Parse Server: `PagesRouter` path traversal allows reading files outside configured pages directory
Impact
The PagesRouter static file serving route is vulnerable to a path traversal attack that allows unauthenticated reading of files outside the configured pagesPath directory. The boundary check uses a string prefix comparison without enforcing a directory separator boundary. An attacker can use path traversal sequences to access files in sibling directories whose names share the same prefix as the pages directory (e.g. pages-secret starts with pages).
This affects any Parse Server deployment with the pages feature enabled (pages.enableRouter: true). Exploitation requires a sibling directory of pagesPath whose name begins with the same string as the pages directory name.
Patches
The fix enforces a path separator boundary in the check, ensuring resolved paths must be strictly inside the pagesPath directory.
Workarounds
Ensure the pagesPath directory has no sibling directories whose names begin with the same prefix. For example, if pagesPath is /srv/pages, ensure no directory like /srv/pages-backup or /srv/pages_old exists alongside it.
References
- GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-hm3f-q6rw-m6wh
- Fix for Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.0-alpha.8
- Fix for Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.8
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | parse-server | < 8.6.8, >= 9.0.0-alpha.1, < 9.5.0-alpha.8 | 8.6.8, 9.5.0-alpha.8 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22- Platform
- npm
- Package
parse-server- Disclosed
- 09.03.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-hm3f-q6rw-m6wh - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: parse-server
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 116
- First → latest
- 06.2019 06.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 17
- High 49
- Medium 40
- Low 10
Disclosures per year
- 2019: 2
- 2020: 4
- 2021: 4
- 2022: 12
- 2023: 5
- 2024: 4
- 2025: 6
- 2026: 79
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Parse Server: `PagesRouter` path traversal allows reading files outside configured pages directory this entry
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