CVE-2026-109259 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE • 10/12/2026
ImageMagick before 6.9.13-57 and 7.x before 7.1.2-32 contains an uninitialized memory read in the TGA image decoder that can expose memory contents. Attackers can supply a crafted TGA image for processing to disclose contents of uninitialized memory from the ImageMagick process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2026
The vulnerability identified within ImageMagick versions prior to 6.9.13-57 and 7.x prior to 7.1.2-32 represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper initialization of memory variables during the processing of Targa image files, commonly known as TGA format. This issue is classified under CWE-457, which denotes the use of an uninitialized variable or resource. The core technical deficiency lies within the internal decoder logic responsible for parsing TGA headers and pixel data structures. When ImageMagick processes a specifically crafted TGA file, it fails to properly initialize certain memory buffers before they are read or utilized in subsequent operations. This oversight results in the program accessing regions of memory that have not been explicitly set by the application code, thereby leaving their contents dependent on previous allocations within the process address space.
From an operational perspective, this uninitialized memory read can lead to a significant information disclosure vulnerability. An attacker who can trick a victim or server into processing a maliciously constructed TGA image file may be able to extract sensitive data from the ImageMagick process's memory heap. The disclosed contents could include cryptographic keys, session tokens, passwords, or other private data that was previously stored in those memory locations and not yet overwritten by new allocations. This type of attack does not typically result in direct code execution but serves as a powerful vector for lateral movement or further exploitation within an environment where ImageMagick is used to process untrusted image inputs, such as web applications handling user-uploaded media.
The exploitability of this vulnerability relies on the attacker's ability to control the input file format and trigger specific parsing paths that bypass initialization routines. By carefully crafting a TGA file with malformed or unexpected header values, an adversary can manipulate the decoder into reading from uninitialized memory regions rather than properly allocated buffers. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005, which covers Data from Local System Memory, as it involves the exfiltration of data directly from the application's runtime environment without necessarily compromising the underlying operating system kernel or other processes. The impact is particularly severe in high-throughput environments where ImageMagick is deployed as a background service for image resizing, format conversion, or thumbnail generation, given that such services often handle large volumes of untrusted user content and may retain sensitive state information across multiple requests due to process reuse or caching mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve upgrading the ImageMagick installation to version 6.9.13-57 or later for the legacy branch, or version 7.1.2-32 and above for the modern release line, where these memory initialization checks have been corrected by the development team. In addition to software updates, organizations should implement strict input validation policies that limit supported image formats to only those necessary for business operations, thereby reducing the attack surface presented by less common or legacy formats like TGA if they are not explicitly required. Deploying web application firewalls with rules capable of detecting anomalous file uploads and enforcing MIME type verification can also provide a layer of defense against attempts to inject maliciously crafted image files into processing pipelines. Furthermore, running ImageMagick instances in sandboxed environments with restricted memory access permissions can help contain the potential blast radius should an exploitation attempt succeed, ensuring that even if memory contents are disclosed, they do not lead to broader system compromise or data breach beyond the isolated container scope.