CVE-2026-106573 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2026
ImageMagick is free and open-source software used for editing and manipulating digital images. Prior to 7.1.2-31 and 6.9.13-56, a missing limit check in the MVG decoder allows a crafted MVG image to trigger an excessively long-running operation. This issue is fixed in versions 7.1.2-31 and 6.9.13-56.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
ImageMagick serves as a foundational toolset for digital image processing, widely deployed across web applications, content management systems, and automated pipelines to handle tasks ranging from thumbnail generation to complex graphic manipulation. The software processes various input formats, including the Meta Vector Graphics MVG format, which is designed to describe vector-based images using a text-like syntax that ImageMagick translates into raster graphics for further processing or display. This architecture relies heavily on parsers to interpret external inputs safely, ensuring that resource consumption remains within predictable bounds regardless of the complexity or size of the input file.
A critical vulnerability exists in the MVG decoder prior versions 7.1.2-31 and 6.9.13-56, characterized by a missing limit check during the parsing phase. When ImageMagick processes an MVG image, it allocates resources based on the instructions contained within the file. In vulnerable versions, the parser fails to enforce strict limits on certain operations or data structures derived from the MVG syntax. This oversight allows attackers to craft malicious MVG files that contain specific sequences designed to trigger excessively long-running computational loops or memory allocations without proper termination conditions. The flaw essentially permits an unbounded execution path where the software continues processing indefinitely or consumes disproportionate amounts of CPU and memory resources relative to the input size.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily centered on denial-of-service scenarios, aligning with CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption. An attacker who can upload or inject a crafted MVG file into an application that utilizes ImageMagick for image processing can trigger this flaw remotely if the service accepts user-supplied images without adequate sanitization. The resulting excessively long-running operation leads to resource exhaustion, causing the affected process to hang, crash, or consume all available system resources. In cloud-native environments or shared hosting setups, this can lead to cascading failures affecting other services running on the same infrastructure, effectively rendering the application unavailable to legitimate users and potentially disrupting broader business operations.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability is exploitable in scenarios where user-uploaded images are processed automatically by backend systems, such as profile picture uploads or document conversion services. It maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1496 Resource Hijacking, specifically sub-technique T1496.002 Denial of Service via resource exhaustion. The attack vector is typically remote and requires no authentication if the image processing endpoint is publicly accessible, although it may also be relevant in internal systems where authenticated users can upload files for conversion or editing purposes.
Mitigation strategies focus on immediate version updates and architectural safeguards. Organizations must upgrade ImageMagick to versions 7.1.2-31 or later, or 6.9.13-56 and later, which include the necessary limit checks in the MVG decoder to prevent unbounded execution. Additionally, implementing defense-in-depth measures is crucial; this includes configuring resource limits such as memory and CPU quotas for processes handling image processing, using containerization with strict resource constraints, and validating or sanitizing input files before they reach the ImageMagick engine. Deploying a Web Application Firewall that can detect anomalous patterns in uploaded file content may also provide an additional layer of protection against exploitation attempts while patch management is underway.