CVE-2026-30938: Parse server Parse Server Has Denylist `requestKeywordDenylist` Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-q342-9w2p-57fp
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CWE-693
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-30938 is a MODERATE parse server has denylist `requestkeyworddenylist` vulnerability (CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure) affecting Parse server libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves parse server has denylist `requestkeyworddenylist` keyword scan bypass through nested object placement. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 8.6.12, 9.5.1-alpha.1.

CVE-2026-30938 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-30938
GHSA Identifier GHSA-q342-9w2p-57fp
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure
Affected Product Parse server
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-30938

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: 8.6.12 
npm install parse-server@8.6.12
parse-server fixed: 9.5.1-alpha.1 
npm install parse-server@9.5.1-alpha.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-2026-30938, 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 8.6.12), 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-693: Protection Mechanism Failure, where the product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product. 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 `requestKeywordDenylist` security control can be bypassed by placing any nested object or array before a prohibited keyword in the request payload. This is caused by a logic bug that stops scanning sibling keys after encountering the first nested value. Any custom `requestKeywordDenylist` entries configured by the developer are equally by-passable using the same technique. All Parse Server deployments are affected. The `requestKeywordDenylist` is enabled by default. ### Patches The fix replaces the recursive object scanner with an iterative stack-based traversal that processes all nested values without prematurely exiting the scan loop. This also eliminates a potential stack overflow on deeply nested payloads. ### Workarounds Use a Cloud Code `beforeSave` trigger to validate incoming data for prohibited keywords across all classes. ### References - GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-q342-9w2p-57fp - Fix Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.1-alpha.1 - Fix Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.12

CVE-2026-30938 Affected Parse server Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
8.6.129.5.1-alpha.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
< 8.6.12
8.6.12
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
≥ 9.0.0-alpha.1
< 9.5.1-alpha.1
9.5.1-alpha.1

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-q342-9w2p-57fp
NVD — CVE-2026-30938 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-30938
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/8.6.12
Parse server Release RELEASE
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.1-alpha.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-30938?
CVE-2026-30938 is a security vulnerability in Parse server involving Parse Server has denylist `requestKeywordDenylist` keyword scan bypass through nested object placement under CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure.
Which Parse server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 8.6.12, 9.5.1-alpha.1 across affected packages: parse-server.
What version fixes CVE-2026-30938?
Upgrading to 8.6.12, 9.5.1-alpha.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 8.6.12, 9.5.1-alpha.1. Upgrade your dependency to 8.6.12, 9.5.1-alpha.1 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-30938?
CVE-2026-30938 is classified under CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure (The product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-30938?
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-q342-9w2p-57fp",
  "modified" : "2026-03-10T18:44:46Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-10T00:57:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-30938" ],
  "summary" : "Parse Server has denylist `requestKeywordDenylist` keyword scan bypass through nested object placement",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nThe `requestKeywordDenylist` security control can be bypassed by placing any nested object or array before a prohibited keyword in the request payload. This is caused by a logic bug that stops scanning sibling keys after encountering the first nested value. Any custom `requestKeywordDenylist` entries configured by the developer are equally by-passable using the same technique.\n\nAll Parse Server deployments are affected. The `requestKeywordDenylist` is enabled by default.\n\n### Patches\n\nThe fix replaces the recursive object scanner with an iterative stack-based traversal that processes all nested values without prematurely exiting the scan loop. This also eliminates a potential stack overflow on deeply nested payloads.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nUse a Cloud Code `beforeSave` trigger to validate incoming data for prohibited keywords across all classes.\n\n### References\n\n- GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-q342-9w2p-57fp\n- Fix Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.1-alpha.1\n- Fix Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.12",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
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      } ]
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  } ],
  "references" : [ {
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  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-30938"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.12"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.1-alpha.1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-693" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-10T00:57:37Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-10T18:18:53Z"
  }
}