Parse Server: SQL injection via dot-notation field name in PostgreSQL

Impact

An attacker can use a dot-notation field name in combination with the sort query parameter to inject SQL into the PostgreSQL database through an improper escaping of sub-field values in dot-notation queries. The vulnerability may also affect queries that use dot-notation field names with the distinct and where query parameters.

This vulnerability only affects deployments using a PostgreSQL database.

Patches

The fix escapes characters in dot-notation sub-field values that could allow a SQL breakout.

Workarounds

There is no known workaround.

References

• GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-qpr4-jrj4-6f27
• Fix Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.6.0-alpha.2
• Fix Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.28