CVE-2016-7799 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
MagickCore/profile.c in ImageMagick before 7.0.3-2 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 • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7799 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within ImageMagick's MagickCore library, specifically in the profile.c file. This vulnerability affects versions of ImageMagick prior to 7.0.3-2 and presents a significant security risk to systems that process image files. The flaw occurs when the software attempts to handle specially crafted image files that contain malformed profile data, leading to memory access violations that can be exploited by remote attackers to cause denial of service conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal file processing operations without requiring special privileges or user interaction.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the profile handling code of ImageMagick's core library. When processing image files with maliciously constructed profile sections, the software fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. This allows an attacker to craft a file that, when processed by ImageMagick, causes the application to read memory beyond its allocated bounds. The out-of-bounds read can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution environment. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that occurs when a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of robust memory management in image processing libraries that handle untrusted input from external sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7799 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions and can severely affect systems that rely on ImageMagick for image processing tasks. Web applications, content management systems, and file processing services that utilize ImageMagick are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, as attackers can submit malicious files that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition. This vulnerability can be leveraged in various attack scenarios including web application exploitation, file upload attacks, and service disruption campaigns. The potential for remote code execution cannot be entirely ruled out in certain configurations where memory corruption might be exploitable, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for systems handling untrusted image uploads. From an attacker's perspective, the vulnerability requires minimal sophistication to exploit and can be automated, making it attractive for mass deployment attacks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution and T1499: Endpoint Denial of Service, highlighting its potential for both service disruption and more advanced attack vectors.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to ImageMagick version 7.0.3-2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the out-of-bounds read condition. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file validation and sanitization processes, deploying web application firewalls to filter suspicious file uploads, and configuring application sandboxes to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in software development practices, particularly for libraries that process external data. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems using affected versions of ImageMagick and prioritize remediation efforts based on the criticality of affected services. Furthermore, organizations should establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and reduce the window of exposure to known vulnerabilities.