CVE-2022-44097 is a critical security vulnerability identified in the Book Store Management System version 1.0. The core issue stems from the presence of hardcoded credentials within the application, which can be exploited by attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to the administrative panel. Hardcoded credentials (classified under CWE-798) are a serious security flaw because they embed fixed usernames and passwords directly into the source code or binaries, making them accessible to anyone who can analyze the software or intercept the credentials. In this case, the vulnerability allows an attacker with network access to the application to bypass authentication mechanisms without requiring any prior privileges or user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the high severity, indicating that the vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network (AV:N), requires no authentication (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a high degree (C:H/I:H/A:H). Exploiting this vulnerability would allow an attacker to fully compromise the system, manipulate or steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks. Although no specific vendor or product details beyond the generic Book Store Management System v1.0 are provided, the vulnerability is critical due to the direct administrative access it grants. No patches or known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date (November 30, 2022).

For European organizations using the affected Book Store Management System v1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Unauthorized administrative access could lead to full system compromise, including theft of customer data, manipulation of sales records, disruption of business operations, and potential reputational damage. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability, attackers could leverage it to deploy ransomware, exfiltrate sensitive financial or personal data, or establish persistent footholds within the network. The impact is particularly severe for organizations handling sensitive customer information under GDPR regulations, as breaches could result in substantial fines and legal consequences. Additionally, the availability of the system could be disrupted, affecting business continuity. The lack of required authentication and user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the likelihood of attacks if the system is exposed to untrusted networks or the internet. Organizations in sectors such as retail, e-commerce, and supply chain management that rely on this software are at heightened risk.

1. Immediate identification and inventory of all instances of Book Store Management System v1.0 within the organization to assess exposure. 2. Since no official patches are available, organizations should remove or disable hardcoded credentials by modifying the source code or configuration files, replacing them with secure, unique credentials stored in protected vaults or environment variables. 3. Implement network segmentation and restrict access to the application’s administrative interfaces to trusted internal networks only, using firewalls and access control lists. 4. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all administrative access points to add an additional security layer beyond credentials. 5. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual access patterns or brute force attempts targeting the admin panel. 6. If possible, replace the vulnerable system with a more secure, updated solution that follows best practices for credential management. 7. Conduct regular security audits and code reviews to detect and remediate hardcoded credentials or similar vulnerabilities in custom or third-party software. 8. Educate development and operations teams about the risks of hardcoded credentials and enforce secure coding standards.