CVE-2025-11471: Hotel Management System SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-11471 Overview

A SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Hotel and Lodge Management System version 1.0. This vulnerability exists in the /edit_customer.php file, where improper handling of the ID argument allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands. The attack can be performed remotely without authentication, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying database.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive customer data, modify database records, or potentially gain further access to the underlying system through database manipulation techniques.

Affected Products

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

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-10-08 - CVE-2025-11471 published to NVD
• 2025-10-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-11471

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (SQL Injection) and CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component). The flaw resides in the edit_customer.php file, which fails to properly sanitize the ID parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries.

When a user or attacker supplies a crafted ID value containing SQL metacharacters, the application directly concatenates this input into database queries without adequate validation or parameterization. This allows attackers to modify the query logic, potentially extracting unauthorized data, bypassing authentication mechanisms, or manipulating database contents.

The vulnerability is accessible over the network and requires no authentication or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for internet-facing deployments of this hotel management system.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper input validation and parameterized queries in the edit_customer.php file. The application directly incorporates user-supplied input from the ID parameter into SQL queries without sanitization, escaping, or the use of prepared statements. This classic SQL injection pattern allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and inject arbitrary SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely by sending specially crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable /edit_customer.php endpoint. The attacker manipulates the ID parameter to include SQL injection payloads.

A typical attack would involve sending requests with malicious ID values containing SQL syntax such as union-based injections, boolean-based blind injections, or time-based blind injections to extract data or manipulate the database. Since no authentication is required and the exploit has been publicly disclosed, this vulnerability poses an immediate risk to exposed installations.

For technical details and proof-of-concept information, see the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB Entry #327589.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-11471

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests to /edit_customer.php containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords like UNION, SELECT, DROP
• Web server logs showing requests with encoded SQL injection payloads in the ID parameter
• Database logs indicating unexpected queries or syntax errors associated with the customer editing functionality
• Evidence of database data exfiltration or unauthorized modifications to customer records

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the ID parameter in /edit_customer.php
• Implement intrusion detection system (IDS) signatures for common SQL injection patterns in HTTP traffic
• Enable detailed logging on web servers and database servers to capture suspicious query patterns
• Use automated vulnerability scanners to identify SQL injection vulnerabilities in web applications

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor HTTP access logs for anomalous requests to /edit_customer.php with suspicious ID parameter values
• Set up alerts for database errors or query anomalies that may indicate SQL injection attempts
• Track changes to database records for unauthorized modifications to customer data
• Implement real-time security monitoring for network traffic patterns indicating exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-11471

Immediate Actions Required

• Remove or restrict access to the Hotel and Lodge Management System from the public internet until patched
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting /edit_customer.php
• Review database logs for signs of exploitation and assess potential data compromise
• If possible, modify the source code to implement prepared statements and parameterized queries for the ID parameter

Patch Information

As of the last NVD update on 2025-10-08, no official patch has been released by the vendor. The application is distributed through SourceCodester, and users should monitor for security updates. Given the publicly disclosed nature of this exploit, immediate compensating controls are recommended until an official fix is available.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to the application using firewall rules to allow only trusted IP addresses
• Implement input validation at the application layer to reject ID values containing SQL metacharacters
• Deploy a reverse proxy with SQL injection filtering capabilities in front of the application
• Manually patch the edit_customer.php file by implementing prepared statements with parameterized queries instead of direct string concatenation

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