CVE-2022-39396: Parse server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-prm5-8g2m-24gg
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-1321
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2022-39396 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')) affecting Parse server libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves remote code execution via mongodb bson parser through prototype pollution. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.10.18, 5.3.1.

CVE-2022-39396 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2022-39396
GHSA Identifier GHSA-prm5-8g2m-24gg
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution')
Affected Product Parse server
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

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:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

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

How to Fix CVE-2022-39396

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: 4.10.18 
npm install parse-server@4.10.18
parse-server fixed: 5.3.1 
npm install parse-server@5.3.1
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-2022-39396, 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 4.10.18), 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-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution'), where the product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype. 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 An attacker can use this prototype pollution sink to trigger a remote code execution through the MongoDB BSON parser. ### Patches Prevent prototype pollution in MongoDB database adapter. ### Workarounds Disable remote code execution through the MongoDB BSON parser. ### Collaborators Mikhail Shcherbakov (KTH), Cristian-Alexandru Staicu (CISPA) and Musard Balliu (KTH) working with Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative ### References - https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-prm5-8g2m-24gg

CVE-2022-39396 Affected Parse server Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.10.185.3.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
< 4.10.18
4.10.18
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
≥ 5.0.0
< 5.3.1
5.3.1

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-prm5-8g2m-24gg
NVD — CVE-2022-39396 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-39396
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/8295
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/8296
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/4.10.18
Parse server Release RELEASE
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/5.3.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2022-39396?
CVE-2022-39396 is a security vulnerability in Parse server involving Remote code execution via MongoDB BSON parser through prototype pollution under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution').
Which Parse server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.10.18, 5.3.1 across affected packages: parse-server.
What version fixes CVE-2022-39396?
Upgrading to 4.10.18, 5.3.1 (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 4.10.18, 5.3.1. Upgrade your dependency to 4.10.18, 5.3.1 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2022-39396?
CVE-2022-39396 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2022-39396?
CVE-2022-39396 is classified under CWE-1321: Improperly Controlled Modification of Object Prototype Attributes ('Prototype Pollution') (The product receives input from an upstream component that specifies attributes that are to be initialized or updated in an object, but it does not properly control modifications of attributes of the object prototype.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2022-39396?
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-prm5-8g2m-24gg",
  "modified" : "2022-11-09T00:04:54Z",
  "published" : "2022-11-08T17:29:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2022-39396" ],
  "summary" : "Remote code execution via MongoDB BSON parser through prototype pollution",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nAn attacker can use this prototype pollution sink to trigger a remote code execution through the MongoDB BSON parser. \n\n### Patches\n\nPrevent prototype pollution in MongoDB database adapter.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nDisable remote code execution through the MongoDB BSON parser.\n\n### Collaborators\n\nMikhail Shcherbakov (KTH), Cristian-Alexandru Staicu (CISPA) and Musard Balliu (KTH) working with Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative\n\n### References\n\n- https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-prm5-8g2m-24gg\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.10.18"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "5.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "5.3.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-prm5-8g2m-24gg"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-39396"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/8295"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/8296"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/4.10.18"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/5.3.1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1321" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-11-08T17:29:16Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2022-11-10T01:15:00Z"
  }
}