CVE-2025-68115: Parse server Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jhgf-2h8h-ggxv
Share
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-68115 is a MODERATE cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Parse server libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves parse server has a cross-site scripting (xss) vulnerability via unescaped mustache template variables. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 8.6.1, 9.1.0-alpha.3.

CVE-2025-68115 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-68115
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jhgf-2h8h-ggxv
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Parse server
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2025-68115

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: 8.6.1 
npm install parse-server@8.6.1
parse-server fixed: 9.1.0-alpha.3 
npm install parse-server@9.1.0-alpha.3
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-2025-68115, 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 8.6.1), 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-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. 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 Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in Parse Server's password reset and email verification HTML pages. ## Patches The patch escapes user controlled values that are inserted into the HTML pages. ## Workarounds None. ## Resources - https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-jhgf-2h8h-ggxv - https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/9985 - https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/9986

CVE-2025-68115 Affected Parse server Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
8.6.19.1.0-alpha.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
< 8.6.1
8.6.1
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
≥ 9.0.0
< 9.1.0-alpha.3
9.1.0-alpha.3

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-jhgf-2h8h-ggxv
NVD — CVE-2025-68115 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68115
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/9985
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/9986
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-68115?
CVE-2025-68115 is a security vulnerability in Parse server involving Parse Server has a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability via Unescaped Mustache Template Variables under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Parse server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 8.6.1, 9.1.0-alpha.3 across affected packages: parse-server.
What version fixes CVE-2025-68115?
Upgrading to 8.6.1, 9.1.0-alpha.3 (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 8.6.1, 9.1.0-alpha.3. Upgrade your dependency to 8.6.1, 9.1.0-alpha.3 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-68115?
CVE-2025-68115 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2025-68115?
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-jhgf-2h8h-ggxv",
  "modified" : "2025-12-16T19:36:37Z",
  "published" : "2025-12-16T19:36:37Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-68115" ],
  "summary" : "Parse Server has a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability via Unescaped Mustache Template Variables",
  "details" : "## Impact\n\nA Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in Parse Server's password reset and email verification HTML pages.\n\n## Patches\n\nThe patch escapes user controlled values that are inserted into the HTML pages.\n\n## Workarounds\n\nNone.\n\n## Resources\n\n- https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-jhgf-2h8h-ggxv\n- https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/9985\n- https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/9986",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:L/VI:L/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "parse-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "8.6.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "parse-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "9.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "9.1.0-alpha.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-jhgf-2h8h-ggxv"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68115"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/9985"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/9986"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-12-16T19:36:37Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2025-12-16T01:15:53Z"
  }
}