# CVE-2018-25025: Actix actix-web out-of-bounds write via unsound string lifetimes

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-25025-actix-actix-web-out-of-bounds-write-via-unsound-string-lifetimes  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-01-06. Updated: 2026-06-09  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2018-25025 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2022-01-06

actix-web is a popular framework used to build web servers and applications in the Rust programming language. A vulnerability was identified where the framework incorrectly handles memory management, potentially allowing a remote attacker to crash the server or execute unauthorized code. This could lead to service outages or the compromise of sensitive data handled by the web application.

Technologies: [actix-web (crates.io)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/actix-web). Vendors: [crates.io](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/crates-io).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2018-25025 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2018-25025 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2018-25025?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 6 January 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** actix-web (crates.io) < 0.7.19.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2018-25025?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2018-25025 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2018-25025?** Check whether you run actix-web (crates.io) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The actix-web crate (versions prior to 0.7.19) contains multiple memory safety issues stemming from the unsound use of 'unsafe' Rust code. Specifically, the framework could unsoundly extend the lifetime of a string, leading to an out-of-bounds write and subsequent memory corruption. Other related issues in these versions include the unsound coercion of immutable references to mutable ones and improper implementation of the 'Send' trait. These flaws can be exploited by a remote attacker over the network without authentication to achieve arbitrary code execution or a denial-of-service (use-after-free). The issues were addressed through a significant refactoring in version 0.7.19.

## Affected products

- actix actix-web < 0.7.19

## Identifiers

- CVE-2018-25025
- GHSA-fgfm-hqjw-3265

## Timeline

- 2018-06-08: disclosed: Initial issue reported on GitHub
- 2021-12-27: advisory: NVD published CVE-2018-25025
- 2022-01-06: advisory: GitHub Advisory published

## References

- [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rustsec/advisory-db/main/crates/actix-web/RUSTSEC-2018-0019.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rustsec/advisory-db/main/crates/actix-web/RUSTSEC-2018-0019.md)
- [https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2018-0019.html](https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2018-0019.html)
- [https://github.com/actix/actix-web/issues/289](https://github.com/actix/actix-web/issues/289)

## Related threats

- [actix-web denial of service via compressed request bodies](https://junglewise.ai/threats/rustsec-2026-0447-compressed-request-bodies-can-exhaust-memory-before-b7c4ea38)
- [actix-web memory corruption via unsound reference coercion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-25024-actix-web-memory-corruption-via-unsound-reference-coercion)
- [actix-web memory corruption via unsound Send trait implementation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-25026-actix-web-memory-corruption-via-unsound-send-trait-implementation)