Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-36475

Parseplatform Parse-Server ≤ 5.5.2

Published
28 June 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.032 87th percentile
Risk Priority 83 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-36475 is a critical-severity Prototype Pollution (CWE-1321) vulnerability in Parseplatform Parse-Server. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 13% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

Parse Server is an open source backend framework that runs on Node.js and connects to MongoDB. CVE-2023-36475 is a prototype-pollution vulnerability (CWE-1321) present in versions prior to 5.5.2 and 6.2.1. An attacker-supplied payload can reach a sink inside the MongoDB BSON parser, allowing the pollution to be escalated into arbitrary code execution on the server.

Because the flaw is reachable over the network with no authentication or user interaction required, any remote attacker who can send requests to a Parse Server instance can achieve full remote code execution, resulting in complete compromise of the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected service.

Patches addressing the issue were released in Parse Server versions 5.5.2 and 6.2.1; the corresponding commits and release notes are available in the project repository.

EPSS for the CVE rose from a low baseline to a peak of 0.1670 on 2025-01-22 before receding to the current value of 0.0983, indicating a measurable increase in observed exploitation interest after disclosure.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. Prior to versions 5.5.2 and 6.2.1, an attacker can use a prototype pollution sink to trigger a remote code execution through the…

more

MongoDB BSON parser. A patch is available in versions 5.5.2 and 6.2.1.

CWE(s)
CWE-1321

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
attack.mitre.org →
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
attack.mitre.org →
T1565 Data Manipulation Impact
Adversaries may insert, delete, or manipulate data in order to influence external outcomes or hide activity, thus threatening the integrity of the data.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-32886Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server
CVE-2026-30939Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server
CVE-2026-32878Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server
CVE-2026-31875Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server
CVE-2023-32689Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server
CVE-2026-34595Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server
CVE-2024-29027Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server
CVE-2024-27298Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server
CVE-2026-32248Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server
CVE-2026-30941Same product: Parseplatform Parse-Server

Affected Assets

parseplatform
parse-server
≤ 5.5.2 · 6.0.0 — 6.2.1

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

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Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

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Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V15.3.6

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require input validation and safe property assignment to prevent prototype pollution.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing in development catches prototype-pollution flaws before release.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development lifecycle mandates input validation and object-handling controls that directly prevent prototype pollution.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements explicitly call for safeguards against unsafe object attribute manipulation.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure architecture principles reduce the likelihood of prototype pollution through safe design patterns.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding standards directly prohibit unsafe prototype attribute assignment and require defensive checks.

A.8.32 Change management partial match
prevents

Change-management processes ensure security fixes for prototype-pollution issues are tracked and deployed.

References