CVE-2025-13545: Travel-agency SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-13545 Overview

CVE-2025-13545 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the ashraf-kabir travel-agency application, affecting code up to commit 1f25aa03544bc5fb7a9e846f8a7879cecdb0cad3. The flaw exists in /admin_area/index.php, where the edit_pack parameter is passed to backend database queries without proper sanitization. Attackers with high privileges on the application can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The exploit has been disclosed publicly. Because the project uses continuous delivery with rolling releases, no discrete affected or fixed version numbers are published. The vendor was contacted prior to disclosure but did not respond.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can inject SQL through the edit_pack parameter in the admin area, exposing or modifying database records remotely.

Affected Products

ashraf-kabir travel-agency (all rolling releases up to commit 1f25aa03544bc5fb7a9e846f8a7879cecdb0cad3)
Component: ashraf-kabir:travel-agency
Affected file: /admin_area/index.php

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-23 - CVE-2025-13545 published to NVD
2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-13545

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a SQL injection flaw [CWE-89], a subclass of improper neutralization of special elements in output used by a downstream component [CWE-74]. The defect resides in the administrative interface of the travel-agency PHP application, specifically in /admin_area/index.php. The script accepts the edit_pack request parameter and incorporates it into a SQL query without parameterized statements or input validation.

Exploitation requires network access to the admin area and authenticated context with high privileges. Once an attacker can reach the endpoint, crafted edit_pack values change the structure of the underlying SQL statement. This enables data exfiltration, modification of travel package records, and potential lateral access to other tables in the application database. Because the project ships as rolling releases, deployments must be evaluated by commit hash rather than version number.

Root Cause

The root cause is direct concatenation of attacker-controlled input into a SQL query. The edit_pack parameter is consumed by /admin_area/index.php without prepared statements, type casting, or allow-list validation, violating safe query construction practices defined by [CWE-89].

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and remote. An authenticated administrator-level account is required to reach the vulnerable endpoint. The attacker submits HTTP requests to /admin_area/index.php containing a malicious edit_pack payload. The exploit has been disclosed publicly through the referenced VulDB and GitHub document records.

No verified proof-of-concept code is included here. Technical details are available in the GitHub Document on CVE and VulDB entry #333312.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-13545

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to /admin_area/index.php containing SQL metacharacters such as ', ", --, UNION, SELECT, or SLEEP( inside the edit_pack parameter.
Unexpected database errors or stack traces correlated with admin session activity targeting the edit_pack parameter.
Anomalous administrator logins followed by repeated GET or POST requests to /admin_area/index.php with varying edit_pack values.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall rules that flag SQL injection patterns specifically on /admin_area/index.php request parameters.
Enable database query logging and alert on queries referencing the travel package tables that contain inline string literals from HTTP input.
Correlate admin authentication events with subsequent edit_pack parameter access to identify abuse of legitimate credentials.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor PHP and web server error logs for SQL syntax errors originating from /admin_area/index.php.
Track outbound database traffic volume from the application host for spikes that suggest bulk data extraction.
Audit administrator account creation, password changes, and privilege escalations in the application user table.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-13545

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to /admin_area/ to trusted IP ranges or place it behind a VPN.
Rotate all administrator credentials and review accounts with access to the admin area.
Deploy WAF signatures that block SQL injection payloads targeting the edit_pack parameter.
Pull the latest commit from the upstream repository and audit /admin_area/index.php for unsanitized SQL queries.

Patch Information

The vendor uses continuous delivery with rolling releases, and no formal patch or fixed version has been published. The vendor did not respond to disclosure attempts. Operators should fork or modify the source to replace string-concatenated SQL with prepared statements using PDO or mysqli parameter binding. Refer to VulDB CTI-ID #333312 for tracking updates.

Workarounds

Apply server-side input validation that constrains edit_pack to expected numeric identifiers before it reaches any SQL query.
Refactor affected queries in /admin_area/index.php to use prepared statements with bound parameters.
Enforce least-privilege database accounts so the application user cannot read or modify tables outside its operational scope.
Disable or remove the admin interface from internet-facing deployments until the code is remediated.

bash

# Example nginx configuration restricting admin area access to a trusted subnet
location /admin_area/ {
    allow 10.0.0.0/24;
    deny all;
}