Arbitrary Code Execution in Handlebars
Handlebars before 3.0.8 and 4.x before 4.5.3 is vulnerable to Arbitrary Code Execution. The lookup helper fails to properly validate templates, allowing attackers to submit templates that execute arbitrary JavaScript. This can be used to run arbitrary code on a server processing Handlebars templates or in a victim's browser (effectively serving as XSS).
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | handlebars | < 3.0.8, >= 4.0.0, < 4.5.3 | 3.0.8, 4.5.3 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-20920
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/commit/156061eb7707575293613d7fdf90e2bdaac029ee
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/commit/d54137810a49939fd2ad01a91a34e182ece4528e
- https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-HANDLEBARS-534478
- https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1316
- https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1324
- https://www.npmjs.com/package/handlebars
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-94- Platform
- npm
- Package
handlebars- Disclosed
- 10.02.2022
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-3cqr-58rm-57f8 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: handlebars
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 22
- First → latest
- 10.2018 10.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 6
- High 10
- Medium 5
- Low 1
Disclosures per year
- 2018: 1
- 2019: 2
- 2020: 4
- 2021: 1
- 2022: 3
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 11
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Arbitrary Code Execution in Handlebars this entry
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