CVE-2026-31856: Parse server SQL Injection Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg
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CWE-89
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-31856 is a CRITICAL sql injection vulnerability (CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')) affecting Parse server libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves parse server vulnerable to sql injection via `increment` operation on nested object field in postgresql. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 9.6.0-alpha.3, 8.6.29.

CVE-2026-31856 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-31856
GHSA Identifier GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Affected Product Parse server
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-31856

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: 9.6.0-alpha.3 
npm install parse-server@9.6.0-alpha.3
parse-server fixed: 8.6.29 
npm install parse-server@8.6.29
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-2026-31856, 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 9.6.0-alpha.3), 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-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an sql command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended sql command when it is sent to a downstream component. without sufficient removal or quoting of sql syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated sql query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as sql instead of ordinary user data. 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 A SQL injection vulnerability exists in the PostgreSQL storage adapter when processing `Increment` operations on nested object fields using dot notation (e.g., `stats.counter`). The `amount` value is interpolated directly into the SQL query without parameterization or type validation. An attacker who can send write requests to the Parse Server REST API can inject arbitrary SQL subqueries to read any data from the database, bypassing CLPs and ACLs. MongoDB deployments are not affected. ### Patches The fix adds type validation to reject non-number values and parameterizes the value in the SQL query instead of interpolating it. ### Workarounds There is no known workaround. ### References - GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg - Fix Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.6.0-alpha.3 - Fix Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.29

CVE-2026-31856 Affected Parse server Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
9.6.0-alpha.38.6.29
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
≥ 9.0.0-alpha.1
< 9.6.0-alpha.3
9.6.0-alpha.3
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
< 8.6.29
8.6.29

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg
NVD — CVE-2026-31856 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31856
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/8.6.29
Parse server Release RELEASE
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.6.0-alpha.3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-31856?
CVE-2026-31856 is a security vulnerability in Parse server involving Parse Server vulnerable to SQL injection via `Increment` operation on nested object field in PostgreSQL under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection').
Which Parse server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 9.6.0-alpha.3, 8.6.29 across affected packages: parse-server.
What version fixes CVE-2026-31856?
Upgrading to 9.6.0-alpha.3, 8.6.29 (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 9.6.0-alpha.3, 8.6.29. Upgrade your dependency to 9.6.0-alpha.3, 8.6.29 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-31856?
CVE-2026-31856 is classified under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-31856?
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-q3vj-96h2-gwvg",
  "modified" : "2026-03-11T20:44:45Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-11T00:26:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-31856" ],
  "summary" : "Parse Server vulnerable to SQL injection via `Increment` operation on nested object field in PostgreSQL",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nA SQL injection vulnerability exists in the PostgreSQL storage adapter when processing `Increment` operations on nested object fields using dot notation (e.g., `stats.counter`). The `amount` value is interpolated directly into the SQL query without parameterization or type validation. An attacker who can send write requests to the Parse Server REST API can inject arbitrary SQL subqueries to read any data from the database, bypassing CLPs and ACLs.\n\nMongoDB deployments are not affected.\n\n### Patches\n\nThe fix adds type validation to reject non-number values and parameterizes the value in the SQL query instead of interpolating it.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nThere is no known workaround.\n\n### References\n\n- GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg\n- Fix Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.6.0-alpha.3\n- Fix Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.29",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "parse-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "9.0.0-alpha.1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "9.6.0-alpha.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "parse-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "8.6.29"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-q3vj-96h2-gwvg"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-31856"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.29"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.6.0-alpha.3"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-89" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-11T00:26:37Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-11T18:16:24Z"
  }
}