CVE-2016-3715 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The EPHEMERAL coder in ImageMagick before 6.9.3-10 and 7.x before 7.0.1-1 allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files via a crafted image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3715 represents a critical file deletion flaw within ImageMagick's EPHEMERAL coder implementation, affecting versions prior to 6.9.3-10 and 7.x before 7.0.1-1. This vulnerability resides in the image processing library's handling of specific image formats, particularly those involving temporary file operations during image decoding and encoding processes. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the coder's behavior to delete arbitrary files on the target system, potentially leading to severe operational disruptions and data loss.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of image files that are processed by ImageMagick's EPHEMERAL coder, which is designed to handle temporary image data during processing operations. When an attacker crafts a malicious image file containing specific parameters or metadata that trigger the EPHEMERAL coder's temporary file handling routines, the system executes unintended file deletion operations. This occurs because the coder fails to properly validate or sanitize file paths used during temporary file operations, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary file paths that can be deleted by the system's file operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper path handling within the image processing pipeline, creating a path traversal or arbitrary file deletion attack vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3715 extends beyond simple file deletion, as it can be leveraged in various attack scenarios including remote code execution, system compromise, and data destruction. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to remove critical system files, configuration data, or user information from the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications that process user-uploaded images, as it allows attackers to execute file deletion operations on the web server without direct system access. This type of attack aligns with attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1485 (Data Destruction) tactics, where adversaries leverage legitimate system tools to perform destructive operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected ImageMagick installations to versions 6.9.3-10 or 7.0.1-1 and later, which contain the necessary code fixes to prevent arbitrary file deletion operations. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation for all image uploads and consider restricting the types of image formats processed by ImageMagick to minimize attack surface. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems running ImageMagick, particularly those processing untrusted image content. Security configurations should include disabling unnecessary image formats and implementing proper file permission controls to prevent deletion of critical system files. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security guidelines such as those outlined in the CWE database under CWE-22 (Path Traversal) and CWE-77 (Command Injection), which emphasize proper input validation and secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in image processing libraries and other file handling components.