CVE-2016-7906 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
magick/attribute.c in ImageMagick 7.0.3-2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (use-after-free) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7906 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within ImageMagick's attribute handling component, specifically in the magick/attribute.c file of version 7.0.3-2. This vulnerability exposes systems to remote denial of service attacks where malicious actors can craft specially formatted files that trigger memory corruption during the processing of image attributes. The flaw occurs when the software attempts to access memory locations that have already been freed, creating a scenario where subsequent operations can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of image attribute processing logic where ImageMagick fails to properly manage memory references during attribute parsing. When a crafted file is processed, the software's attribute handling mechanism creates a use-after-free condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to cause the application to terminate unexpectedly. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations. The flaw demonstrates poor memory management practices where the software does not adequately validate or track attribute references, leading to scenarios where freed memory blocks are accessed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process untrusted image files, particularly web applications, content management systems, and file processing services that utilize ImageMagick. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where image uploads are accepted from untrusted sources. The denial of service impact can result in complete service disruption, potentially affecting availability for legitimate users and creating opportunities for more sophisticated attacks.
The attack surface for CVE-2016-7906 extends across numerous applications and services that depend on ImageMagick for image processing capabilities. This includes web applications, email servers, file sharing platforms, and any system that automatically processes image files received from external sources. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for denial of service purposes. Organizations using ImageMagick in production environments should prioritize immediate remediation through version updates, as the vulnerability can be exploited without authentication and requires minimal technical expertise to implement.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating ImageMagick to versions that have addressed the use-after-free condition in attribute processing. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all instances of ImageMagick are updated to secure versions. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file validation mechanisms, restricting image upload capabilities, and employing sandboxing techniques to isolate image processing operations. Network-level protections such as content filtering and access controls can further reduce exposure by limiting the types of files that can be processed through vulnerable systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in security-critical software components and highlights the need for regular security assessments of widely used libraries.