CVE-2016-9298 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE
Heap overflow in the WaveletDenoiseImage function in MagickCore/fx.c in ImageMagick before 6.9.6-4 and 7.x before 7.0.3-6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted image.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9298 represents a critical heap overflow condition within the WaveletDenoiseImage function of ImageMagick's MagickCore library. This flaw exists in versions prior to 6.9.6-4 and 7.x prior to 7.0.3-6, making it a widespread issue affecting numerous implementations of the image processing library. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the wavelet denoise algorithm, which processes image data through mathematical transformations to reduce noise while preserving important visual features. When processing malformed image files containing specially crafted data, the function fails to properly bounds-check memory allocations, leading to unauthorized memory writes beyond allocated heap regions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious image file that triggers the WaveletDenoiseImage function during image processing operations. The heap overflow manifests as a buffer overrun that can corrupt adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to application crashes or more severe consequences depending on the execution environment. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the heap-based nature of this specific flaw makes it particularly challenging to predict and mitigate. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of image processing algorithms and memory safety, where mathematical operations on pixel data fail to account for boundary conditions in memory allocation.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks for systems relying on ImageMagick for image processing tasks, particularly those handling untrusted input from web applications, file upload systems, or content management platforms. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to cause denial of service conditions by submitting malicious image files that trigger the heap overflow during processing. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes, as the memory corruption can potentially lead to information disclosure, arbitrary code execution, or system instability depending on the specific implementation and memory layout of the affected system. Organizations using ImageMagick in production environments face heightened risk when processing user-uploaded content, as the vulnerability can be exploited through common attack vectors such as file upload handlers, web image processing APIs, or automated image analysis systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9298 primarily focus on applying the vendor-provided security patches that address the heap overflow condition through proper bounds checking and memory allocation validation. System administrators should immediately upgrade to ImageMagick versions 6.9.6-4 or later, or 7.0.3-6 or later, depending on their current implementation. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for image files, deploying sandboxed processing environments, and utilizing automated image validation tools to detect malformed files before they reach the vulnerable processing functions. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls can help filter suspicious image uploads, while runtime protections like address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation or system compromise, highlighting the importance of timely patch management and security monitoring across all image processing systems.