CVE-2015-8861: Handlebars Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9prh-257w-9277
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CVSS 6.1
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2015-8861 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.1) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Handlebars libraries in the npm ecosystem. The issue involves cross-site scripting in handlebars. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.0.0.

CVE-2015-8861 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2015-8861
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9prh-257w-9277
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.1
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Handlebars
Package Ecosystem npm
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.1

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2015-8861

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Handlebars dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

handlebars fixed: 4.0.0 
npm install handlebars@4.0.0
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

npm ls handlebars

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Node.js application is affected by CVE-2015-8861, inspect your project dependencies using npm:

npm ls handlebars

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Handlebars in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.0.0), your application is affected.

Note: The npm ls handlebars command inspects dependencies declared in your package.json and lockfile; it does not perform automated runtime dynamic scanning.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Handlebars, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

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.

CVE-2015-8861 Affected Handlebars Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.0.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
handlebars
npm/handlebars
npm
< 4.0.0
4.0.0

References

NVD — CVE-2015-8861 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-8861
Handlebars Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/wycats/handlebars.js/pull/1083
blog.srcclr.com/handlebars_vulnerab... WEB
https://blog.srcclr.com/handlebars_vulnerability_research_findings
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-9prh-257w-9277
Handlebars Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/wycats/handlebars.js
www.npmjs.com/advisories/61 WEB
https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/61
www.sourceclear.com/blog/handlebars_vul... WEB
https://www.sourceclear.com/blog/handlebars_vulnerability_research_findings
Handlebars Security Information SECURITY
https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-18
Handlebars Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/04/20/11
Handlebars Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96434

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-8861?
CVE-2015-8861 is a security vulnerability in Handlebars involving Cross-Site Scripting in handlebars under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Handlebars versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.0.0 across affected packages: handlebars.
What version fixes CVE-2015-8861?
Upgrading to 4.0.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is handlebars affected?
Yes, handlebars is affected in releases prior to 4.0.0. Upgrade your dependency to 4.0.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2015-8861?
CVE-2015-8861 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2015-8861?
CVE-2015-8861 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (The product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users.).
How can I check npm dependencies for CVE-2015-8861?
Run the dependency tree command: 'npm ls handlebars'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-9prh-257w-9277",
  "modified" : "2021-09-08T20:16:46Z",
  "published" : "2018-10-23T17:20:12Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2015-8861" ],
  "summary" : "Cross-Site Scripting in handlebars",
  "details" : "Versions of `handlebars` prior to 4.0.0 are affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability when attributes in handlebar templates are not quoted.\n\n\n## Proof of Concept\nTemplate:\n```<a href={{foo}}/>```\n\nInput:\n```{ 'foo' : 'test.com onload=alert(1)'}```\n\nRendered result:\n```<a href=test.com onload=alert(1)/>```\n\n\n## Recommendation\n\nUpdate to version 4.0.0 or later.\nAlternatively, ensure that all attributes in handlebars templates are encapsulated with quotes.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "npm",
      "name" : "handlebars"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.0.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-8861"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/wycats/handlebars.js/pull/1083"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://blog.srcclr.com/handlebars_vulnerability_research_findings"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-9prh-257w-9277"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/wycats/handlebars.js"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/61"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.sourceclear.com/blog/handlebars_vulnerability_research_findings"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-18"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/04/20/11"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96434"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:29:14Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}