CVE-2016-7101 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
The SGI coder in ImageMagick before 7.0.2-10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a large row value in an sgi file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7101 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the SGI image decoder component of ImageMagick, a widely used open-source software suite for image manipulation and processing. This vulnerability specifically affects versions of ImageMagick prior to 7.0.2-10, making it a significant concern for systems that process untrusted image files, particularly in web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms where users can upload or submit image files. The flaw resides in how the software handles the SGI (Silicon Graphics Image) file format, a proprietary image format originally developed by Silicon Graphics for their workstations and servers.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the SGI decoder implementation. When processing an SGI image file, the software reads a row value from the file header that determines the number of rows to process in the image data. An attacker can craft a malicious SGI file with an abnormally large row value that exceeds the actual size of the image data contained within the file. This causes the decoder to attempt to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in an out-of-bounds read condition. The flaw operates at the memory management level where the software fails to properly validate the row parameter against the actual image dimensions, creating a scenario where arbitrary memory access occurs during image parsing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7101 manifests as a remote denial of service condition that can be exploited by attackers to crash applications or services that utilize ImageMagick for image processing. When a vulnerable application processes the malicious SGI file, the out-of-bounds read can cause the application to crash, hang, or exhibit unpredictable behavior, effectively rendering the service unavailable to legitimate users. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server environments where ImageMagick is used to process user-uploaded content, as it can be leveraged for distributed denial of service attacks or to disrupt critical business operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially exposing underlying system vulnerabilities, as memory corruption issues can sometimes lead to more severe exploits if combined with other weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7101 primarily focus on upgrading to ImageMagick version 7.0.2-10 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly validate the row parameter in SGI files. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures such as input validation for image files, sandboxing image processing operations, and implementing file type restrictions to prevent processing of potentially malicious files. Network-level protections including firewalls and intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for suspicious file processing patterns, while application-level security measures should include proper error handling and memory management practices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive input validation and the need for robust buffer management in image processing libraries, particularly those handling proprietary or complex file formats. Security teams should also consider implementing automated scanning tools to identify systems running vulnerable versions of ImageMagick and ensure timely patch deployment across all affected environments.