CVE-2026-28689 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2026
ImageMagick is free and open-source software used for editing and manipulating digital images. Prior to versions 7.1.2-16 and 6.9.13-41, domain="path" authorization is checked before final file open/use. A symlink swap between check-time and use-time bypasses policy-denied read/write. This vulnerability is fixed in 7.1.2-16 and 6.9.13-41.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2026
ImageMagick represents a widely deployed image processing library that handles numerous file formats and operations across various platforms and applications. The vulnerability described in CVE-2026-28689 stems from a classic time-of-check to time-of-use race condition within the software's authorization mechanisms. This flaw specifically affects versions prior to 7.1.2-16 and 6.9.13-41 where the system performs domain="path" authorization checks before opening or using files. The vulnerability manifests when a malicious actor exploits the temporal gap between the authorization check and the actual file operation, allowing for symlink manipulation that can bypass security policies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a symlink swap attack pattern that operates through a well-known security flaw categorized under CWE-367. During the check-time phase, the system verifies that file operations comply with configured policies, but due to the race condition, an attacker can replace the targeted file with a symbolic link pointing to a different location. When the system subsequently opens the file during use-time, it operates on the unintended target rather than the originally checked path. This type of vulnerability enables unauthorized read and write operations that would otherwise be denied by the policy enforcement mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous attack vectors since ImageMagick is integrated into various web applications, content management systems, and image processing workflows. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access restricted files, modify system resources, or potentially escalate privileges depending on the execution context. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where ImageMagick processes user-uploaded content without proper sanitization, creating a significant risk for web applications that handle untrusted image data. This type of attack aligns with techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics, as it allows attackers to bypass access controls that should prevent unauthorized file operations.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to ImageMagick versions 7.1.2-16 or 6.9.13-41 to remediate this vulnerability, as these releases implement proper file access validation that prevents the race condition. Additional mitigations include implementing strict file path validation, disabling unnecessary file format support, and configuring proper sandboxing environments for image processing operations. Security practitioners should also consider monitoring for unusual file access patterns and implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of addressing time-of-check to time-of-use race conditions in security-critical software components, as these flaws can provide attackers with persistent access to protected system resources.