CVE-2026-34573
Parse Server: GraphQL complexity validator exponential fragment traversal DoS
Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. Prior to versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12, the GraphQL query complexity validator can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service by sending a crafted query with binary fan-out fragment spreads. A single unauthenticated request can block the Node.js event loop for seconds, denying service to all concurrent users. This only affects deployments that have enabled the requestComplexity.graphQLDepth or requestComplexity.graphQLFields configuration options. This issue has been patched in versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
8.2
Parse Server: GraphQL complexity validator exponential fragment traversal DoS
Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. Prior to versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12, the GraphQL query complexity validator can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service by sending a crafted query with binary fan-out fragment spreads. A single unauthenticated request can block the Node.js event loop for seconds, denying service to all concurrent users. This only affects deployments that have enabled the requestComplexity.graphQLDepth or requestComplexity.graphQLFields configuration options. This issue has been patched in versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12.
- Record
CVE-2026-34573- CVSS 4.0
- 8.2 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-407
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-17500
8.2
Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. Prior to versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12, the GraphQL query complexity validator can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service by sending a crafted query with binary fan-out fragment spreads. A single unauthenticated request can block the Node.js event loop for seconds, denying service to all concurrent users. This only affects deployments that have enabled the requestComplexity.graphQLDepth or requestComplexity.graphQLFields configuration options. This issue has been patched in versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12.
- Record
EUVD-2026-17500- CVSS 4.0
- 8.2 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-mfj6-6p54-m98c
8.2
parse-server has GraphQL complexity validator exponential fragment traversal DoS
Impact
The GraphQL query complexity validator can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service by sending a crafted query with binary fan-out fragment spreads. A single unauthenticated request can block the Node.js event loop for seconds, denying service to all concurrent users. This only affects deployments that have enabled the requestComplexity.graphQLDepth or requestComplexity.graphQLFields configuration options.
Patches
The fix replaces the per-branch fragment traversal with memoized fragment computation, reducing the traversal from exponential O(2^N) to linear O(N) time. Additionally, early termination aborts the traversal as soon as configured limits are exceeded.
Workarounds
Disable GraphQL complexity limits by setting requestComplexity.graphQLDepth and requestComplexity.graphQLFields to -1 (the default).
Resources
- GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-mfj6-6p54-m98c
- Fix Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10344
- Fix Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10345
- Record
GHSA-mfj6-6p54-m98c- CVSS 4.0
- 8.2 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-407
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
8.2
Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. Prior to versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12, the GraphQL query complexity validator can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service by sending a crafted query with binary fan-out fragment spreads. A single unauthenticated request can block the Node.js event loop for seconds, denying service to all concurrent users. This only affects deployments that have enabled the requestComplexity.graphQLDepth or requestComplexity.graphQLFields configuration options. This issue has been patched in versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12.
- Record
CVE-2026-34573- CVSS 4.0
- 8.2 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-407
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
8.2
Parse Server: GraphQL complexity validator exponential fragment traversal DoS
Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. Prior to versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12, the GraphQL query complexity validator can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service by sending a crafted query with binary fan-out fragment spreads. A single unauthenticated request can block the Node.js event loop for seconds, denying service to all concurrent users. This only affects deployments that have enabled the requestComplexity.graphQLDepth or requestComplexity.graphQLFields configuration options. This issue has been patched in versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0-alpha.12.
- Record
CVE-2026-34573- CVSS 4.0
- 8.2 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-407
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-mfj6-6p54-m98c
8.2
parse-server has GraphQL complexity validator exponential fragment traversal DoS
Impact
The GraphQL query complexity validator can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service by sending a crafted query with binary fan-out fragment spreads. A single unauthenticated request can block the Node.js event loop for seconds, denying service to all concurrent users. This only affects deployments that have enabled the requestComplexity.graphQLDepth or requestComplexity.graphQLFields configuration options.
Patches
The fix replaces the per-branch fragment traversal with memoized fragment computation, reducing the traversal from exponential O(2^N) to linear O(N) time. Additionally, early termination aborts the traversal as soon as configured limits are exceeded.
Workarounds
Disable GraphQL complexity limits by setting requestComplexity.graphQLDepth and requestComplexity.graphQLFields to -1 (the default).
Resources
- GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-mfj6-6p54-m98c
- Fix Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10344
- Fix Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10345
- Record
GHSA-mfj6-6p54-m98c- CVSS 4.0
- 8.2 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-407
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-parse-2026-34573 No score
Parse Server: GraphQL complexity validator exponential fragment traversal DoS
Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. Prior to versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0, the GraphQL query complexity validator can be exploited to cause a denial-of-service by sending a crafted query with binary fan-out fragment spreads. A single unauthenticated request can block the Node.js event loop for seconds, denying service to all concurrent users. This only affects deployments that have enabled the requestComplexity.graphQLDepth or requestComplexity.graphQLFields configuration options. This issue has been patched in versions 8.6.68 and 9.7.0.
- Record
BIT-parse-2026-34573- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
parse-servernpm |
9.0.0 up to 9.7.0-alpha.12 | 9.7.0-alpha.12 |
parse-servernpm |
before 8.6.68 | 8.6.68 |
parseBitnami |
before 8.6.68, 9.0.0 up to 9.7.0 | 8.6.689.7.0 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-34573 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.2) in Parse-community Parse-server, published March 31, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.64%, the 51st percentile. Fixed in parse-server 9.7.0-alpha.12.
References
github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-mfj6-6p54-m98c
github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10344
github.com/parse-community/parse-server/pull/10345
github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/ea15412795f34594cc8a674fe858d445675e0295
github.com/parse-community/parse-server/commit/f759bda075298ec44e2b4fb57659a0c56620483b
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-34573
github.com/advisories/GHSA-mfj6-6p54-m98c
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2026/34xxx/CVE-2026-34573.json
github.com/parse-community/parse-server