GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5 — parse-server
GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5 is a CWE-863 vulnerability in parse-server. A fix is available for parse-server — see the affected versions and patch details below.
parse-server's endpoint `/loginAs` allows `readOnlyMasterKey` to gain full read and write access as any user
Exploitation Status
No confirmed exploitation observed yet
- CISA’s own triage has not observed active exploitation or public proof-of-concept code for this CVE as of its last assessment.
Exploitation and automatability from CISA’s SSVC triage for GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
Real-World Exposure
How broadly this vulnerability is actually deployed: weekly install volume shows current usage, and reverse-dependency count shows how many other packages break if it stays unpatched.
parse-servernpmDescription
Impact
The readOnlyMasterKey can call POST /loginAs to obtain a valid session token for any user. This allows a read-only credential to impersonate arbitrary users with full read and write access to their data. Any Parse Server deployment that uses readOnlyMasterKey is affected.
Patches
The fix adds a check to the /logInAs handler.
Workarounds
There is no workaround other than not using readOnlyMasterKey.
References
- GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5
- Fix for Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.0-alpha.4
- Fix for Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.6
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📦npm | parse-server | all versions | 8.6.6npm install parse-server@8.6.6 |
| 📦npm | parse-server | ≥ 9.0.0&&< 9.5.0-alpha.4 | 9.5.0-alpha.4npm install parse-server@9.5.0-alpha.4 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for parse-server, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update parse-server to 8.6.6 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5 in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5 across npm dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.