Insecure template handling in Express-handlebars
Express-handlebars is a Handlebars view engine for Express. Express-handlebars mixes pure template data with engine configuration options through the Express render API. More specifically, the layout parameter may trigger file disclosure vulnerabilities in downstream applications. This potential vulnerability is somewhat restricted in that only files with existing extentions (i.e. file.extension) can be included, files that lack an extension will have .handlebars appended to them. For complete details refer to the referenced GHSL-2021-018 report. Notes in documentation have been added to help users avoid this potential information exposure vulnerability.
A fix is discussed in https://github.com/express-handlebars/express-handlebars/pull/163
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | express-handlebars | < 5.3.1 | 5.3.1 |
References
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32820
- https://github.com/express-handlebars/express-handlebars/pull/163
- https://github.com/express-handlebars/express-handlebars/commit/78c47a235c4ad7bc2674bddd8ec2721567ed8c72
- https://github.com/express-handlebars/express-handlebars#danger-
- https://github.com/express-handlebars/express-handlebars/blob/78c47a235c4ad7bc2674bddd8ec2721567ed8c72/README.md#danger-
- https://securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2021-018-express-handlebars
- https://www.npmjs.com/package/express-handlebars
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-200, CWE-94- Platform
- npm
- Package
express-handlebars- Disclosed
- 10.02.2022
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-fr76-2wp8-fp92 - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: express-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.
This is the only known vulnerability of this package.
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