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CVE-2026-33938GHSA-3MFM-83XF-C92R

Handlebars.js has JavaScript Injection via AST Type Confusion by tampering @partial-block

Published
Last modified
published
Not listed in CISA KEV
Fix
Fixed in 4.7.9
None on Exploit-DB, Metasploit or GitHub
  • Exploitation: poc
  • Automatable: no
  • Technical impact: total

Summary

Handlebars provides the power necessary to let users build semantic templates. In versions 4.0.0 through 4.7.8, the `@partial-block` special variable is stored in the template data context and is reachable and mutable from within a template via helpers that accept arbitrary objects. When a helper overwrites `@partial-block` with a crafted Handlebars AST, a subsequent invocation of `{{> @partial-block}}` compiles and executes that AST, enabling arbitrary JavaScript execution on the server. Version 4.7.9 fixes the issue. Some workarounds are available. First, use the runtime-only build (`require('handlebars/runtime')`). The `compile()` method is absent, eliminating the vulnerable fallback path. Second, audit registered helpers for any that write arbitrary values to context objects. Helpers should treat context data as read-only. Third, avoid registering helpers from third-party packages (such as `handlebars-helpers`) in contexts where templates or context data can be influenced by untrusted input.

Timeline

  1. CVE published
  2. CISA SSVC assessment

    Exploitation: poc · Automatable: no · Technical impact: total

  3. Record last updated

Affected versions

  • handlebars-lang handlebars.js

    From 4.0.0 · fixed in 4.7.9

  • handlebarsnpm

    From 4.0.0 · fixed in 4.7.9

References 3

GitHub · handlebars-lang/handlebars.js