Description
Handlebars provides the power necessary to let users build semantic templates. In versions 4.0.0 through 4.7.8, `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. Version 4.7.9 fixes the issue. Some workarounds are available. Validate input type before calling `Handlebars.compile()`; ensure the argument is always a `string`, never a plain object or JSON-deserialized value. Use the Handlebars runtime-only build (`handlebars/runtime`) on the server if templates are pre-compiled at build time; `compile()` will be unavailable.
Published: 2026-03-27
Score: 9.8 Critical
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Remote Code Execution
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-2w6w-674q-4c4q Handlebars.js has JavaScript Injection via AST Type Confusion
History

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:handlebarsjs:handlebars:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Handlebarsjs
Handlebarsjs handlebars
Vendors & Products Handlebarsjs
Handlebarsjs handlebars

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Important


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, `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. Version 4.7.9 fixes the issue. Some workarounds are available. Validate input type before calling `Handlebars.compile()`; ensure the argument is always a `string`, never a plain object or JSON-deserialized value. Use the Handlebars runtime-only build (`handlebars/runtime`) on the server if templates are pre-compiled at build time; `compile()` will be unavailable.
Title Handlebars.js has JavaScript Injection via AST Type Confusion
Weaknesses CWE-843
CWE-94
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


Subscriptions

Handlebarsjs Handlebars
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-01T03:55:43.931Z

Reserved: 2026-03-24T19:50:52.103Z

Link: CVE-2026-33937

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-03-31T14:23:15.301Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-03-27T21:17:27.417

Modified: 2026-03-31T17:49:05.807

Link: CVE-2026-33937

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-03-27T21:03:46Z

Links: CVE-2026-33937 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-03-31T20:00:41Z

Weaknesses