CVE-2025-64502
📋 TL;DR
Parse Server versions before 8.5.0-alpha.5 allow unauthenticated clients to execute MongoDB explain() queries without requiring the master key. This exposes sensitive database schema information, index configurations, and query execution details. All Parse Server deployments using affected versions are vulnerable unless explicitly configured to restrict explain queries.
💻 Affected Systems
- Parse Server
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers gain complete visibility into database schema, identify poorly indexed fields, and craft targeted denial-of-service attacks by exploiting expensive query patterns revealed by execution statistics.
Likely Case
Information disclosure of database structure, field names, and index configurations that could facilitate more targeted attacks or competitive intelligence gathering.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper access controls limiting explain queries to authorized users only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires only standard Parse API access without authentication to execute explain queries.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 8.5.0-alpha.5
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-7cx5-254x-cgrq
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Update Parse Server to version 8.5.0-alpha.5 or later. 2. Set databaseOptions.allowPublicExplain to false in your Parse Server configuration. 3. Restart the Parse Server application.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Middleware Block for Explain Queries
allImplement Parse Server middleware to intercept and block explain queries from non-master-key requests
// Add to your Parse Server middleware configuration
Parse.Cloud.beforeFind('_User', (request) => {
if (request.explain && !request.master) {
throw new Parse.Error(Parse.Error.OPERATION_FORBIDDEN, 'Explain queries require master key');
}
});
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement network-level restrictions to limit Parse Server API access to trusted sources only
- Enable detailed logging of all explain queries and set up alerts for suspicious activity
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Test if explain queries can be executed without master key by sending a query with explain parameter to Parse Server API endpointsCheck Version:
npm list parse-server | grep parse-serverVerify Fix Applied:
Verify that explain queries without master key return permission denied errors and check that databaseOptions.allowPublicExplain is set to false in configuration📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Explain query execution in Parse Server logs
- Security warning about allowPublicExplain not being set
Network Indicators:
- API requests containing 'explain' parameter without authentication headers
SIEM Query:
source="parse-server" AND ("explain" OR "allowPublicExplain")