Skip to content

Cross-Site Scripting in handlebars

Moderate severity GitHub Reviewed Published Oct 23, 2018 to the GitHub Advisory Database • Updated Jan 9, 2023

Package

npm handlebars (npm)

Affected versions

< 4.0.0

Patched versions

4.0.0

Description

Versions of handlebars prior to 4.0.0 are affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability when attributes in handlebar templates are not quoted.

Proof of Concept

Template:
<a href={{foo}}/>

Input:
{ 'foo' : 'test.com onload=alert(1)'}

Rendered result:
<a href=test.com onload=alert(1)/>

Recommendation

Update to version 4.0.0 or later.
Alternatively, ensure that all attributes in handlebars templates are encapsulated with quotes.

References

Published to the GitHub Advisory Database Oct 23, 2018
Reviewed Jun 16, 2020
Last updated Jan 9, 2023

Severity

Moderate

CVSS overall score

This score calculates overall vulnerability severity from 0 to 10 and is based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS).
/ 10

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

CVSS v3 base metrics

Attack vector: More severe the more the remote (logically and physically) an attacker can be in order to exploit the vulnerability.
Attack complexity: More severe for the least complex attacks.
Privileges required: More severe if no privileges are required.
User interaction: More severe when no user interaction is required.
Scope: More severe when a scope change occurs, e.g. one vulnerable component impacts resources in components beyond its security scope.
Confidentiality: More severe when loss of data confidentiality is highest, measuring the level of data access available to an unauthorized user.
Integrity: More severe when loss of data integrity is the highest, measuring the consequence of data modification possible by an unauthorized user.
Availability: More severe when the loss of impacted component availability is highest.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N

EPSS score

0.135%
(50th percentile)

Weaknesses

CVE ID

CVE-2015-8861

GHSA ID

GHSA-9prh-257w-9277

Source code

Loading Checking history
See something to contribute? Suggest improvements for this vulnerability.