CVE-2025-64502 Parse Server allows public `explain` queries which may expose sensitive database performance information and schema details
Parse Server allows public explain queries, exposing database schema and performance details to unauthenticated attackers.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-64502?
CVE-2025-64502 is a medium-severity vulnerability in parse-community parse-server, published on 10 Nov 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. The MongoDB `explain()` method provides detailed information about query execution plans, including index usage, collection scanning behavior, and performance metrics. Prior to version 8.5.0-alpha.5, Parse Server permits any client to execute explain queries without requiring the master key. This exposes database schema structure and field names, index configurations and query optimization details, query execution statistics and performance metrics, and potential attack vectors for database performance exploitation. In version 8.5.0-alpha.5, a new `databaseOptions.allowPublicExplain` configuration option has been introduced that allows to restrict `explain` queries to the master key. The option defaults to `true` for now to avoid a breaking change in production systems that depends on public `explain` availability. In addition, a security warning is logged when the option is not explicitly set, or set to `true`. In a future major release of Parse Server, the default will change to `false`. As a workaround, implement middleware to block explain queries from non-master-key requests, or monitor and alert on explain query usage in production environments.
Weakness: CWE-201
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-64502?
3 open source packages ship an affected version, including parse-server and parse.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
parse-server npm | All versions | 8.5.0-alpha.5 |
parse-server npm | All versions | 8.5.0-alpha.5 |
parse Bitnami | All versions | 8.5.0 |
How do I fix CVE-2025-64502?
Upgrade parse-server to 8.5.0-alpha.5 or later.
Is CVE-2025-64502 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-64502 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BIT-parse-2025-64502, GHSA-7cx5-254x-cgrq.