CVE-2026-28690 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, a stack buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the MNG encoder. There is a bounds checks missing that could corrupting the stack with attacker-controlled data. 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-28690 represents a critical stack buffer overflow flaw within ImageMagick's MNG (Multiple-image Network Graphics) encoder component. This issue affects versions prior to 7.1.2-16 and 6.9.13-41, making a substantial portion of the software ecosystem potentially vulnerable to exploitation. The MNG format is widely used for creating animated images and complex graphics, which makes this vulnerability particularly concerning given ImageMagick's widespread adoption across various platforms and applications. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms that fail to validate input data length before writing to stack memory locations, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate program execution flow through carefully crafted input files.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. This specific implementation flaw enables attackers to inject malicious data into the stack memory space, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an attacker to craft a specially formatted MNG file that triggers the vulnerable code path during image processing operations. When the MNG encoder processes such malformed input, the missing bounds checks allow data to overflow into adjacent stack memory, potentially overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data structures that govern program execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial-of-service scenarios, as it can enable remote code execution when ImageMagick processes untrusted image files through applications that utilize the library. This threat is particularly significant in web applications, content management systems, and any environment where users can upload or process image files. The vulnerability's exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Security researchers have noted that many web applications and services rely on ImageMagick for image processing, making this vulnerability a prime target for exploitation in real-world attack scenarios. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that numerous organizations could be impacted without immediate awareness of the risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-28690 primarily focus on immediate software updates to versions 7.1.2-16 or 6.9.13-41 where the bounds checking has been properly implemented. System administrators should prioritize patching affected installations and verify that all applications utilizing ImageMagick have been updated to secure versions. Additional protective measures include implementing input validation for image files, particularly when processing user-uploaded content, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious image processing patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques when processing untrusted image files and establishing robust monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) highlights the potential for attackers to leverage this vulnerability as part of broader exploitation campaigns targeting system command execution capabilities. Security teams must also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected ImageMagick versions and ensure comprehensive patch management across their infrastructure.