The vulnerability CVE-2025-64430 is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) issue classified under CWE-918, found in the open-source backend platform parse-server maintained by parse-community. This backend runs on Node.js and is widely used for mobile and web applications. The vulnerability affects parse-server versions from 4.2.0 up to 7.5.3 and from 8.0.0 up to 8.3.1-alpha.1. It arises in the file upload feature where a client can specify a URI parameter for a Parse.File upload. The server attempts to fetch the file data from this URI. However, the request to the arbitrary URI is executed without proper validation or restrictions, allowing an attacker to induce the server to make arbitrary HTTP requests. When the server receives the response, it crashes instead of storing the file, causing a denial of service (DoS) condition. This crash disrupts availability but does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity of data. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without any authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The issue is resolved in parse-server versions 7.5.4 and 8.4.0-alpha.1. Although no active exploits have been reported, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat to services relying on affected parse-server versions.

For European organizations, this SSRF vulnerability poses a significant risk to service availability. Organizations using parse-server as a backend for web or mobile applications could experience server crashes leading to denial of service, disrupting business operations and customer access. Critical sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government that rely on parse-server for backend services may face operational outages, impacting service delivery and potentially causing reputational damage. While the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or allow data manipulation, the induced downtime can indirectly affect data availability and business continuity. Additionally, SSRF vulnerabilities can sometimes be leveraged as a stepping stone for further attacks, such as internal network reconnaissance or pivoting, although this specific case currently results in crashes rather than data exfiltration. The lack of authentication requirement and remote exploitability increase the threat level, especially for publicly accessible parse-server instances. European organizations with strict uptime and compliance requirements must address this vulnerability promptly to avoid regulatory and operational consequences.

European organizations should immediately upgrade parse-server to versions 7.5.4 or later, or 8.4.0-alpha.1 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Until upgrades are applied, implement network-level controls to restrict outbound HTTP requests from parse-server instances, limiting them to trusted destinations only. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious URI parameters in file upload requests. Conduct thorough logging and monitoring of file upload activities to detect anomalous request patterns indicative of SSRF attempts. Review and harden backend infrastructure to minimize the impact of potential crashes, including implementing process supervisors and automatic restarts to reduce downtime. If possible, disable the file upload feature that accepts URI parameters until the patch is deployed. Educate development and operations teams about the risks of SSRF and ensure secure coding practices are followed for handling external resource fetching. Regularly audit parse-server deployments for version compliance and vulnerability exposure. Finally, maintain an incident response plan to quickly address any service disruptions caused by exploitation attempts.