CVE-2025-13076: Responsive Hotel Site SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2025-13076 Overview

A SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in code-projects Responsive Hotel Site version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in an unknown function within the file /admin/usersetting.php. By manipulating the usname argument, an attacker can inject malicious SQL statements. This attack can be executed remotely over the network, and an exploit has been publicly disclosed.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation could allow attackers with administrative access to execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion within the application's database.

Affected Products

• Fabian Responsive Hotel Site version 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-11-12 - CVE-2025-13076 published to NVD
• 2025-11-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-13076

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), commonly associated with injection attacks. The affected component is the /admin/usersetting.php file, which handles user settings within the administrative interface.

The vulnerability arises from improper input validation of the usname parameter. When this parameter is processed by the application, user-supplied input is concatenated directly into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterized query usage. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL syntax that alters the intended query behavior.

As an administrative function, this vulnerability requires elevated privileges to exploit. However, once an attacker gains access to the admin panel through credential theft, brute force, or other means, they can leverage this SQL injection to extract sensitive data from the database, modify records, or potentially escalate their attack further.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper input validation and sanitization for the usname parameter in the /admin/usersetting.php file. The application directly incorporates user-controlled input into SQL statements without using prepared statements or parameterized queries, enabling SQL injection attacks.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, allowing remote exploitation. An authenticated attacker with administrative privileges can submit specially crafted input to the usname parameter. The malicious SQL payload is then executed by the database server, potentially allowing the attacker to:

• Extract sensitive information from database tables
• Modify or delete existing database records
• Bypass authentication mechanisms for other users
• Potentially achieve command execution on the database server depending on configuration

The vulnerability exploits the trust placed in user input within the administrative interface, demonstrating that even authenticated endpoints require robust input validation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-13076

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed requests to /admin/usersetting.php containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords
• Database error messages in application logs indicating SQL syntax errors or unexpected query behavior
• Unexpected database queries or modifications not attributable to normal administrative actions
• Evidence of data exfiltration or bulk data access from the application database

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the usname parameter
• Monitor application logs for requests to /admin/usersetting.php containing suspicious payloads
• Configure database audit logging to track unusual query patterns or unauthorized data access attempts
• Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for all requests to administrative endpoints including /admin/usersetting.php
• Set up alerts for repeated failed login attempts to administrative interfaces that may precede exploitation
• Monitor database query logs for anomalous patterns such as UNION-based queries or time-based blind injection attempts
• Review access logs for administrative actions that correlate with unusual database activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13076

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the /admin/usersetting.php endpoint to trusted IP addresses only
• Implement additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative access
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection enabled
• Review administrative user accounts and revoke unnecessary privileges
• Consider taking the application offline if it cannot be adequately protected

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been identified at this time. The vulnerability affects Fabian Responsive Hotel Site version 1.0. Organizations using this software should contact the vendor or consider implementing custom fixes. For additional technical details, refer to the GitHub CVE Report and VulDB #332207.

Workarounds

• Implement prepared statements or parameterized queries in the affected PHP file to properly handle the usname parameter
• Apply input validation to sanitize or reject any input containing SQL metacharacters before processing
• Restrict network access to the administrative interface using firewall rules or VPN requirements
• Consider disabling the affected user settings functionality until a proper fix can be implemented

The mitigation involves modifying the database query handling to use prepared statements. Below is a conceptual example of the secure approach:

# Secure query implementation using prepared statements
# Replace direct string concatenation with parameterized queries

$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = :usname");
$stmt->bindParam(':usname', $usname, PDO::PARAM_STR);
$stmt->execute();