CVE-2025-6418: Simple Hotel Reservation System SQL Injection

CVE-2025-6418 Overview

A critical SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in code-projects Simple Online Hotel Reservation System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /admin/edit_query_account.php file, where improper handling of the Name argument allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands. This flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate database queries without authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to bypass authentication, extract sensitive guest and reservation data, and potentially gain full control over the hotel reservation database.

Affected Products

• Fabian Simple Online Hotel Reservation System 1.0
• code-projects Simple Online Hotel Reservation System 1.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-06-21 - CVE-2025-6418 published to NVD
• 2025-10-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-6418

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation in the administrative panel of the Simple Online Hotel Reservation System. The edit_query_account.php script processes the Name parameter directly in SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterized queries, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL statements. The network-accessible nature of this web application means any remote attacker can target the vulnerable endpoint without requiring prior authentication or special privileges.

The vulnerability affects both the confidentiality and integrity of the underlying database. Attackers can craft malicious payloads to extract sensitive hotel guest information, reservation details, and administrative credentials. The public disclosure of this exploit significantly increases the risk of active exploitation in production environments.

Root Cause

The root cause is a classic CWE-89 (SQL Injection) vulnerability combined with CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output). The application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input in the Name parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. The PHP code directly concatenates user input into SQL statements instead of using prepared statements or parameterized queries, allowing attackers to break out of the intended query context and execute arbitrary SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack can be launched remotely against the /admin/edit_query_account.php endpoint. An attacker submits a crafted HTTP request containing SQL injection payloads in the Name parameter. Since the application lacks proper input validation, the malicious SQL code is executed directly against the database server. This network-based attack vector requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous for internet-facing deployments.

The exploitation technique typically involves manipulating the Name parameter to include SQL syntax such as single quotes, UNION statements, or boolean-based injection payloads to extract data or modify database contents. For detailed technical information on the exploit methodology, refer to the GitHub CVE Issue Discussion and VulDB #313412.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-6418

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages appearing in web server logs from the /admin/edit_query_account.php endpoint
• HTTP requests containing SQL injection patterns (single quotes, UNION SELECT, OR 1=1) in the Name parameter
• Unexpected database queries or data extraction patterns in database audit logs
• Anomalous access patterns to administrative endpoints from external IP addresses

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the Name parameter
• Implement real-time log analysis to identify requests containing common SQL injection signatures against edit_query_account.php
• Configure database activity monitoring to alert on unusual query patterns or bulk data extraction
• Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for the /admin/edit_query_account.php endpoint and monitor for suspicious request patterns
• Configure alerts for database errors that may indicate injection attempts, such as syntax errors or unexpected query results
• Monitor for authentication bypass attempts and unauthorized administrative access
• Establish baseline traffic patterns and alert on deviations that may indicate active exploitation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-6418

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict access to the /admin/ directory using IP-based access controls or authentication mechanisms
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules as an interim measure
• Consider taking the vulnerable application offline until a proper fix can be implemented
• Review database logs for signs of prior exploitation and assess potential data compromise

Patch Information

No official vendor patch is currently available for this vulnerability. The affected software is a code-projects educational/demonstration application. Organizations using this system in production should implement the workarounds below and consider migrating to a more secure, actively maintained hotel reservation solution. Monitor the Code Projects Resource page for any future updates.

Workarounds

• Implement prepared statements and parameterized queries in the edit_query_account.php file to properly sanitize the Name input
• Add server-side input validation to reject requests containing SQL metacharacters in the Name parameter
• Restrict network access to the administrative panel using firewall rules or VPN requirements
• Deploy a reverse proxy with ModSecurity or similar WAF capabilities to filter malicious requests

# Example Apache .htaccess restriction for admin directory
<Directory "/var/www/html/admin">
    Order deny,allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
    # Add additional trusted IP ranges as needed
</Directory>