# CVE-2026-57480: Parse Community Parse Server denial of service via nested query operators

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57480-parse-community-parse-server-denial-of-service-via-nested-query  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-08. Updated: 2026-07-08  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-57480 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-07-08

Parse Server is an open-source backend framework used to build and host applications. A vulnerability in how it handles complex database queries allows an attacker to send a specially crafted request that overwhelms the server's processor. This can lead to a complete service outage, making the application unavailable to legitimate users.

Technologies: [parse-server (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/parse-server). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-57480 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-57480 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-57480?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 8 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** parse-server (npm) SEMVER:introduced=9.0.0,fixed=9.9.1-alpha.12.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-57480?** Yes. parse-server (npm): upgrade to 9.9.1-alpha.12 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-57480 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-57480?** Check whether you run parse-server (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- parse-server (npm): upgrade to 9.9.1-alpha.12 or later

  ```sh
  npm install parse-server@9.9.1-alpha.12
  ```


## Technical details

A denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability exists in Parse Server due to inefficient algorithmic complexity (CWE-407) in its query-traversal helper. Specifically, the internal logic for handling deeply nested logical operators ($or, $and, $nor) in REST API or LiveQuery requests can trigger exponential-time processing. Because Node.js is single-threaded, this processing blocks the event loop, preventing the server from handling any other concurrent requests. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this by submitting a query with high nesting depth. The issue is mitigated in patched versions by implementing query depth limits and optimizing the traversal logic. Fixes are available in versions 9.9.1-alpha.12 and 8.6.82.

## Affected products

- Parse Community Parse Server >= 9.0.0-alpha.1, < 9.9.1-alpha.12; < 8.6.82

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-57480
- GHSA-cgxm-vr2f-6fj8

## Timeline

- 2026-06-17: patched: Fixes committed to repository
- 2026-07-08: disclosed: CVE-2026-57480 published

## References

- [https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/0f5d2ad77b422dc904458254548be87397fc6e9b](https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/0f5d2ad77b422dc904458254548be87397fc6e9b)
- [https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/1103c7a890e0455ba3dccd4bc5db17efe1789c9a](https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/1103c7a890e0455ba3dccd4bc5db17efe1789c9a)
- [https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10511](https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10511)
- [https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10512](https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10512)
- [https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.82](https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.82)
- [https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.9.1-alpha.12](https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.9.1-alpha.12)
- [https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-cgxm-vr2f-6fj8](https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-cgxm-vr2f-6fj8)

## Related threats

- [Duplicate Advisory: Parse Server vulnerable to stored XSS via malformed Content-Type bypassing file upload extension blocklist](https://junglewise.ai/threats/duplicate-advisory-parse-server-vulnerable-to-stored-xss-via-malformed-00d8867c)
- [Parse Server stored XSS via malformed Content-Type bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-61448-parse-server-stored-xss-via-malformed-content-type-bypass)
- [Parse Server information disclosure in LiveQuery ACL transitions](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-57481-parse-server-information-disclosure-in-livequery-acl-transitions)
- [Parse Server stored XSS via file upload extension bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-55778-parse-server-stored-xss-via-file-upload-extension-bypass)
- [Parse Server supply chain compromise via unreviewed version tags](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-47986-parse-server-supply-chain-compromise-via-unreviewed-version-tags)