High severity · published Mar 27, 2026
CVE-2026-33939
Handlebars.js has Denial of Service via Malformed Decorator Syntax in Template Compilation
7.5
CVSS
0.6%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
Handlebars provides the power necessary to let users build semantic templates. In versions 4.0.0 through 4.7.8, when a Handlebars template contains decorator syntax referencing an unregistered decorator (e.g. `{{*n}}`), the compiled template calls `lookupProperty(decorators, "n")`, which returns `undefined`. The runtime then immediately invokes the result as a function, causing an unhandled `TypeError: ... is not a function` that crashes the Node.js process. Any application that compiles user-supplied templates without wrapping the call in a `try/catch` is vulnerable to a single-request Denial of Service. Version 4.7.9 fixes the issue. Some workarounds are available. Wrap compilation and rendering in `try/catch`. Validate template input before passing it to `compile()`; reject templates containing decorator syntax (`{{*...}}`) if decorators are not used in your application. Use the pre-compilation workflow; compile templates at build time and serve only pre-compiled templates; do not call `compile()` at request time.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.6% · higher than 50% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
HA
handlebars.js · handlebars-lang
>= 4.0.0, < 4.7.9 · source: vendor
HA
Handlebars · Handlebarsjs
4.0.0 before 4.7.9 · source: NVD
CO
Cluster Observability Operator 1.5.0 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
LS
Logging Subsystem for Red Hat OpenShift · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
RH
Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces 3.27 · Red Hat
All versions, or not specified · source: CISA
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-33939
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-33939
Patch
https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/commit/68d8df5a88e0a26fe9e6084c5c6aaebe67b07da2
Release Notes
https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/releases/tag/v4.7.9
Exploit
https://github.com/handlebars-lang/handlebars.js/security/advisories/GHSA-9cx6-37pm-9jff
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:10175
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:34342
access.redhat.com
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-33939
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