Handlebars 3.0.7 is a minor update to the popular Handlebars templating engine, building upon the foundation laid by version 3.0.6. Both versions offer developers a powerful and semantic way to build dynamic templates with minimal frustration. Key features like precompilation, helpers, and partials remain central to the Handlebars experience in both releases.
When comparing the two versions, the core templating functionality remains consistent, ensuring a smooth transition for developers already familiar with Handlebars. The primary difference lies in the updated dependencies within the development environment. Specifically, version 3.0.7 sees a refresh of the aws-sdk dependency, bumping it from "~1.5.0" to "^2.1.49", and an upgrade of the grunt-saucelabs dependency from "8.x" to "9.x". This might bring improvements related to testing on cloud platforms, aligning with the newer APIs of those services. The fileCount and unpackedSize have also change slightly suggesting changes in the codebase.
For developers using Handlebars, these changes largely affect the development workflow and testing infrastructure. If your projects rely on the aws-sdk or grunt-saucelabs during the build or test phases, upgrading to 3.0.7 is advisable. However, the core templating engine remains functionally equivalent, implying no immediate changes are needed for applications solely using Handlebars for rendering. The essence of the library, providing a clean and efficient way to render data within templates, remains consistent across both versions.
All the vulnerabilities related to the version 3.0.7 of the package
Arbitrary Code Execution in handlebars
Versions of handlebars prior to 3.0.8 or 4.5.2 are vulnerable to Arbitrary Code Execution. The package's lookup helper fails to properly validate templates, allowing attackers to submit templates that execute arbitrary JavaScript in the system. It can be used to run arbitrary code in a server processing Handlebars templates or on a victim's browser (effectively serving as Cross-Site Scripting).
The following template can be used to demonstrate the vulnerability:
{{#with split as |a|}}
{{pop (push "alert('Vulnerable Handlebars JS');")}}
{{#with (concat (lookup join (slice 0 1)))}}
{{#each (slice 2 3)}}
{{#with (apply 0 a)}}
{{.}}
{{/with}}
{{/each}}
{{/with}}
{{/with}}
{{/with}}```
## Recommendation
Upgrade to version 3.0.8, 4.5.2 or later.
Arbitrary Code Execution in Handlebars
Handlebars before 3.0.8 and 4.x before 4.5.3 is vulnerable to Arbitrary Code Execution. The lookup helper fails to properly validate templates, allowing attackers to submit templates that execute arbitrary JavaScript. This can be used to run arbitrary code on a server processing Handlebars templates or in a victim's browser (effectively serving as XSS).
Prototype Pollution in handlebars
Versions of handlebars prior to 3.0.8 or 4.5.3 are vulnerable to prototype pollution. It is possible to add or modify properties to the Object prototype through a malicious template. This may allow attackers to crash the application or execute Arbitrary Code in specific conditions.
Upgrade to version 3.0.8, 4.5.3 or later.
Arbitrary Code Execution in handlebars
Versions of handlebars prior to 3.0.8 or 4.5.3 are vulnerable to Arbitrary Code Execution. The package's lookup helper fails to properly validate templates, allowing attackers to submit templates that execute arbitrary JavaScript in the system. It is due to an incomplete fix for a previous issue. This vulnerability can be used to run arbitrary code in a server processing Handlebars templates or on a victim's browser (effectively serving as Cross-Site Scripting).
Upgrade to version 3.0.8, 4.5.3 or later.
Prototype Pollution in handlebars
Versions of handlebars prior to 3.0.8 or 4.3.0 are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution leading to Remote Code Execution. Templates may alter an Objects' __proto__ and __defineGetter__ properties, which may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code through crafted payloads.
Upgrade to version 3.0.8, 4.3.0 or later.
Cross-Site Scripting in handlebars
Versions of handlebars prior to 4.0.0 are affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability when attributes in handlebar templates are not quoted.
Template:
<a href={{foo}}/>
Input:
{ 'foo' : 'test.com onload=alert(1)'}
Rendered result:
<a href=test.com onload=alert(1)/>
Update to version 4.0.0 or later. Alternatively, ensure that all attributes in handlebars templates are encapsulated with quotes.
Prototype Pollution in handlebars
The package handlebars before 4.7.7 are vulnerable to Prototype Pollution when selecting certain compiling options to compile templates coming from an untrusted source.
Remote code execution in handlebars when compiling templates
The package handlebars before 4.7.7 are vulnerable to Remote Code Execution (RCE) when selecting certain compiling options to compile templates coming from an untrusted source.
Prototype Pollution in minimist
Affected versions of minimist are vulnerable to prototype pollution. Arguments are not properly sanitized, allowing an attacker to modify the prototype of Object, causing the addition or modification of an existing property that will exist on all objects.
Parsing the argument --__proto__.y=Polluted adds a y property with value Polluted to all objects. The argument --__proto__=Polluted raises and uncaught error and crashes the application.
This is exploitable if attackers have control over the arguments being passed to minimist.
Upgrade to versions 0.2.1, 1.2.3 or later.
Prototype Pollution in minimist
Minimist prior to 1.2.6 and 0.2.4 is vulnerable to Prototype Pollution via file index.js, function setKey() (lines 69-95).