Parse Server vulnerable to SQL injection via Increment operation on nested object field in PostgreSQL

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS 4.0

9.3 · CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N · score source

EPSS

• CVE-2026-31856: 0.44% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 38.14 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Impact A SQL injection vulnerability exists in the PostgreSQL storage adapter when processing Increment operations on nested object fields using dot notation (e.g., stats.counter). The amount value is interpolated directly into the SQL query without parameterization or type validation. An attacker who can send write requests to the Parse Server REST API can inject arbitrary SQL subqueries to read any data from the database, bypassing CLPs and ACLs. MongoDB deployments are not affected. Patches The fix adds type validation to reject non-number values and parameterizes the value in the SQL query instead of interpolating it. Workarounds There is no known workaround. References - GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg - Fix Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.6.0-alpha.3 - Fix Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.29

Published by the source

11 Mar 2026, 00:26 UTC

Last modified by the source

13 Mar 2026, 13:11 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC

1. Revision 4 · amended · 26 Oct 2026

   Amended from ghsa record GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg

2. Revision 3 · amended · 25 Oct 2026

   Reviewed OSV alias/range/CVSS4 correction; package source scopes and original publication preserved. No customer finding resolved.

3. Revision 2 · amended · 24 Oct 2026

   Amended from osv record GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg

4. Revision 1 · created · 23 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-31856

Advisory: Parse Server vulnerable to SQL injection via `Increment` operation on nested object field in PostgreSQL
IDs: CVE-2026-31856, GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-31856 (revision 4, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:43 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.3)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: parse-server 9.6.0-alpha.3, 8.6.29. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm parse-server: affected >= 9.0.0-alpha.1, < 9.6.0-alpha.3; < 8.6.29; fixed in 9.6.0-alpha.3, 8.6.29

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `npm ls parse-server --all`: lists every installed copy and version, including transitive ones. Run in the project root after `npm ci`.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on parse-server.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg lists affected ranges: npm parse-server >=9.0.0-alpha.1 =0 <8.6.29)
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg (OSV record GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg lists affected ranges: npm parse-server >=9.0.0-alpha.1 =0 <8.6.29 (fixed))

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