Parse Server has denylist `requestKeywordDenylist` keyword scan bypass through nested object placement
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
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | parse-server | < 8.6.12, >= 9.0.0-alpha.1, < 9.5.1-alpha.1 | 8.6.12, 9.5.1-alpha.1 |
References
- https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-q342-9w2p-57fp
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-30938
- https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server
- https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.12
- https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.1-alpha.1
- CVSS vector
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- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-693- Platform
- npm
- Package
parse-server- Disclosed
- 10.03.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-q342-9w2p-57fp - 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 has denylist `requestKeywordDenylist` keyword scan bypass through nested object placement this entry
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