CVE-2026-31856
SQL Injection in Parse Server PostgreSQL Adapter Enables Data Exposure
Publication date: 2026-03-11
Last updated on: 2026-03-13
Assigner: GitHub, Inc.
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| parseplatform | parse-server | 9.6.0 |
| parseplatform | parse-server | 9.6.0 |
| parseplatform | parse-server | From 9.0.0 (inc) to 9.6.0 (exc) |
| parseplatform | parse-server | to 8.6.29 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-89 | The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
CVE-2026-31856 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in the Parse Server PostgreSQL storage adapter. It occurs when processing Increment operations on nested object fields using dot notation (e.g., stats.counter). The vulnerability arises because the amount value is directly interpolated into SQL queries without parameterization or type validation.
An attacker who can send write requests to the Parse Server REST API can exploit this flaw to inject arbitrary SQL subqueries. This allows them to read any data from the database and bypass Class-Level Permissions (CLPs) and Access Control Lists (ACLs). MongoDB deployments are not affected by this vulnerability.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can have severe impacts including unauthorized disclosure and modification of data stored in the PostgreSQL database used by Parse Server.
- Attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands remotely without any privileges or user interaction.
- They can bypass security controls such as Class-Level Permissions (CLPs) and Access Control Lists (ACLs).
- Sensitive data can be read or altered, compromising confidentiality and integrity.
There is no impact on availability, but the high confidentiality and integrity impacts make this a critical security risk.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
I don't know
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
I don't know
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
[{'type': 'paragraph', 'content': "To mitigate the SQL injection vulnerability in Parse Server's PostgreSQL storage adapter, you should upgrade your Parse Server deployment to a fixed version."}, {'type': 'list_item', 'content': 'Upgrade to version 8.6.29 or later if you are using the 8.x branch.'}, {'type': 'list_item', 'content': 'Upgrade to version 9.6.0-alpha.3 or later if you are using the 9.x branch.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'These versions include fixes that add strict type validation to reject non-numeric increment amounts and use parameterized SQL queries to prevent SQL injection attacks.'}, {'type': 'paragraph', 'content': 'Note that no known workarounds exist, so upgrading is the recommended immediate action.'}] [1, 2, 3]