diff --git a/lib/handlebars/compiler/compiler.js b/lib/handlebars/compiler/compiler.js
index 33bd2b11..63dc6640 100644
--- a/lib/handlebars/compiler/compiler.js
+++ b/lib/handlebars/compiler/compiler.js
@@ -243,6 +243,8 @@ Compiler.prototype = {
       name = path.parts[0],
       isBlock = program != null || inverse != null;
 
+    this.validateAllowedVariables(name, sexpr);
+
     this.opcode('getContext', path.depth);
 
     this.opcode('pushProgram', program);
@@ -256,6 +258,10 @@ Compiler.prototype = {
 
   simpleSexpr: function(sexpr) {
     let path = sexpr.path;
+    let name = path.parts[0];
+
+    this.validateAllowedVariables(name, sexpr);
+
     path.strict = true;
     this.accept(path);
     this.opcode('resolvePossibleLambda');
@@ -304,6 +310,12 @@ Compiler.prototype = {
       this.options.data = true;
       this.opcode('lookupData', path.depth, path.parts, path.strict);
     } else {
+      // Validate allowed variables for paths that aren't part of helper/expression processing
+      // (those would have path.strict set)
+      if (!path.strict) {
+        this.validateAllowedVariables(name, path);
+      }
+
       this.opcode(
         'lookupOnContext',
         path.parts,
@@ -480,6 +492,20 @@ Compiler.prototype = {
         return [depth, param];
       }
     }
+  },
+
+  validateAllowedVariables: function(name, node) {
+    if (
+      this.options.allowedVariables &&
+      name &&
+      name !== '.' &&
+      name !== '..' &&
+      !this.blockParamIndex(name)
+    ) {
+      if (this.options.allowedVariables.indexOf(name) === -1) {
+        throw new Exception('Variable "' + name + '" is not allowed', node);
+      }
+    }
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/spec/allowed-variables.js b/spec/allowed-variables.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0cb9f9ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/allowed-variables.js
@@ -0,0 +1,300 @@
+describe('allowedVariables', function() {
+  it('should compile when all variables are allowed', function() {
+    expectTemplate('{{foo}} {{bar}}')
+      .withInput({ foo: 'a', bar: 'b' })
+      .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['foo', 'bar'] })
+      .toCompileTo('a b');
+  });
+
+  it('should throw if a variable is not allowed', function() {
+    expectTemplate('{{foo}} {{baz}}')
+      .withInput({ foo: 'a', baz: 'c' })
+      .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['foo'] })
+      .toThrow(/baz/);
+  });
+
+  it('should not require known helpers to be allowed', function() {
+    expectTemplate('{{#if var}}ok{{/if}}')
+      .withInput({ var: true })
+      .withCompileOptions({
+        allowedVariables: ['var']
+      })
+      .toCompileTo('ok');
+  });
+
+  // Test cases for object property access
+  describe('object variables', function() {
+    it('should allow access to object properties when root variable is allowed', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{user.name}} {{user.email}}')
+        .withInput({
+          user: { name: 'John', email: 'john@example.com' }
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['user'] })
+        .toCompileTo('John john@example.com');
+    });
+
+    it('should throw if root object variable is not allowed', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{user.name}}')
+        .withInput({
+          user: { name: 'John' }
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: [] })
+        .toThrow(/user/);
+    });
+
+    it('should allow deep nested property access when root is allowed', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{person.address.city}}')
+        .withInput({
+          person: {
+            address: {
+              city: 'New York'
+            }
+          }
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['person'] })
+        .toCompileTo('New York');
+    });
+
+    it('should allow mixed simple and object variables', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{title}}: {{user.name}} ({{age}})')
+        .withInput({
+          title: 'User',
+          user: { name: 'John' },
+          age: 30
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['title', 'user', 'age'] })
+        .toCompileTo('User: John (30)');
+    });
+
+    it('should throw if any root variable is not allowed in mixed access', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{title}}: {{user.name}} ({{age}})')
+        .withInput({
+          title: 'User',
+          user: { name: 'John' },
+          age: 30
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['title', 'user'] })
+        .toThrow(/age/);
+    });
+
+    it('should work with array access notation', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{users.[0].name}}')
+        .withInput({
+          users: [{ name: 'Alice' }, { name: 'Bob' }]
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['users'] })
+        .toCompileTo('Alice');
+    });
+  });
+
+  // Test cases for comprehensive coverage
+  describe('decorators', function() {
+    it('should not require decorator names to be in allowedVariables', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{#helper}}{{*decorator}}{{/helper}}')
+        .withHelper('helper', function(options) {
+          return options.fn.run;
+        })
+        .withDecorator('decorator', function(fn) {
+          fn.run = 'success';
+          return fn;
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({
+          allowedVariables: [],
+          knownHelpers: { helper: true }
+        })
+        .toCompileTo('success');
+    });
+
+    it('should require decorator parameters to be in allowedVariables', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{#helper}}{{*decorator param1}}{{/helper}}')
+        .withHelper('helper', function(options) {
+          return options.fn.result || 'default';
+        })
+        .withDecorator('decorator', function(fn, props, container, options) {
+          fn.result = options.args[0];
+          return fn;
+        })
+        .withInput({ param1: 'success' })
+        .withCompileOptions({
+          allowedVariables: ['param1'],
+          knownHelpers: { helper: true }
+        })
+        .toCompileTo('success');
+    });
+
+    it('should throw if decorator parameters are not allowed', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{#helper}}{{*decorator forbiddenParam}}{{/helper}}')
+        .withHelper('helper', function(options) {
+          return options.fn.result || 'default';
+        })
+        .withDecorator('decorator', function(fn, props, container, options) {
+          fn.result = options.args[0];
+          return fn;
+        })
+        .withInput({ forbiddenParam: 'fail' })
+        .withCompileOptions({
+          allowedVariables: [],
+          knownHelpers: { helper: true }
+        })
+        .toThrow(/forbiddenParam/);
+    });
+
+    it('should handle block decorators', function() {
+      expectTemplate(
+        '{{#helper}}{{#*decorator}}content{{/decorator}}{{/helper}}'
+      )
+        .withHelper('helper', function(options) {
+          return options.fn.result || 'default';
+        })
+        .withDecorator('decorator', function(fn, props, container, options) {
+          fn.result = options.fn();
+          return fn;
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({
+          allowedVariables: [],
+          knownHelpers: { helper: true }
+        })
+        .toCompileTo('content');
+    });
+
+    it('should allow object properties in decorator parameters', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{#helper}}{{*decorator config.value}}{{/helper}}')
+        .withHelper('helper', function(options) {
+          return options.fn.result || 'default';
+        })
+        .withDecorator('decorator', function(fn, props, container, options) {
+          fn.result = options.args[0];
+          return fn;
+        })
+        .withInput({ config: { value: 'configured' } })
+        .withCompileOptions({
+          allowedVariables: ['config'],
+          knownHelpers: { helper: true }
+        })
+        .toCompileTo('configured');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('partial blocks', function() {
+    it('should handle partial block parameters', function() {
+      expectTemplate(
+        '{{#> partialBlock param1}}default content{{/partialBlock}}'
+      )
+        .withPartial('partialBlock', '{{> @partial-block}}')
+        .withInput({ param1: 'success' })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['param1'] })
+        .toCompileTo('default content');
+    });
+
+    it('should throw if partial block parameters are not allowed', function() {
+      expectTemplate(
+        '{{#> partialBlock forbiddenParam}}default content{{/partialBlock}}'
+      )
+        .withPartial('partialBlock', '{{> @partial-block}}')
+        .withInput({ forbiddenParam: 'fail' })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: [] })
+        .toThrow(/forbiddenParam/);
+    });
+
+    it('should handle partial blocks with programs', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{#> partialBlock}}{{programVar}}{{/partialBlock}}')
+        .withPartial('partialBlock', '{{> @partial-block}}')
+        .withInput({ programVar: 'success' })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['programVar'] })
+        .toCompileTo('success');
+    });
+
+    it('should allow object properties in partial block parameters', function() {
+      expectTemplate(
+        '{{#> partialBlock settings.theme}}default content{{/partialBlock}}'
+      )
+        .withPartial('partialBlock', '{{> @partial-block}}')
+        .withInput({ settings: { theme: 'dark' } })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['settings'] })
+        .toCompileTo('default content');
+    });
+
+    it('should handle object properties in partial block programs', function() {
+      expectTemplate(
+        '{{#> partialBlock}}{{user.profile.displayName}}{{/partialBlock}}'
+      )
+        .withPartial('partialBlock', '{{> @partial-block}}')
+        .withInput({ user: { profile: { displayName: 'John Doe' } } })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['user'] })
+        .toCompileTo('John Doe');
+    });
+  });
+
+  // Test cases for built-in helpers
+  describe('built-in helpers', function() {
+    it('should allow if/else conditions with allowed variables', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{#if isVisible}}{{content}}{{else}}{{fallback}}{{/if}}')
+        .withInput({
+          isVisible: true,
+          content: 'visible content',
+          fallback: 'hidden content'
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({
+          allowedVariables: ['isVisible', 'content', 'fallback']
+        })
+        .toCompileTo('visible content');
+    });
+
+    it('should throw if variables in if condition are not allowed', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{#if isVisible}}{{content}}{{/if}}')
+        .withInput({
+          isVisible: true,
+          content: 'visible content'
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['content'] })
+        .toThrow(/isVisible/);
+    });
+
+    it('should throw if variables in if body are not allowed', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{#if isVisible}}{{secretContent}}{{/if}}')
+        .withInput({
+          isVisible: true,
+          secretContent: 'secret'
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['isVisible'] })
+        .toThrow(/secretContent/);
+    });
+
+    it('should throw if variables in else block are not allowed', function() {
+      expectTemplate(
+        '{{#if isVisible}}allowed{{else}}{{forbiddenContent}}{{/if}}'
+      )
+        .withInput({
+          isVisible: false,
+          forbiddenContent: 'forbidden'
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['isVisible'] })
+        .toThrow(/forbiddenContent/);
+    });
+
+    it('should work with unless helper', function() {
+      expectTemplate('{{#unless isHidden}}{{content}}{{/unless}}')
+        .withInput({
+          isHidden: false,
+          content: 'visible content'
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['isHidden', 'content'] })
+        .toCompileTo('visible content');
+    });
+
+    it('should work with nested if conditions', function() {
+      expectTemplate(
+        '{{#if user.isActive}}{{#if user.hasAccess}}{{user.name}}{{/if}}{{/if}}'
+      )
+        .withInput({
+          user: {
+            isActive: true,
+            hasAccess: true,
+            name: 'John'
+          }
+        })
+        .withCompileOptions({ allowedVariables: ['user'] })
+        .toCompileTo('John');
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/types/index.d.ts b/types/index.d.ts
index 8ad9a241..67ca297d 100644
--- a/types/index.d.ts
+++ b/types/index.d.ts
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ interface CompileOptions {
   preventIndent?: boolean;
   ignoreStandalone?: boolean;
   explicitPartialContext?: boolean;
+  allowedVariables?: string[];
 }
 
 type KnownHelpers = {