CVE-2022-36079: Parse server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-2m6g-crv8-p3c6
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CVSS 8.6
CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-36079 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.6) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor) affecting Parse server libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves parse server vulnerable to brute force guessing of user sensitive data via search patterns. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.10.14, 5.2.5.

CVE-2022-36079 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-36079
GHSA Identifier GHSA-2m6g-crv8-p3c6
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.6
CWE Classification CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
Affected Product Parse server
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.6

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2022-36079

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: 4.10.14 
npm install parse-server@4.10.14
parse-server fixed: 5.2.5 
npm install parse-server@5.2.5
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-2022-36079, 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 4.10.14), 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-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor, where the product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. 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 Internal fields (keys used internally by Parse Server, prefixed by `_`) and protected fields (user defined) can be used as query constraints. Internal and protected fields are removed by Parse Server from query results and are only returned to the client using a valid master key. However, using query constraints, these fields can be guessed by enumerating until Parse Server returns a response object. ### Patches The patch requires the master key to use internal and protected fields as query constraints. ### Workarounds Implement a Parse Cloud Trigger `beforeFind` and manually remove the query constraints, such as: ```js Parse.Cloud.beforeFind('TestObject', ({ query }) => { for (const key in query._where || []) { // Repeat logic for protected fields if (key.charAt(0) === '_') { delete query._where[key]; } } }); ``` ### References - https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-2m6g-crv8-p3c6

CVE-2022-36079 Affected Parse server Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.10.145.2.5
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
< 4.10.14
4.10.14
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
≥ 5.0.0
< 5.2.5
5.2.5

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-2m6g-crv8-p3c6
NVD — CVE-2022-36079 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-36079
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/issues/8143
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/issues/8144
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/634c44acd18f6ee6ec60fac89a2b602d92799bec
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/e39d51bd329cd978589983bd659db46e1d45aad4
Parse server Release RELEASE
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/4.10.14
Parse server Release RELEASE
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/5.2.5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-36079?
CVE-2022-36079 is a security vulnerability in Parse server involving Parse Server vulnerable to brute force guessing of user sensitive data via search patterns under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.
Which Parse server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.10.14, 5.2.5 across affected packages: parse-server.
What version fixes CVE-2022-36079?
Upgrading to 4.10.14, 5.2.5 (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 4.10.14, 5.2.5. Upgrade your dependency to 4.10.14, 5.2.5 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-36079?
CVE-2022-36079 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.6 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-36079?
CVE-2022-36079 is classified under CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor (The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2022-36079?
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 
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  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-2m6g-crv8-p3c6",
  "modified" : "2022-09-21T19:21:12Z",
  "published" : "2022-09-16T21:17:44Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-36079" ],
  "summary" : "Parse Server vulnerable to brute force guessing of user sensitive data via search patterns",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nInternal fields (keys used internally by Parse Server, prefixed by `_`) and protected fields (user defined) can be used as query constraints. Internal and protected fields are removed by Parse Server from query results and are only returned to the client using a valid master key. However, using query constraints, these fields can be guessed by enumerating until Parse Server returns a response object.\n\n### Patches\n\nThe patch requires the master key to use internal and protected fields as query constraints.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nImplement a Parse Cloud Trigger `beforeFind` and manually remove the query constraints, such as:\n\n```js\nParse.Cloud.beforeFind('TestObject', ({ query }) => {\n  for (const key in query._where || []) {\n    // Repeat logic for protected fields\n    if (key.charAt(0) === '_') {\n      delete query._where[key];\n    }\n  }\n});\n```\n\n### References\n\n- https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-2m6g-crv8-p3c6",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
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    },
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/issues/8143"
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    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/4.10.14"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/5.2.5"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-09-16T21:17:44Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-09-07T21:15:00Z"
  }
}