CVE-2026-30229: Parse server Parse-server's Endpoint `/loginAs` Allows `readOnlyMasterKey` Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5
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CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-30229 is a HIGH parse-server's endpoint `/loginas` allows `readonlymasterkey` vulnerability (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) affecting Parse server libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves parse-server's endpoint `/loginas` allows `readonlymasterkey` to gain full read and write access as any user. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 8.6.6, 9.5.0-alpha.4.

CVE-2026-30229 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-30229
GHSA Identifier GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
Affected Product Parse server
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-30229

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: 8.6.6 
npm install parse-server@8.6.6
parse-server fixed: 9.5.0-alpha.4 
npm install parse-server@9.5.0-alpha.4
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-2026-30229, 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 8.6.6), 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-863: Incorrect Authorization, where the product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check. 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 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

CVE-2026-30229 Affected Parse server Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
8.6.69.5.0-alpha.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
< 8.6.6
8.6.6
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
≥ 9.0.0
< 9.5.0-alpha.4
9.5.0-alpha.4

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5
NVD — CVE-2026-30229 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-30229
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/8.6.6
Parse server Release RELEASE
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.0-alpha.4

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-30229?
CVE-2026-30229 is a security vulnerability in Parse server involving parse-server's endpoint `/loginAs` allows `readOnlyMasterKey` to gain full read and write access as any user under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization.
Which Parse server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 8.6.6, 9.5.0-alpha.4 across affected packages: parse-server.
What version fixes CVE-2026-30229?
Upgrading to 8.6.6, 9.5.0-alpha.4 (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 8.6.6, 9.5.0-alpha.4. Upgrade your dependency to 8.6.6, 9.5.0-alpha.4 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-30229?
CVE-2026-30229 is classified under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization (The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-30229?
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-79wj-8rqv-jvp5",
  "modified" : "2026-03-06T22:53:02Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-06T18:46:27Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-30229" ],
  "summary" : "parse-server's endpoint `/loginAs` allows `readOnlyMasterKey` to gain full read and write access as any user",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nThe `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.\n\n### Patches\n\nThe fix adds a check to the `/logInAs` handler.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nThere is no workaround other than not using `readOnlyMasterKey`.\n\n### References\n\n- GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5\n- Fix for Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.0-alpha.4\n- Fix for Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.6",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
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      "name" : "parse-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
        "fixed" : "8.6.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
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    "ranges" : [ {
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-79wj-8rqv-jvp5"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-30229"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.6"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.0-alpha.4"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-06T18:46:27Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-06T21:16:16Z"
  }
}