CVE-2025-1964: Online Hotel Booking SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-1964 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in Projectworlds Online Hotel Booking version 1.0. This vulnerability affects the /booknow.php file, specifically when processing the checkin parameter. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL queries through the checkin argument, potentially compromising database integrity and confidentiality. The exploit has been publicly disclosed, and other parameters may also be affected by similar injection flaws.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database without authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data manipulation, or complete database compromise.

Affected Products

• Projectworlds Online Hotel Booking 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-03-05 - CVE-2025-1964 published to NVD
• 2025-05-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-1964

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability exists in the booking functionality of the Online Hotel Booking application. The root issue stems from improper input validation when processing user-supplied data through the checkin parameter in the /booknow.php endpoint. When users interact with room booking functionality (accessed via URLs like /booknow.php?roomname=Duplex), the application fails to properly sanitize or parameterize the checkin input before incorporating it into SQL queries.

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), which encompasses injection vulnerabilities. Since the attack can be initiated remotely without any authentication or user interaction requirements, it presents a significant risk to any deployment of this application. The vulnerability disclosure notes that other parameters in the same functionality may be similarly affected.

Root Cause

The vulnerability originates from insufficient input sanitization in the /booknow.php file. The checkin parameter is directly concatenated or interpolated into SQL queries without proper escaping, parameterization, or use of prepared statements. This classic injection flaw allows attackers to break out of the intended SQL context and execute arbitrary database commands.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network by any unauthenticated attacker. An attacker simply needs to craft a malicious HTTP request to the /booknow.php endpoint with a specially crafted checkin parameter value containing SQL injection payloads. The injection can be leveraged to extract sensitive data from the database, modify or delete records, or potentially gain further access to the underlying system depending on database configuration and permissions.

For example, an attacker could manipulate the checkin parameter to append additional SQL commands that bypass application logic, dump database contents, or alter booking records. The public disclosure of this vulnerability increases the risk of exploitation in the wild.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-1964

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages in application logs originating from /booknow.php
• Requests to /booknow.php containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or SQL keywords in the checkin parameter
• Database audit logs showing unexpected queries or unauthorized data access patterns
• Anomalous booking entries or database modifications not correlating with legitimate user activity

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in HTTP request parameters
• Monitor HTTP access logs for requests to /booknow.php containing suspicious characters or SQL keywords in query parameters
• Enable database query logging and alert on queries containing injection indicators such as UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, or comment sequences
• Deploy runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect injection attempts at the application layer

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerting for any SQL errors generated by the booking application
• Establish baseline metrics for database query patterns and alert on anomalies
• Monitor for bulk data extraction patterns that could indicate successful exploitation
• Review web server access logs regularly for scanning or exploitation attempts targeting booking endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-1964

Immediate Actions Required

• Take the affected Online Hotel Booking application offline or restrict access to trusted networks until remediation is complete
• Implement input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters in /booknow.php
• Replace dynamic SQL query construction with prepared statements using parameterized queries
• Deploy a WAF with SQL injection detection rules as an interim protective measure

Patch Information

No official vendor patch has been released at this time. Organizations using Projectworlds Online Hotel Booking 1.0 should implement code-level fixes to address the SQL injection vulnerability. Review all database queries in the application, particularly in /booknow.php, and ensure proper use of prepared statements with bound parameters. For additional technical details, refer to the GitHub Issue Discussion and VulDB entry.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to the booking application using firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted IP ranges only
• Implement a reverse proxy or WAF that can filter and block malicious SQL injection payloads
• Disable or remove the /booknow.php functionality until a proper fix can be implemented
• Apply database principle of least privilege to limit the impact of successful SQL injection attacks

# Example WAF rule configuration for ModSecurity
# Block SQL injection attempts in checkin parameter
SecRule ARGS:checkin "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:100001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    log,\
    msg:'SQL Injection Attempt Detected in checkin parameter',\
    severity:'CRITICAL'"