CVE-2026-10288: Hotel Reservation System Admin Authentication Bypass

Technical summary

CVE-2026-10288 is an improper authentication vulnerability (CWE-287) affecting the password_verify function within /admin/login.php. The vulnerability stems from inadequate password validation logic in the Admin Login component. By manipulating the Password argument, an attacker can circumvent authentication checks. The attack vector is network-based, requires no privileges, no user interaction, and operates in the user security scope. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.3 (HIGH) reflects low complexity and direct remote exploitability across confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.

Business impact

Compromise of the admin login exposes the entire reservation system to unauthorized control. An attacker gaining admin access can view, modify, or delete guest bookings; alter pricing and availability; exfiltrate customer data including payment information and personal details; inject malicious content; and disable critical business functions. For a hotel or tourism operator, this creates immediate operational disruption, regulatory compliance violations (PCI-DSS, GDPR), reputational damage, and potential financial loss through fraud or ransom demands.

Affected systems

code-projects Hotel and Tourism Reservation System version 1.0 is confirmed vulnerable. Organizations running this specific version with internet-exposed admin interfaces are at direct risk. Determine if your deployment is version 1.0 and whether the /admin/login.php endpoint is accessible from untrusted networks. Verify whether the system is actively used to process real guest reservations and payments.

Exploitability

Exploitability is high. The vulnerability requires only network access and no authentication prerequisites, meaning any remote actor can attempt exploitation. The CVSS metric AC:L (Low Attack Complexity) confirms the attack is straightforward. Public disclosure of proof-of-concept code significantly increases real-world exploitation likelihood. Expect automated scanning and opportunistic exploitation attempts against exposed instances within days of public disclosure.

Remediation

Immediate action is required. First, identify all instances of Hotel and Tourism Reservation System 1.0 in your environment, especially internet-facing deployments. Contact code-projects for an updated patch or security advisory addressing the password_verify function. As an interim measure, restrict network access to /admin/login.php using firewall rules, WAF policies, or network segmentation—allow admin login only from trusted administrative networks. Consider implementing mandatory multi-factor authentication at the application layer if the vendor provides that capability. If no patch is available within 48 hours, evaluate system retirement or replacement.

Patch guidance

Check the code-projects official security advisory and product repository for available patches beyond version 1.0. Apply any released patch immediately following standard change control procedures, including testing in a non-production environment first. If patching is delayed, compensate with network-level access controls. Verify the patch by confirming the password_verify function now properly validates credentials and that admin login from a test account correctly rejects invalid passwords. Document patch application and test results for compliance records.

Detection guidance

Monitor authentication logs in /admin/login.php for unusual patterns: multiple rapid login attempts from different IP addresses, successful logins from unexpected geographic locations or at unusual hours, and successful admin logins immediately following failed attempts (indicating bypass). Deploy network-based intrusion detection rules looking for POST requests to /admin/login.php with suspicious payloads or abnormal parameter encoding. Log all admin access and cross-reference against legitimate administrative staff schedules. Alert on any admin password changes initiated outside normal administrative windows. If WAF is deployed, create rules to detect and block known exploitation patterns as they emerge in public disclosures.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability merits immediate remediation due to the combination of high CVSS severity (7.3), complete authentication bypass enabling full admin compromise, proven remote exploitability with no prerequisites, publicly available proof-of-concept code, and direct exposure of sensitive customer and operational data. The low attack complexity means exploitation requires minimal skill. For any organization running this system in production, this represents a critical business continuity and data protection risk requiring emergency response protocols.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.3 reflects: Network attack vector (AV:N) allowing remote exploitation; Low attack complexity (AC:L) requiring no special conditions; No required privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N); User scope unchanged (S:U); and impact across all three CIA triad dimensions—confidentiality loss (access to guest data), integrity loss (modification of bookings and system data), and availability loss (potential service disruption). The HIGH severity is appropriate given the direct path to administrative control and the sensitivity of hospitality reservation data.

Frequently asked questions