.
Audit the upload directory for any unexpected files and remove confirmed web shells.

Patch Information

No official vendor advisory or patch has been published for code-projects Online Hotel Reservation System 1.0 at the time of NVD publication. Administrators should monitor the Code Projects Resource Hub and the VulDB CTI entry #327236 for updates. Until a fix is released, operators should treat the deployment as vulnerable and apply compensating controls.

Workarounds

Implement a server-side allowlist that validates file extension, MIME type, and magic bytes before storing uploads.
Store uploaded images outside the web root and serve them through a controlled handler that sets Content-Type explicitly.
Disable PHP execution within upload directories using web server configuration directives such as Apache php_admin_flag engine off or equivalent location blocks in Nginx.

bash

# Nginx configuration example to prevent PHP execution in uploads directory
location ^~ /uploads/ {
    default_type application/octet-stream;
    location ~ \.(php|phtml|phar)$ {
        deny all;
        return 403;
    }
}