GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r — actix-files
GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r is a security vulnerability in actix-files. A fix is available for actix-files — see the affected versions and patch details below.
actix-files has a possible exposure of information vulnerability
Exploitation Status
Proof-of-concept exploit code exists
- CISA’s SSVC triage found public proof-of-concept exploit code for this CVE, though no confirmed active exploitation.
- CISA assesses this as automatable — exploitation doesn’t require manual, per-target effort, which raises the odds of mass scanning and opportunistic attacks.
Exploitation and automatability from CISA’s SSVC triage for GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
Real-World Exposure
actix-filesReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects crates.io packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Summary
When passing a non-existing folder to the actix_files::Files::new() method causes the actix server to expose unexpected files.
Details
The actix-files library exposes a Files struct that configures an actix service to serve the files in a folder as static assets. Below you can find the signature of the Files::new method:
pub fn new<T: Into<PathBuf>>(mount_path: &str, serve_from: T) -> Files
When the mount_path you pass to Files doesn't exist, it defaults to an empty path (Path::new()). When the service receives a HTTP request, it joins the request information with the empty path and calls canonicalize. Rust resolves this path as relative and returns any file that matches it.
This behavior causes the library to expose unexpected files when the folder is not present.
PoC
There is a working PoC on https://github.com/Angelmmiguel/actix-files-vuln, although the next steps can be followed to reproduce the issue
-
Clone the https://github.com/actix/examples repository.
-
Change your directory to the
basics/static-filesfolder. -
Edit the
src/main.rsfile and change the line 13 to mount a non-existing folder:- .service(Files::new("/images", "static/images/").show_files_listing()) + .service(Files::new("/images", "static/missing/").show_files_listing()) -
Run the project with
cargo run. -
Access the http://localhost:8080/images/Cargo.toml URL.
Impact
This is an exposure of information vulnerability. It affects anyone using the actix-files::Files library that mounts a non-existing folder for any reason.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🦀crates.io | actix-files | all versions | 0.6.10cargo update -p actix-files --precise 0.6.10 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for actix-files, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
Fix
Update actix-files to 0.6.10 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
Tailored to GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r in your dependencies?
O3 Security finds GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r across crates.io dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.