---
title: "CVE-2026-103088: Handlebars.java - Path Traversal"
description: "Handlebars.java before 4.5.5 contains a path traversal caused by inconsistent percent-encoding validation in template location handling, letting attackers read files outside the configured template base directory, exploit requires a Spring MVC application with file: template prefix and request-derived view name."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-103088/
---

# CVE-2026-103088 Handlebars.java - Path Traversal

Handlebars.java before 4.5.5 contains a path traversal caused by inconsistent percent-encoding validation in template location handling, letting attackers read files outside the configured template base directory, exploit requires a Spring MVC application with file: template prefix and request-derived view name.

CVSS base score 7.5 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Not required

EPSS

0.69% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-103088)

## Details

Type

Path Traversal

Impact

File System Read, Information Disclosure

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Published

30 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-24](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/24.html)

## Vendor fix

Upgrade to version 4.5.5 or later.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-103088](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-103088)
- [https://github.com/jknack/handlebars.java/commit/f6ae3979917d05bef07f00befb4013ef00503660](https://github.com/jknack/handlebars.java/commit/f6ae3979917d05bef07f00befb4013ef00503660)
- [https://github.com/jknack/handlebars.java/releases/tag/v4.5.5](https://github.com/jknack/handlebars.java/releases/tag/v4.5.5)
- [https://github.com/jknack/handlebars.java/security/advisories/GHSA-pvrx-3g7m-fpgv](https://github.com/jknack/handlebars.java/security/advisories/GHSA-pvrx-3g7m-fpgv)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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