CVE-2023-51302
📋 TL;DR
PHPJabbers Hotel Booking System v4.0 has a CSV injection vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when malicious CSV files are processed. This affects any organization using this specific version of the hotel booking software. Attackers can exploit insufficient input validation in the Languages section to inject formulas that execute when opened in spreadsheet applications.
💻 Affected Systems
- PHPJabbers Hotel Booking System
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution on the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data theft, or ransomware deployment.
Likely Case
Data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or installation of backdoors through successful code execution.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper input validation and CSV sanitization in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction to open malicious CSV files, but technical details are publicly documented.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after v4.0 (check vendor for specific version)
Vendor Advisory: https://www.phpjabbers.com/hotel-booking-system/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update to the latest version from PHPJabbers. 2. Apply vendor-provided patches if available. 3. Validate all CSV input fields for malicious content.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Input Validation for CSV Fields
allImplement server-side validation to sanitize CSV input by escaping formula characters (=, +, -, @) and removing dangerous content.
Implement PHP input sanitization: preg_replace('/^[=+\-@]/', "'", $input);
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable CSV export functionality in the Languages section if not required.
- Implement web application firewall rules to block CSV injection patterns.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if using PHPJabbers Hotel Booking System v4.0 and test CSV export functionality with formula injection payloads.Check Version:
Check system configuration or admin panel for version information.Verify Fix Applied:
Test CSV export with malicious payloads after patching to ensure they are properly sanitized.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual CSV export requests
- Errors in PHP logs related to CSV processing
- Unexpected system commands in application logs
Network Indicators:
- Suspicious CSV file downloads
- Unexpected outbound connections after CSV processing
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND (uri="*csv*" OR uri="*export*") AND (payload="=cmd|" OR payload="+cmd|" OR payload="-cmd|")