CVE-2022-44401 is a critical arbitrary file upload vulnerability identified in the Online Tours & Travels Management System version 1.0. The vulnerability exists in the /tour/admin/file.php endpoint, which allows unauthenticated remote attackers to upload arbitrary files without any restrictions or validation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type). Because the upload functionality does not properly validate or restrict file types, attackers can upload malicious files such as web shells or scripts that can be executed on the server. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity level with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and affects the system universally (Scope: Unchanged). Successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise, including remote code execution, data theft, data manipulation, and potential disruption of service. Although no public exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date (November 28, 2022), the ease of exploitation and critical impact make this vulnerability a high priority for remediation. The lack of vendor or product details beyond the application name limits the ability to identify specific affected deployments, but the vulnerability is clearly tied to a niche travel management system used for online tour and travel operations.

For European organizations, especially those in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors using the Online Tours & Travels Management System v1.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, including personal identification and payment information, resulting in privacy breaches and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. Attackers could deploy web shells to maintain persistent access, manipulate booking data, or disrupt service availability, causing operational downtime and reputational damage. Given the criticality of travel services in Europe’s economy and the reliance on digital platforms for bookings and management, such a compromise could have cascading effects on business continuity and customer trust. Additionally, attackers could leverage compromised systems as pivot points for lateral movement within corporate networks, potentially impacting broader IT infrastructure. The absence of authentication requirements for exploitation increases the threat level, making it easier for external attackers to target vulnerable systems remotely.

1. Immediate patching or upgrading to a fixed version of the Online Tours & Travels Management System is the most effective mitigation; however, no patch links are currently available, so contacting the vendor or developer for updates is critical. 2. Implement strict file upload validation controls: restrict allowed file types to safe formats (e.g., images only), enforce file size limits, and verify file content signatures rather than relying solely on extensions. 3. Deploy web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious file upload attempts targeting /tour/admin/file.php. 4. Restrict access to the /tour/admin/file.php endpoint by IP whitelisting or VPN access to reduce exposure. 5. Monitor server logs and file system changes for unusual activity indicative of file upload abuse or web shell deployment. 6. Harden the web server environment by disabling execution permissions in upload directories to prevent execution of uploaded malicious files. 7. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on file upload functionalities. 8. Educate system administrators about the risks of arbitrary file uploads and establish incident response plans for rapid containment if exploitation is detected.