# CVE-2025-71396: SurrealDB denial of service via embedded JavaScript scripting

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-71396-surrealdb-denial-of-service-via-embedded-javascript-scripting  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-18. Updated: 2026-07-18  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-71396 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4 · Published 2026-07-18

SurrealDB is a multi-model database that allows users to run custom logic using embedded JavaScript. A vulnerability exists where these scripts do not have a maximum execution time limit, allowing a user to run complex code that never finishes. An attacker with database access could use this to consume all available server processing power, causing the database to become unresponsive or crash.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-71396 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2025-71396 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2025-71396?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4, published 18 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** surrealdb (crates.io) SEMVER:introduced=2.2.0,fixed=2.2.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-71396?** Yes. surrealdb (crates.io): upgrade to 2.2.2 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2025-71396 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-71396?** Check whether you run surrealdb (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.

## How to fix

- surrealdb (crates.io): upgrade to 2.2.2 or later

  ```sh
  cargo update -p surrealdb
  ```


## Technical details

SurrealDB versions prior to 2.0.5, 2.1.5, and 2.2.2 contain a resource exhaustion vulnerability (CWE-770) in the embedded JavaScript scripting engine. While the engine enforces memory and stack limits, it lacks a default execution-time timeout. An authenticated attacker can exploit this by submitting long-running or infinite-loop JavaScript functions if scripting is explicitly enabled (via --allow-scripting or --allow-all). This leads to CPU exhaustion and a Denial of Service (DoS) condition. The issue has been resolved by implementing a default timeout and a configurable SURREAL_SCRIPTING_MAX_TIME_LIMIT environment variable.

## Affected products

- SurrealDB SurrealDB < 2.0.5, 2.1.x < 2.1.5, 2.2.x < 2.2.2

## Identifiers

- CVE-2025-71396
- GHSA-3824-qmfq-2qv7

## Timeline

- 2025-04-10: advisory: GitHub Security Advisory published
- 2026-07-18: disclosed: NVD publication date

## References

- [https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb/security/advisories/GHSA-3824-qmfq-2qv7](https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb/security/advisories/GHSA-3824-qmfq-2qv7)
- [https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/surrealdb-before-denial-of-service-via-javascript-scripting](https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/surrealdb-before-denial-of-service-via-javascript-scripting)

## Related threats

- [SurrealDB use-after-free in KV backends via affinitypool spawn_local](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121417-surrealdb-before-3-3-0-contains-a-use-after-free-vulnerability)
- [SurrealDB JSON parser denial of service via uncontrolled recursion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/surrealdb-json-parser-denial-of-service-via-uncontrolled-recursion-3037f8a0)
- [SurrealDB ES512 algorithm silently downgraded to ES384](https://junglewise.ai/threats/surrealdb-es512-algorithm-silently-downgraded-to-es384-f0af29b8)
- [SurrealDB permission bypass via WHERE clause evaluation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/surrealdb-permission-bypass-via-where-clause-evaluation-afa6f001)
- [SurrealDB authorization bypass in KILL statement](https://junglewise.ai/threats/surrealdb-authorization-bypass-in-kill-statement-fc230d0f)