CVE-2025-11403: Hotel Management System SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-11403 Overview

A SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Hotel and Lodge Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /del_booking.php file, where improper input validation of the ID argument allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. This flaw can be exploited remotely by authenticated attackers to manipulate database operations, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers with low privileges can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to compromise database integrity, extract sensitive guest information, and potentially gain further access to backend systems.

Affected Products

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

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-10-07 - CVE-2025-11403 published to NVD
• 2025-10-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-11403

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) affects the booking deletion functionality within the Hotel and Lodge Management System. The vulnerable endpoint /del_booking.php fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input in the ID parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. This improper neutralization of special elements (CWE-74) allows attackers to craft malicious input that alters the intended SQL command structure.

The attack can be initiated remotely over the network and requires only low-level privileges, making it accessible to any authenticated user of the system. The exploitation has been publicly documented, increasing the risk of widespread attacks against vulnerable installations.

Root Cause

The root cause stems from insufficient input validation and the absence of parameterized queries in the /del_booking.php script. The ID argument is directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper sanitization or use of prepared statements, violating secure coding practices for database interactions.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploited via network-based attacks targeting the /del_booking.php endpoint. An attacker can manipulate the ID parameter by injecting SQL syntax that modifies the query logic. This could allow operations such as:

• Extracting sensitive data from the database including guest personal information
• Bypassing authentication or authorization checks
• Modifying or deleting booking records
• Potentially escalating to command execution depending on database configuration

The attack requires low privileges and no user interaction, making it relatively straightforward to exploit. Technical details and proof-of-concept information have been discussed in the GitHub Issue Discussion and documented in VulDB #327340.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-11403

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL syntax patterns in web server access logs targeting /del_booking.php
• Unexpected database queries or error messages in application logs
• Anomalous data modifications or deletions in booking records
• Authentication logs showing unusual access patterns from legitimate user accounts

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in the ID parameter
• Implement database activity monitoring to identify suspicious query patterns or unauthorized data access
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for SQL injection attack patterns
• Review web server logs for requests to /del_booking.php containing suspicious characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or UNION statements

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the /del_booking.php endpoint and all database operations
• Set up alerts for failed SQL queries or database errors that may indicate injection attempts
• Monitor for bulk data extraction or unusual SELECT query patterns
• Implement real-time log analysis for web application traffic

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-11403

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the /del_booking.php endpoint until patches are applied
• Implement input validation on the ID parameter to accept only numeric values
• Deploy WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable endpoint
• Consider taking the application offline if it processes sensitive data and cannot be immediately patched

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been released at the time of publication. Organizations using SourceCodester Hotel and Lodge Management System 1.0 should monitor the SourceCodester website for security updates. In the absence of an official patch, implementing the workarounds below is strongly recommended.

Workarounds

• Modify the /del_booking.php source code to use parameterized queries or prepared statements for all database operations
• Add strict input validation to ensure the ID parameter contains only integer values
• Implement a whitelist-based input validation approach for all user-supplied parameters
• Deploy application-level access controls to limit which users can access the booking deletion functionality

# Example: Input validation for PHP (conceptual remediation)
# Replace direct query concatenation with prepared statements
# Validate ID parameter: if (!is_numeric($_GET['id'])) { die('Invalid ID'); }
# Use PDO prepared statements: $stmt = $pdo->prepare("DELETE FROM bookings WHERE id = ?");