CVE-2026-4966 Overview
A SQL injection vulnerability has been discovered in itsourcecode Free Hotel Reservation System version 1.0. The flaw exists in an unknown function of the file /admin/mod_room/index.php?view=edit, where improper handling of the ID argument allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely, enabling unauthorized database access and potential data manipulation.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to read, modify, or delete data from the backend database, potentially compromising guest information, reservation records, and administrative credentials.
Affected Products
- itsourcecode Free Hotel Reservation System 1.0
- Systems utilizing the affected /admin/mod_room/index.php endpoint
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-03-27 - CVE-2026-4966 published to NVD
- 2026-03-30 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-4966
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component), commonly associated with injection attacks. The affected endpoint /admin/mod_room/index.php?view=edit fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input in the ID parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. When an attacker manipulates the ID argument with specially crafted SQL syntax, the application executes the injected commands against the database without validation.
The vulnerability requires low privileges to exploit, meaning an authenticated user with basic access to the administrative panel can leverage this flaw. Since the attack vector is network-based, remote exploitation is possible without physical access to the target system.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation and the lack of parameterized queries or prepared statements in the affected PHP file. The application directly concatenates user-supplied input from the ID parameter into SQL query strings, allowing attackers to break out of the intended query context and inject arbitrary SQL commands. This represents a fundamental secure coding failure in handling database interactions.
Attack Vector
The attack exploits the network-accessible administrative interface of the Free Hotel Reservation System. An attacker with low-level privileges can send crafted HTTP requests to the /admin/mod_room/index.php?view=edit endpoint, manipulating the ID parameter to inject SQL payloads. The exploit has been publicly disclosed and may be actively used in the wild.
The attack flow involves:
- Identifying the vulnerable endpoint in the hotel reservation administrative panel
- Crafting malicious SQL injection payloads for the ID parameter
- Sending requests with injected payloads to extract or modify database contents
- Potentially escalating access to retrieve sensitive guest data or administrative credentials
For technical details on the exploitation technique, refer to the GitHub Issue Discussion documenting this vulnerability.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-4966
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual SQL error messages appearing in application logs from /admin/mod_room/index.php
- Anomalous database queries containing SQL keywords like UNION, SELECT, DROP, or -- in the ID parameter
- Unexpected access patterns to the administrative panel from unusual IP addresses
- Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized database modifications
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules targeting the affected endpoint
- Monitor HTTP request logs for suspicious patterns in the ID parameter values
- Implement database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns
- Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for common SQL injection attack patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging on the web server for all requests to /admin/mod_room/ endpoints
- Configure database audit logging to track queries executed against reservation-related tables
- Set up alerts for multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful admin panel access
- Monitor for bulk data extraction patterns from the database
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-4966
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict access to the administrative panel (/admin/) to trusted IP addresses only
- Implement input validation for the ID parameter, allowing only numeric values
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules
- Review access logs for signs of exploitation and reset credentials if compromise is suspected
Patch Information
As of the last update on 2026-03-30, no official vendor patch has been released for this vulnerability. The software is distributed through IT Source Code, but no security advisory or update has been published. Organizations using this software should implement the workarounds described below and monitor for patch availability.
Additional vulnerability details are available through VulDB #353843.
Workarounds
- Implement prepared statements or parameterized queries in the affected PHP file to prevent SQL injection
- Add server-side input validation to ensure the ID parameter accepts only integer values
- Place the administrative interface behind a VPN or IP allowlist to limit exposure
- Consider deploying an alternative hotel reservation system with better security practices until a patch is available
# Configuration example - Apache .htaccess restriction for admin directory
# Place in /admin/.htaccess to restrict access by IP
<RequireAll>
Require ip 192.168.1.0/24
Require ip 10.0.0.0/8
</RequireAll>
# Alternative: Deny all and allow specific IPs
Order deny,allow
Deny from all
Allow from 192.168.1.100
Allow from 10.0.0.50
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
