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.
Project Subscriptions
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Advisories
| Source | ID | Title |
|---|---|---|
Github GHSA |
GHSA-3mfm-83xf-c92r | Handlebars.js has JavaScript Injection via AST Type Confusion by tampering @partial-block |
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Sat, 28 Mar 2026 03:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | 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. | |
| Title | Handlebars.js has JavaScript Injection via AST Type Confusion by tampering @partial-block | |
| Weaknesses | CWE-843 CWE-94 |
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| References |
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| Metrics |
cvssV3_1
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Projects
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: GitHub_M
Published:
Updated: 2026-03-27T21:05:42.485Z
Reserved: 2026-03-24T19:50:52.103Z
Link: CVE-2026-33938
No data.
Status : Received
Published: 2026-03-27T21:17:27.587
Modified: 2026-03-27T21:17:27.587
Link: CVE-2026-33938
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Github GHSA