CVE-2026-33042: Parse server Parse Server Affected By Empty Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-wjqw-r9x4-j59v
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CWE-287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-33042 is a MODERATE parse server affected by empty vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Parse server libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves parse server affected by empty authdata bypassing credential requirement on signup. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 9.6.0-alpha.29, 8.6.49.

CVE-2026-33042 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-33042
GHSA Identifier GHSA-wjqw-r9x4-j59v
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Parse server
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2026-33042

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.29 
npm install parse-server@9.6.0-alpha.29
parse-server fixed: 8.6.49 
npm install parse-server@8.6.49
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-2026-33042, 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.29), 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. 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 user can sign up without providing credentials by sending an empty `authData` object, bypassing the username and password requirement. This allows the creation of authenticated sessions without proper credentials, even when anonymous users are disabled. ### Patches The fix ensures that empty or non-actionable `authData` is treated the same as absent `authData` for the purpose of credential validation on new user creation. Username and password are now required when no valid auth provider data is present. ### Workarounds Use a Cloud Code `beforeSave` trigger on the `_User` class to reject signups where `authData` is empty and no username/password is provided.

CVE-2026-33042 Affected Parse server Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
9.6.0-alpha.298.6.49
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
≥ 9.0.0
< 9.6.0-alpha.29
9.6.0-alpha.29
parse-server
npm/parse-server
npm
< 8.6.49
8.6.49

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-wjqw-r9x4-j59v
NVD — CVE-2026-33042 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33042
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10219
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10220
Parse server Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-33042?
CVE-2026-33042 is a security vulnerability in Parse server involving Parse Server affected by empty authData bypassing credential requirement on signup under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Parse server versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 9.6.0-alpha.29, 8.6.49 across affected packages: parse-server.
What version fixes CVE-2026-33042?
Upgrading to 9.6.0-alpha.29, 8.6.49 (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.29, 8.6.49. Upgrade your dependency to 9.6.0-alpha.29, 8.6.49 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-33042?
CVE-2026-33042 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2026-33042?
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-wjqw-r9x4-j59v",
  "modified" : "2026-03-19T21:13:56Z",
  "published" : "2026-03-17T19:50:44Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-33042" ],
  "summary" : "Parse Server affected by empty authData bypassing credential requirement on signup",
  "details" : "### Impact\n\nA user can sign up without providing credentials by sending an empty `authData` object, bypassing the username and password requirement. This allows the creation of authenticated sessions without proper credentials, even when anonymous users are disabled.\n\n### Patches\n\nThe fix ensures that empty or non-actionable `authData` is treated the same as absent `authData` for the purpose of credential validation on new user creation. Username and password are now required when no valid auth provider data is present.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nUse a Cloud Code `beforeSave` trigger on the `_User` class to reject signups where `authData` is empty and no username/password is provided.",
  "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" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "parse-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "9.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "9.6.0-alpha.29"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "parse-server"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "8.6.49"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-wjqw-r9x4-j59v"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33042"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10219"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10220"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-03-17T19:50:44Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-03-18T22:16:26Z"
  }
}