CVE-2023-51320 identifies a CSV Injection vulnerability in PHPJabbers Night Club Booking Software version 1.0. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation on the Languages section Labels parameters within the System Options, which are incorporated into CSV files generated by the software. CSV Injection, also known as Formula Injection, occurs when untrusted input is embedded directly into CSV files without sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious spreadsheet formulas. When such a CSV file is opened in spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc, the malicious formulas can execute, potentially leading to remote code execution or data exfiltration. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require any authentication or user interaction to be exploited; an attacker can craft malicious input that, when exported and opened by an administrator or user, triggers the payload. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction needed, and impact limited to confidentiality loss. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability is classified under CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code), highlighting the risk of code injection. The lack of patches or official fixes increases the urgency for organizations to apply mitigations. The threat primarily affects organizations using PHPJabbers Night Club Booking Software for managing bookings and customer data, which may include sensitive personal information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands or extract confidential data, undermining trust and compliance with data protection regulations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-51320 can be significant, especially those in the hospitality and nightlife sectors relying on PHPJabbers Night Club Booking Software. The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive customer data, including personal and booking information, violating GDPR requirements and potentially resulting in regulatory fines. Remote code execution via CSV Injection could allow attackers to compromise internal systems, pivot within networks, or deploy malware, threatening operational continuity. The attack vector is remote and does not require authentication, increasing the risk of exploitation by external threat actors. Additionally, the social engineering aspect—tricking users into opening malicious CSV files—could lead to wider organizational compromise. The reputational damage from a breach involving customer data or service disruption could be severe, impacting customer trust and business revenue. Given the medium severity, the threat is moderate but should not be underestimated, particularly in countries with high nightlife activity and digital adoption in hospitality services.

To mitigate CVE-2023-51320, organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied data that is included in CSV exports, particularly in the Languages section Labels parameters. Specifically, input should be sanitized to neutralize characters that trigger formula execution in spreadsheet software, such as '=', '+', '-', and '@' at the start of fields. Applying escaping techniques or prefixing fields with a single quote can prevent formula interpretation. Organizations should update or patch the PHPJabbers software if and when a vendor fix becomes available. Until then, restricting access to the System Options interface and limiting who can input data into the Languages section can reduce risk. Educating staff to treat CSV files from the booking system cautiously and to disable automatic formula execution in spreadsheet applications can prevent exploitation. Employing endpoint protection and monitoring for unusual activity related to CSV file handling can also help detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Finally, organizations should review and enhance their incident response plans to address potential CSV Injection attacks.