CVE-2026-30863: Parse Server: JWT audience validation bypass in Google, Apple, and Facebook authentication adapters
Impact
The Google, Apple, and Facebook authentication adapters use JWT verification to validate identity tokens. When the adapter's audience configuration option is not set (clientId for Google/Apple, appIds for Facebook), JWT verification silently skips audience claim validation. This allows an attacker to use a validly signed JWT issued for a different application to authenticate as any user on the target Parse Server.
- For Google and Apple, the vulnerability is exploitable when the server does not configure clientId. The adapters accepted this as valid and simply skipped audience validation. - For Facebook Limited Login, the vulnerability exists regardless of configuration. The adapter validated appIds only for Standard Login (Graph API), but the Limited Login JWT path never passed appIds as the audience to JWT verification.
Patches
The fix enforces clientId (Google/Apple) and appIds (Facebook) as mandatory and passes them to JWT verification for audience validation. While this is technically a breaking change for servers that omit these options, it is not a breaking change as per documentation — all three options are documented as required configuration.
Workarounds
- Google / Apple: Ensure clientId is set in the adapter configuration. When set, JWT verification correctly validates the audience claim even on unpatched versions. - Facebook Limited Login: There is no workaround. The unpatched adapter does not pass appIds to JWT audience validation, so the only mitigation is to upgrade.
References
- GitHub security advisory: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/security/advisories/GHSA-x6fw-778m-wr9v - Fix Parse Server 9: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/9.5.0-alpha.11 - Fix Parse Server 8: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server/releases/tag/8.6.10
Other sources
Parse Server is an open source backend that can be deployed to any infrastructure that can run Node.js. Prior to versions 8.6.10 and 9.5.0-alpha.11, the Google, Apple, and Facebook authentication adapters use JWT verification to validate identity tokens. When the adapter's audience configuration option is not set (clientId for Google/Apple, appIds for Facebook), JWT verification silently skips audience claim validation. This allows an attacker to use a validly signed JWT issued for a different application to authenticate as any user on the target Parse Server. This issue has been patched in versions 8.6.10 and 9.5.0-alpha.11.
— MITRE
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-30863?
CVE-2026-30863 is classified as a high severity vulnerability due to its potential to bypass JWT audience validations.
How do I fix CVE-2026-30863?
To mitigate CVE-2026-30863, upgrade Parse Server to version 8.6.10 or 9.5.0-alpha.11 or later.
Which versions of Parse Server are affected by CVE-2026-30863?
CVE-2026-30863 affects Parse Server versions prior to 8.6.10 and 9.5.0-alpha.11.
What is the impact of CVE-2026-30863 on Google authentication?
CVE-2026-30863 allows an attacker to bypass audience validation in Google authentication, potentially compromising user sessions.
Can CVE-2026-30863 affect Facebook or Apple authentication?
Yes, CVE-2026-30863 also impacts audience validation for both Facebook and Apple authentication adapters in Parse Server.