diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 06b89822..3e607e35 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Security
+- Prevent access to `$smarty.template_object` in Security mode
+
 ## [3.1.38] - 2021-01-08
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/expectException b/expectException
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/libs/sysplugins/smarty_internal_compile_private_special_variable.php b/libs/sysplugins/smarty_internal_compile_private_special_variable.php
index de7d4a22..d53ef51f 100644
--- a/libs/sysplugins/smarty_internal_compile_private_special_variable.php
+++ b/libs/sysplugins/smarty_internal_compile_private_special_variable.php
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ class Smarty_Internal_Compile_Private_Special_Variable extends Smarty_Internal_C
                 case 'template':
                     return 'basename($_smarty_tpl->source->filepath)';
                 case 'template_object':
+                    if (isset($compiler->smarty->security_policy)) {
+                        $compiler->trigger_template_error("(secure mode) template_object not permitted");
+                        break;
+                    }
                     return '$_smarty_tpl';
                 case 'current_dir':
                     return 'dirname($_smarty_tpl->source->filepath)';
diff --git a/tests/UnitTests/SecurityTests/SecurityTest.php b/tests/UnitTests/SecurityTests/SecurityTest.php
index 2a4d3e59..bbb8b4e8 100644
--- a/tests/UnitTests/SecurityTests/SecurityTest.php
+++ b/tests/UnitTests/SecurityTests/SecurityTest.php
@@ -382,6 +382,15 @@ class SecurityTest extends PHPUnit_Smarty
         $this->smarty->security_policy->trusted_uri = array();
         $this->assertContains('<title>Preface | Smarty</title>', $this->smarty->fetch('string:{fetch file="https://www.smarty.net/docs/en/preface.tpl"}'));
     }
+
+    /**
+     * In security mode, accessing $smarty.template_object should be illegal.
+     * @expectedException SmartyCompilerException
+     */
+    public function testSmartyTemplateObject() {
+        $this->smarty->display('string:{$smarty.template_object}');
+    }
+
 }
 
 class mysecuritystaticclass