GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg
GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg is a SQL Injection vulnerability in parse-server. O3 Security confirms whether GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.
Parse Server vulnerable to SQL injection via `Increment` operation on nested object field in PostgreSQL
Real-World Exposure
How broadly this vulnerability is actually deployed: weekly install volume shows current usage, a proxy for how much of the ecosystem is exposed.
parse-servernpmDescription
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
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📦npm | parse-server | ≥ 9.0.0-alpha.1&&< 9.6.0-alpha.3 | 9.6.0-alpha.3 |
| 📦npm | parse-server | all versions | 8.6.29 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for parse-server. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update parse-server to 9.6.0-alpha.3 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg 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 pinpoints whether GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg. 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-q3vj-96h2-gwvg in your dependencies?
O3 detects GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg across npm dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.