CVE-2025-11400: Hotel Management System SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-11400 Overview

A SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Hotel and Lodge Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists within the /del_room.php file, where improper handling of the ID argument allows attackers to inject malicious SQL statements. This flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate database queries, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive guest information, modify booking records, or compromise the underlying database system of affected hotel management installations.

Affected Products

SourceCodester Hotel and Lodge Management System 1.0
Nikhil-bhalerao Hotel And Lodge Management System

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-07 - CVE-2025-11400 published to NVD
2025-10-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-11400

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability affects the room deletion functionality within the Hotel and Lodge Management System. The /del_room.php endpoint accepts an ID parameter that is directly incorporated into database queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. This classic injection flaw allows attackers to append or modify SQL statements, enabling them to interact with the database in unintended ways.

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely by authenticated users, requiring network access to the vulnerable application. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, increasing the risk of opportunistic attacks against unpatched systems.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to implement proper input validation and parameterized queries in the /del_room.php file. The application directly concatenates user-supplied input from the ID parameter into SQL queries, creating an injection point. This represents a violation of secure coding practices outlined in CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command) and CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component).

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network by manipulating the ID parameter in requests to /del_room.php. An attacker with low-privilege access to the application can craft malicious input containing SQL syntax that alters the intended query behavior. Depending on the database configuration and permissions, successful exploitation may allow:

Extraction of sensitive data from the database including guest records and credentials
Modification or deletion of booking and room data
Potential escalation to underlying system access if database permissions are overly permissive

For detailed technical analysis, refer to the GitHub Issue Discussion and the VulDB entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-11400

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual HTTP requests to /del_room.php containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, double dashes, or UNION statements in the ID parameter
Database error messages in application logs indicating malformed SQL queries
Unexpected data modifications or deletions in room-related database tables
Access logs showing repeated requests to /del_room.php with varying ID parameter patterns

Detection Strategies

Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in requests to /del_room.php
Configure database activity monitoring to alert on unusual query patterns or error conditions
Review web server access logs for requests containing encoded SQL characters targeting the vulnerable endpoint
Deploy application-layer intrusion detection to identify injection attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable detailed logging for database queries originating from the Hotel and Lodge Management System application
Set up alerts for HTTP 500 errors or database connection errors that may indicate exploitation attempts
Monitor for unauthorized database queries that deviate from normal application behavior patterns
Implement real-time log analysis for requests to /del_room.php with suspicious parameter values

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-11400

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the Hotel and Lodge Management System to trusted IP addresses only
Disable or remove the /del_room.php functionality until a patch is available
Implement WAF rules to filter SQL injection patterns in the ID parameter
Backup the database and review for signs of unauthorized access or modification
Audit user accounts with access to the application for suspicious activity

Patch Information

No official patch has been released by the vendor at this time. Organizations using SourceCodester Hotel and Lodge Management System 1.0 should contact the vendor for remediation guidance or consider implementing manual code fixes. For updates and additional information, refer to SourceCodester or the VulDB Submission #665061.

Workarounds

Implement prepared statements with parameterized queries in the /del_room.php file to prevent SQL injection
Add input validation to sanitize the ID parameter, ensuring only numeric values are accepted
Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF in front of the application to filter malicious requests
Restrict database user permissions to limit the impact of potential SQL injection exploitation
Consider taking the application offline until proper remediation can be implemented

bash

# Example: Restrict access to vulnerable endpoint using Apache .htaccess
<Files "del_room.php">
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
</Files>