GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r: Actix files Actix-files Has A Possible Exposure Vulnerability

{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r",
  "modified" : "2026-02-06T18:56:20Z",
  "published" : "2026-02-06T18:56:20Z",
  "aliases" : [ ],
  "summary" : "actix-files has a possible exposure of information vulnerability",
  "details" : "### Summary\n\nWhen passing a non-existing folder to the `actix_files::Files::new()` method causes the actix server to expose unexpected files.\n\n### Details\n\nThe `actix-files` library exposes a [`Files` struct](https://github.com/actix/actix-web/blob/fba766b4beb92278665d58815c94d336015225c5/actix-files/src/files.rs#L38) 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](https://github.com/actix/actix-web/blob/fba766b4beb92278665d58815c94d336015225c5/actix-files/src/files.rs#L98):\n\n```rust\npub fn new<T: Into<PathBuf>>(mount_path: &str, serve_from: T) -> Files\n```\n\nWhen the `mount_path` you pass to `Files` doesn't exist, [it defaults to an empty path](https://github.com/actix/actix-web/blob/fba766b4beb92278665d58815c94d336015225c5/actix-files/src/files.rs#L104) (`Path::new()`). When the service receives a HTTP request, it [joins the request information with the empty path](https://github.com/actix/actix-web/blob/fba766b4beb92278665d58815c94d336015225c5/actix-files/src/service.rs#L136) and calls `canonicalize`. Rust resolves this path as relative and returns any file that matches it.\n\nThis behavior causes the library to expose unexpected files when the folder is not present.\n\n### PoC\n\n_There is a working PoC on https://github.com/Angelmmiguel/actix-files-vuln, although the next steps can be followed to reproduce the issue_\n\n1. Clone the https://github.com/actix/examples repository.\n2. Change your directory to the `basics/static-files` folder.\n3. Edit the `src/main.rs` file and change the line 13 to mount a non-existing folder:\n\n    ```diff\n    -        .service(Files::new(\"/images\", \"static/images/\").show_files_listing())\n    +        .service(Files::new(\"/images\", \"static/missing/\").show_files_listing())\n    ```\n    \n4. Run the project with `cargo run`.\n5. Access the <http://localhost:8080/images/Cargo.toml> URL.\n\n### Impact\n\nThis is an exposure of information vulnerability. It affects anyone using the `actix-files::Files` library that mounts a non-existing folder for any reason.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "crates.io",
      "name" : "actix-files"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "0.6.10"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 0.6.9"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/actix/actix-web/security/advisories/GHSA-8v2v-wjwg-vx6r"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/actix/actix-web"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/actix/actix-web/blob/fba766b4beb92278665d58815c94d336015225c5/actix-files/src/files.rs#L104"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/actix/actix-web/blob/fba766b4beb92278665d58815c94d336015225c5/actix-files/src/files.rs#L38"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/actix/actix-web/blob/fba766b4beb92278665d58815c94d336015225c5/actix-files/src/files.rs#L98"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/actix/actix-web/blob/fba766b4beb92278665d58815c94d336015225c5/actix-files/src/service.rs#L136"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-02-06T18:56:20Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}