CVE-2016-7523 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
coders/meta.c in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7523 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within ImageMagick's meta coder component, specifically in the coders/meta.c file. This issue arises from insufficient input validation when processing specially crafted image files, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit the software's handling of metadata within image formats. The flaw stems from improper bounds checking during the parsing of image metadata structures, allowing maliciously constructed files to trigger memory access violations that result in application instability and potential system compromise.
This vulnerability operates at the intersection of software security and digital media processing, where ImageMagick serves as a widely deployed image processing library used across numerous applications and platforms. The out-of-bounds read condition occurs when the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries while processing metadata information. Such flaws typically originate from CWE-129, which encompasses issues related to insufficient validation of length values, and may also manifest as CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. The attack vector requires remote exploitation through crafted image files that, when processed by vulnerable ImageMagick implementations, trigger the memory access violation.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7523 extends significantly beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially enable more severe exploitation techniques within the broader ATT&CK framework. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to disrupt services, cause application crashes, and in some scenarios potentially execute arbitrary code through memory corruption techniques. The vulnerability affects numerous systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing, including web applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms. Organizations using vulnerable versions of ImageMagick in their infrastructure face risks of service disruption, data integrity issues, and potential escalation to more serious security incidents. The widespread adoption of ImageMagick across various software ecosystems amplifies the potential impact of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7523 require immediate implementation of software updates and patches provided by ImageMagick developers, as well as comprehensive network monitoring to detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should implement input validation controls and restrict file upload capabilities in web applications that process user-provided images. Security measures should include deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malicious file patterns and implementing sandboxing techniques for image processing operations. Additionally, regular security assessments of image processing pipelines and maintaining updated threat intelligence regarding similar vulnerabilities will help organizations maintain robust defenses against exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in legitimate image processing functionality.