feat: Add Parse Server options maxIncludeQueryComplexity, maxGraphQLQueryComplexity to limit query complexity for performance protection

src/Config.js

@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ export class Config {
     databaseOptions,
     extendSessionOnUse,
     allowClientClassCreation,
+    maxIncludeQueryComplexity,
+    maxGraphQLQueryComplexity,
   }) {
     if (masterKey === readOnlyMasterKey) {
       throw new Error('masterKey and readOnlyMasterKey should be different');
@@ -173,6 +175,7 @@ export class Config {
     this.validateDatabaseOptions(databaseOptions);
     this.validateCustomPages(customPages);
     this.validateAllowClientClassCreation(allowClientClassCreation);
+    this.validateQueryComplexityOptions(maxIncludeQueryComplexity, maxGraphQLQueryComplexity);
   }
 
   static validateCustomPages(customPages) {
@@ -230,6 +233,17 @@ export class Config {
     }
   }
 
+  static validateQueryComplexityOptions(maxIncludeQueryComplexity, maxGraphQLQueryComplexity) {
+    if (maxIncludeQueryComplexity && maxGraphQLQueryComplexity) {
+      if (maxIncludeQueryComplexity.depth >= maxGraphQLQueryComplexity.depth) {
+        throw new Error('maxIncludeQueryComplexity.depth must be less than maxGraphQLQueryComplexity.depth');
+      }
+      if (maxIncludeQueryComplexity.count >= maxGraphQLQueryComplexity.fields) {
+        throw new Error('maxIncludeQueryComplexity.count must be less than maxGraphQLQueryComplexity.fields');
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   static validateSecurityOptions(security) {
     if (Object.prototype.toString.call(security) !== '[object Object]') {
       throw 'Parse Server option security must be an object.';

src/GraphQL/ParseGraphQLServer.js

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import requiredParameter from '../requiredParameter';
 import defaultLogger from '../logger';
 import { ParseGraphQLSchema } from './ParseGraphQLSchema';
 import ParseGraphQLController, { ParseGraphQLConfig } from '../Controllers/ParseGraphQLController';
+import { createComplexityValidationPlugin } from './helpers/queryComplexity';
 
 
 const IntrospectionControlPlugin = (publicIntrospection) => ({
@@ -98,14 +99,24 @@ class ParseGraphQLServer {
       return this._server;
     }
     const { schema, context } = await this._getGraphQLOptions();
+    const plugins = [
+      ApolloServerPluginCacheControlDisabled(),
+      IntrospectionControlPlugin(this.config.graphQLPublicIntrospection),
+    ];
+
+    // Add complexity validation plugin if configured
+    if (this.parseServer.config.maxGraphQLQueryComplexity) {
+      plugins.push(createComplexityValidationPlugin(this.parseServer.config));
+    }
+
     const apollo = new ApolloServer({
       csrfPrevention: {
         // See https://www.apollographql.com/docs/router/configuration/csrf/
         // needed since we use graphql upload
         requestHeaders: ['X-Parse-Application-Id'],
       },
       introspection: this.config.graphQLPublicIntrospection,
-      plugins: [ApolloServerPluginCacheControlDisabled(), IntrospectionControlPlugin(this.config.graphQLPublicIntrospection)],
+      plugins,
       schema,
     });
     await apollo.start();

src/GraphQL/helpers/queryComplexity.js

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+import { GraphQLError, getOperationAST, Kind } from 'graphql';
+
+/**
+ * Calculate the maximum depth and fields (field count) of a GraphQL query
+ * @param {DocumentNode} document - The GraphQL document AST
+ * @param {string} operationName - Optional operation name to select from multi-operation documents
+ * @param {Object} maxLimits - Optional maximum limits for early exit optimization
+ * @param {number} maxLimits.depth - Maximum depth allowed
+ * @param {number} maxLimits.fields - Maximum fields allowed
+ * @returns {{ depth: number, fields: number }} Maximum depth and total fields
+ */
+function calculateQueryComplexity(document, operationName, maxLimits = {}) {
+  const operationAST = getOperationAST(document, operationName);
+  if (!operationAST || !operationAST.selectionSet) {
+    return { depth: 0, fields: 0 };
+  }
+
+  // Build fragment definition map
+  const fragments = {};
+  if (document.definitions) {
+    document.definitions.forEach(def => {
+      if (def.kind === Kind.FRAGMENT_DEFINITION) {
+        fragments[def.name.value] = def;
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  let maxDepth = 0;
+  let fields = 0;
+
+  function visitSelectionSet(selectionSet, depth) {
+    if (!selectionSet || !selectionSet.selections) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    selectionSet.selections.forEach(selection => {
+      if (selection.kind === Kind.FIELD) {
+        fields++;
+        maxDepth = Math.max(maxDepth, depth);
+
+        // Early exit optimization: throw immediately if limits are exceeded
+        if (maxLimits.fields && fields > maxLimits.fields) {
+          throw new GraphQLError(
+            `Number of fields selected exceeds maximum allowed`,
+            {
+              extensions: {
+                http: {
+                  status: 403,
+                },
+              }
+            }
+          );
+        }
+
+        if (maxLimits.depth && maxDepth > maxLimits.depth) {
+          throw new GraphQLError(
+            `Query depth exceeds maximum allowed depth`,
+            {
+              extensions: {
+                http: {
+                  status: 403,
+                },
+              }
+            }
+          );
+        }
+
+        if (selection.selectionSet) {
+          visitSelectionSet(selection.selectionSet, depth + 1);
+        }
+      } else if (selection.kind === Kind.INLINE_FRAGMENT) {
+        // Inline fragments don't add depth, just traverse their selections
+        visitSelectionSet(selection.selectionSet, depth);
+      } else if (selection.kind === Kind.FRAGMENT_SPREAD) {
+        const fragmentName = selection.name.value;
+        const fragment = fragments[fragmentName];
+        // Note: Circular fragments are already prevented by GraphQL validation (NoFragmentCycles rule)
+        // so we don't need to check for cycles here
+        if (fragment && fragment.selectionSet) {
+          visitSelectionSet(fragment.selectionSet, depth);
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  visitSelectionSet(operationAST.selectionSet, 1);
+  return { depth: maxDepth, fields };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a GraphQL complexity validation plugin for Apollo Server
+ * Computes depth and total field count directly from the parsed GraphQL document
+ * @param {Object} config - Parse Server config object
+ * @returns {Object} Apollo Server plugin
+ */
+export function createComplexityValidationPlugin(config) {
+  return {
+    requestDidStart: () => ({
+      didResolveOperation: async (requestContext) => {
+        const { document, operationName } = requestContext;
+        const auth = requestContext.contextValue?.auth;
+
+        // Skip validation for master/maintenance keys
+        if (auth?.isMaster || auth?.isMaintenance) {
+          return;
+        }
+
+        // Skip if no complexity limits are configured
+        if (!config.maxGraphQLQueryComplexity) {
+          return;
+        }
+
+        // Skip if document is not available
+        if (!document) {
+          return;
+        }
+
+        const maxGraphQLQueryComplexity = config.maxGraphQLQueryComplexity;
+
+        // Calculate depth and fields in a single pass for performance
+        // Pass max limits for early exit optimization - will throw immediately if exceeded
+        // SECURITY: operationName is crucial for multi-operation documents to validate the correct operation
+        calculateQueryComplexity(document, operationName, maxGraphQLQueryComplexity);
+      },
+    }),
+  };
+}

src/Options/Definitions.js

@@ -396,6 +396,18 @@ module.exports.ParseServerOptions = {
       '(Optional) The duration in seconds for which the current `masterKey` is being used before it is requested again if `masterKey` is set to a function. If `masterKey` is not set to a function, this option has no effect. Default is `0`, which means the master key is requested by invoking the  `masterKey` function every time the master key is used internally by Parse Server.',
     action: parsers.numberParser('masterKeyTtl'),
   },
+  maxGraphQLQueryComplexity: {
+    env: 'PARSE_SERVER_MAX_GRAPH_QLQUERY_COMPLEXITY',
+    help:
+      'Maximum query complexity for GraphQL queries. Controls depth and number of operations.* Format: { depth: number, fields: number }* - depth: Maximum depth of nested field selections* - fields: Maximum number of operations (queries/mutations) in a single request* If both maxIncludeQueryComplexity and maxGraphQLQueryComplexity are provided, maxIncludeQueryComplexity values* must be lower than maxGraphQLQueryComplexity values to avoid validation conflicts.',
+    action: parsers.objectParser,
+  },
+  maxIncludeQueryComplexity: {
+    env: 'PARSE_SERVER_MAX_INCLUDE_QUERY_COMPLEXITY',
+    help:
+      'Maximum query complexity for REST API includes. Controls depth and number of include fields.* Format: { depth: number, count: number }* - depth: Maximum depth of nested includes (e.g., foo.bar.baz = depth 3)* - count: Maximum number of include fields (e.g., foo,bar,baz = 3 fields)* If both maxIncludeQueryComplexity and maxGraphQLQueryComplexity are provided, maxIncludeQueryComplexity values* must be lower than maxGraphQLQueryComplexity values to avoid validation conflicts.',
+    action: parsers.objectParser,
+  },
   maxLimit: {
     env: 'PARSE_SERVER_MAX_LIMIT',
     help: 'Max value for limit option on queries, defaults to unlimited',

src/Options/index.js

@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@ type RequestKeywordDenylist = {
   key: string | any,
   value: any,
 };
+type GraphQLQueryComplexityOptions = {
+  depth: number,
+  fields: number,
+};
+type IncludeComplexityOptions = {
+  depth: number,
+  count: number,
+};
 
 export interface ParseServerOptions {
   /* Your Parse Application ID
@@ -347,6 +355,22 @@ export interface ParseServerOptions {
   rateLimit: ?(RateLimitOptions[]);
   /* Options to customize the request context using inversion of control/dependency injection.*/
   requestContextMiddleware: ?(req: any, res: any, next: any) => void;
+  /* Maximum query complexity for REST API includes. Controls depth and number of include fields.
+   * Format: { depth: number, count: number }
+   * - depth: Maximum depth of nested includes (e.g., foo.bar.baz = depth 3)
+   * - count: Maximum number of include fields (e.g., foo,bar,baz = 3 fields)
+   * If both maxIncludeQueryComplexity and maxGraphQLQueryComplexity are provided, maxIncludeQueryComplexity values
+   * must be lower than maxGraphQLQueryComplexity values to avoid validation conflicts.
+   */
+  maxIncludeQueryComplexity: ?IncludeComplexityOptions;
+  /* Maximum query complexity for GraphQL queries. Controls depth and number of operations.
+   * Format: { depth: number, fields: number }
+   * - depth: Maximum depth of nested field selections
+   * - fields: Maximum number of operations (queries/mutations) in a single request
+   * If both maxIncludeQueryComplexity and maxGraphQLQueryComplexity are provided, maxIncludeQueryComplexity values
+   * must be lower than maxGraphQLQueryComplexity values to avoid validation conflicts.
+   */
+  maxGraphQLQueryComplexity: ?GraphQLQueryComplexityOptions;
 }
 
 export interface RateLimitOptions {

src/RestQuery.js

@@ -207,6 +207,18 @@ function _UnsafeRestQuery(
         this.doCount = true;
         break;
       case 'includeAll':
+        // Block includeAll if maxIncludeQueryComplexity is configured for non-master users
+        if (
+          !this.auth.isMaster &&
+          !this.auth.isMaintenance &&
+          this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity &&
+          (this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity.depth || this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity.count)
+        ) {
+          throw new Parse.Error(
+            Parse.Error.INVALID_QUERY,
+            'includeAll is not allowed when query complexity limits are configured'
+          );
+        }
         this.includeAll = true;
         break;
       case 'explain':
@@ -236,6 +248,18 @@ function _UnsafeRestQuery(
       case 'include': {
         const paths = restOptions.include.split(',');
         if (paths.includes('*')) {
+          // Block includeAll if maxIncludeQueryComplexity is configured for non-master users
+          if (
+            !this.auth.isMaster &&
+            !this.auth.isMaintenance &&
+            this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity &&
+            (this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity.depth || this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity.count)
+          ) {
+            throw new Parse.Error(
+              Parse.Error.INVALID_QUERY,
+              'includeAll is not allowed when query complexity limits are configured'
+            );
+          }
           this.includeAll = true;
           break;
         }
@@ -270,6 +294,26 @@ function _UnsafeRestQuery(
         throw new Parse.Error(Parse.Error.INVALID_JSON, 'bad option: ' + option);
     }
   }
+
+  // Validate query complexity for REST includes
+  if (!this.auth.isMaster && !this.auth.isMaintenance && this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity && this.include && this.include.length > 0) {
+    const includeCount = this.include.length;
+
+    if (this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity.count && includeCount > this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity.count) {
+      throw new Parse.Error(
+        Parse.Error.INVALID_QUERY,
+        `Number of include fields exceeds maximum allowed`
+      );
+    }
+
+    const depth = Math.max(...this.include.map(path => path.length));
+    if (this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity.depth && depth > this.config.maxIncludeQueryComplexity.depth) {
+      throw new Parse.Error(
+        Parse.Error.INVALID_QUERY,
+        `Include depth exceeds maximum allowed`
+      );
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 // A convenient method to perform all the steps of processing a query