CVE-2021-39138: Parse server Parse-server New Anonymous User Session Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-23r4-5mxp-c7g5
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CVSS 4.8
CWE-287 CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-39138 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.8) parse-server new anonymous user session vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Parse server libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves parse-server new anonymous user session acts as if it's created with password. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.5.2.

CVE-2021-39138 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-39138
GHSA Identifier GHSA-23r4-5mxp-c7g5
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.8
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Parse server
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity High (AC:H)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2021-39138

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Parse server dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

parse-server fixed: 4.5.2 
npm install parse-server@4.5.2
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls parse-server

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2021-39138, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls parse-server

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Parse server in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.5.2), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls parse-server command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. In Parse server, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Impact Developers that use the REST API to signup users and also allow users to login anonymously. When an anonymous user is first signed up using REST, the server creates session incorrectly, particularly the `authProvider` field in `_Session` class under `createdWith` shows the user logged in creating a password. If a developer later depends on the `createdWith` field to provide a different level of access between a password user and anonymous user, the server incorrectly classified the session type as being created with a `password`. The server currently doesn't use `createdWith` to make decisions on how things work internally, so if a developer isn't using `createdWith` directly, there's nothing to worry about. The vulnerability only affects users who depend on `createdWith` by using it directly. ### Patches Upgrade to version 4.5.1. ### Workarounds Don't use the `createdWith` Session field to make decisions if you allow anonymous login. ### References n/a

CVE-2021-39138 Affected Parse server Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.5.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
< 4.5.2
4.5.2

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-23r4-5mxp-c7g5
NVD — CVE-2021-39138 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-39138
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/147bd9a3dc43391e92c36e05d5db860b04ca27db
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server
Parse server Release RELEASE
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/4.5.2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-39138?
CVE-2021-39138 is a security vulnerability in Parse server involving parse-server new anonymous user session acts as if it's created with password under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Parse server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.5.2 across affected packages: parse-server.
What version fixes CVE-2021-39138?
Upgrading to 4.5.2 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is parse-server affected?
Yes, parse-server is affected in releases prior to 4.5.2. Upgrade your dependency to 4.5.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-39138?
CVE-2021-39138 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.8 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-39138?
CVE-2021-39138 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2021-39138?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls parse-server'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-23r4-5mxp-c7g5",
  "modified" : "2022-08-15T20:04:54Z",
  "published" : "2021-08-23T19:41:52Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-39138" ],
  "summary" : "parse-server new anonymous user session acts as if it's created with password",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nDevelopers that use the REST API to signup users and also allow users to login anonymously. When an anonymous user is first signed up using REST, the server creates session incorrectly, particularly the `authProvider` field in `_Session` class under `createdWith` shows the user logged in creating a password. If a developer later depends on the `createdWith` field to provide a different level of access between a password user and anonymous user, the server incorrectly classified the session type as being created with a `password`.\n\nThe server currently doesn't use `createdWith` to make decisions on how things work internally, so if a developer isn't using `createdWith` directly, there's nothing to worry about. The vulnerability only affects users who depend on `createdWith` by using it directly.   \n\n### Patches\nUpgrade to version 4.5.1.\n\n### Workarounds\nDon't use the `createdWith` Session field to make decisions if you allow anonymous login.\n\n### References\nn/a",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "parse-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.5.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-23r4-5mxp-c7g5"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-39138"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/147bd9a3dc43391e92c36e05d5db860b04ca27db"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/4.5.2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287", "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-08-23T17:07:34Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-08-19T16:15:00Z"
  }
}