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threat-modeling.md

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Threat Model Analysis for parse-community/parse-server

Threat: Unprotected or Misconfigured API Endpoints

  • Description: Attackers can directly access Parse Server API endpoints (e.g., /classes, /users, /functions) without proper authentication or authorization. They can enumerate data, modify data, create/delete users, or execute cloud functions without permission by sending direct HTTP requests.
  • Impact: Data breaches, data manipulation, unauthorized access to sensitive information, service disruption.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: REST API, Authentication module, Authorization module, Class-Level Permissions (CLP), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Enforce authentication for all API endpoints.
    • Implement and configure Class-Level Permissions (CLP) to restrict data access based on user roles and permissions.
    • Utilize Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for managing user roles and permissions.
    • Regularly audit API endpoint configurations and permissions.

Threat: Insecure Cloud Code Execution

  • Description: Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in custom Cloud Code or insecure coding practices within Cloud Code to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) on the Parse Server, gain access to sensitive data, or manipulate application logic. This can be done by injecting malicious code through input parameters or exploiting vulnerabilities in Cloud Code logic.
  • Impact: Remote Code Execution (RCE), data breaches, data manipulation, service disruption, complete server compromise.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: Cloud Code module, JavaScript execution environment (Node.js), Server-side functions.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Implement strict code review processes for all Cloud Code.
    • Enforce secure coding practices in Cloud Code (input validation, output encoding, avoid direct system calls).
    • Utilize Parse Server's Cloud Code security features and limit permissions granted to Cloud Code functions.
    • Implement robust logging and monitoring of Cloud Code execution.

Threat: Database Connection String Exposure

  • Description: Attackers can gain direct access to the database if the database connection string (including credentials) is exposed in configuration files, environment variables, logs, or other insecure locations. This allows them to bypass Parse Server and directly interact with the database.
  • Impact: Complete database compromise, data breaches, data manipulation, data deletion, service disruption.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: Configuration management, Environment variable handling, Logging module.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Securely manage database credentials.
    • Use environment variables or secure configuration management tools to store connection strings.
    • Avoid hardcoding credentials in code or configuration files.
    • Implement proper access control to configuration files and logs.

Threat: Unauthorized Dashboard Access

  • Description: Attackers can gain unauthorized access to the Parse Dashboard if weak or default credentials are used, or if authentication is misconfigured. This allows them to gain administrative control over the Parse Server instance and perform any administrative actions.
  • Impact: Complete administrative control of Parse Server, data breaches, data manipulation, service disruption, server compromise.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: Parse Dashboard authentication module, User management module, Access control.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Enforce strong passwords for dashboard administrator accounts.
    • Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for dashboard access.
    • Restrict access to the dashboard to authorized users and networks (e.g., using IP whitelisting).
    • Regularly audit dashboard user accounts and permissions.

Threat: Exposed API Keys and Application IDs

  • Description: If Parse Server API keys (Master Key, Application ID, Client Key, JavaScript Key, REST API Key) are inadvertently exposed in client-side code, public repositories, logs, or other insecure locations, attackers can use these keys to bypass security controls and perform unauthorized actions. Exposure of the Master Key is especially critical.
  • Impact: Unauthorized API access, data breaches, data manipulation, circumvention of security controls, potential administrative access if Master Key is exposed.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: API key management, Authentication module, Authorization module.
  • Risk Severity: Critical (especially Master Key exposure)
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Securely manage API keys.
    • Never expose Master Key in client-side code.
    • Use environment variables or secure configuration management to store API keys.
    • Rotate API keys periodically.
    • Implement access controls based on API keys.

Threat: GraphQL API Vulnerabilities (if enabled)

  • Description: If GraphQL API is enabled, attackers can exploit vulnerabilities like introspection abuse to understand the data schema, craft complex queries to cause Denial of Service (DoS), or bypass authorization checks within GraphQL resolvers to access unauthorized data.
  • Impact: Information disclosure (schema details), service disruption (DoS), unauthorized data access.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: GraphQL API module, GraphQL resolvers, Authentication module, Authorization module.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Disable GraphQL introspection in production environments.
    • Implement query complexity limits to prevent resource exhaustion.
    • Implement rate limiting for GraphQL API requests.
    • Ensure proper authorization checks within GraphQL resolvers, mirroring CLP and RBAC.

Threat: Bypass of Class-Level Permissions (CLP) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

  • Description: Attackers can find logic flaws or vulnerabilities in Parse Server's CLP and RBAC implementation that allow them to bypass configured access controls. This could involve manipulating API requests or exploiting edge cases in permission evaluation to gain unauthorized access to data or functionalities.
  • Impact: Unauthorized data access, data manipulation, privilege escalation, circumvention of security controls.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: Class-Level Permissions (CLP) module, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) module, Authorization module.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Thoroughly test and validate CLP and RBAC configurations.
    • Stay updated with Parse Server releases and security patches.
    • Implement robust integration tests to verify permission enforcement.

Threat: NoSQL Injection (MongoDB)

  • Description: If using MongoDB, attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in Parse Server's query construction or Cloud Code to inject malicious NoSQL queries. This allows them to bypass security checks, access unauthorized data, or modify data in the database.
  • Impact: Data breaches, data manipulation, unauthorized database access, potential data corruption.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: MongoDB adapter, Query parsing module, Cloud Code database interaction.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Utilize Parse Server's built-in query mechanisms and avoid constructing raw database queries in Cloud Code where possible.
    • If raw queries are necessary, implement strict input validation and sanitization to prevent injection attacks.

Threat: SQL Injection (PostgreSQL)

  • Description: If using PostgreSQL, attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in Parse Server's query construction or Cloud Code to inject malicious SQL queries. This allows them to bypass security checks, access unauthorized data, or modify data in the database.
  • Impact: Data breaches, data manipulation, unauthorized database access, potential data corruption.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: PostgreSQL adapter, Query parsing module, Cloud Code database interaction.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Use parameterized queries or prepared statements when interacting with the database in Cloud Code.
    • Implement strict input validation and sanitization.

Threat: Insecure File Permissions and Access Control

  • Description: Attackers can access, download, or upload files without authorization if file storage permissions or Parse Server's file access controls are misconfigured. This can be due to publicly accessible storage buckets or incorrect CLP configurations for file objects.
  • Impact: Data breaches (access to private files), data manipulation (unauthorized file uploads or modifications), reputational damage.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: File storage adapter (e.g., S3, GCS), File ACL module, Class-Level Permissions (CLP) for files.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Properly configure file storage permissions and access control lists (ACLs) in the chosen storage service (AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, etc.).
    • Utilize Parse Server's file ACL features and CLP to restrict access to files based on user roles and permissions.

Threat: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in Parse Dashboard

  • Description: Attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code into the Parse Dashboard interface through vulnerable input fields. When administrators access the dashboard, this code executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the Parse Server instance.
  • Impact: Session hijacking, administrative account compromise, data theft, potential manipulation of Parse Server configuration.
  • Affected Parse Server Component: Parse Dashboard web application, User interface components, Input handling.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Implement robust input validation and output encoding in the Parse Dashboard code.
    • Regularly update Parse Server and the Dashboard to benefit from security patches.