CVE-2025-11474 Overview
A SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in SourceCodester Hotel and Lodge Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /edit_booking.php file where the "Name" parameter is not properly sanitized before being used in SQL queries. This allows remote authenticated attackers to inject malicious SQL commands, potentially compromising the application's database integrity and confidentiality.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers with low-level authentication can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or potentially gain further access to the underlying system through database-level attacks.
Affected Products
- SourceCodester Hotel and Lodge Management System 1.0
- nikhil-bhalerao hotel_and_lodge_management_system 1.0
Discovery Timeline
- October 8, 2025 - CVE-2025-11474 published to NVD
- October 8, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-11474
Vulnerability Analysis
This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands within the /edit_booking.php endpoint. The application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input in the "Name" argument before incorporating it into SQL queries. This classic injection flaw (CWE-74) allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and execute arbitrary SQL commands.
The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network and requires low-level authentication to access the booking edit functionality. Once authenticated, an attacker can manipulate the Name parameter to inject SQL payloads that could enumerate database contents, extract sensitive guest information, modify booking records, or potentially escalate their access.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation and the lack of parameterized queries or prepared statements in the edit_booking.php file. The application directly concatenates user input from the "Name" parameter into SQL queries without proper sanitization or escaping, creating a direct SQL injection vector.
Attack Vector
The attack can be initiated remotely by any authenticated user with access to the booking edit functionality. The attacker submits a crafted request to /edit_booking.php with a malicious SQL payload in the "Name" parameter. Since the exploit has been publicly disclosed, technical details are available through the GitHub Issue Discussion.
The vulnerability allows manipulation of SQL queries through the Name field, enabling attackers to:
- Extract sensitive data from the database using UNION-based or error-based injection techniques
- Modify or delete existing booking records
- Potentially access other tables containing user credentials or payment information
- Enumerate database schema and structure for further exploitation
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-11474
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual or malformed entries in the booking database Name fields containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords
- Web server logs showing requests to /edit_booking.php with suspicious Name parameter values containing SQL injection patterns
- Database errors or exceptions logged that indicate malformed SQL queries
- Unexpected database query patterns or access to tables outside normal application behavior
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests to /edit_booking.php
- Implement application-level logging to monitor for SQL syntax characters in the Name parameter
- Configure database activity monitoring to alert on unusual query patterns or access to sensitive tables
- Review web server access logs for repeated requests with varying payloads targeting the edit_booking endpoint
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging on the database server to capture all queries executed against booking-related tables
- Set up alerts for database errors that may indicate injection attempts
- Monitor for bulk data extraction patterns that could indicate successful exploitation
- Implement rate limiting on the /edit_booking.php endpoint to slow down automated injection attacks
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-11474
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the /edit_booking.php functionality to only trusted administrative users until a patch is applied
- Implement input validation on the Name parameter to reject SQL metacharacters and special characters
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules
- Consider taking the Hotel and Lodge Management System offline if it contains sensitive data and no immediate fix is available
Patch Information
No official vendor patch information is currently available for this vulnerability. The affected software is distributed through SourceCodester and users should monitor for updates. Additional technical details and vulnerability discussion can be found in the VulDB entry #327592.
Workarounds
- Implement prepared statements or parameterized queries in the /edit_booking.php file to prevent SQL injection
- Apply input sanitization using PHP's mysqli_real_escape_string() or PDO prepared statements for all user inputs
- Restrict database user permissions to the minimum required privileges, preventing destructive operations
- Place the application behind a reverse proxy with SQL injection filtering capabilities
# Example Apache mod_security rule to block SQL injection attempts
SecRule ARGS:Name "@detectSQLi" "id:1001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in Name parameter'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
