CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-33409NVD status: Analyzed

parse-server: Improper Authentication

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-33409 is a critical-severity improper authentication vulnerability in parse-server from Parse-community, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected parse-server versions: < 8.6.52; >= 9.0.0, < 9.6.0-alpha.41. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.48% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Check which version of parse-server you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Parse-communityparse-server< 8.6.52; >= 9.0.0, < 9.6.0-alpha.41Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.07.0HighCNA (github.com)
CVSS 3.19.1CriticalNVD

Official description

Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. Prior to versions 8.6.52 and 9.6.0-alpha.41, an authentication bypass vulnerability allows an attacker to log in as any user who has linked a third-party authentication provider, without knowing the user's credentials. The attacker only needs to know the user's provider ID to gain full access to their account, including a valid session token. This affects Parse Server deployments where the server option allowExpiredAuthDataToken is set to true. The default value is false. This issue has been patched in versions 8.6.52 and 9.6.0-alpha.41.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: 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 developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.

More Improper Authentication vulnerabilities (CWE-287)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in parse-server

All parse-server vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities

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