CVE-2026-61870 in ImageMagick
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2026
ImageMagick before 7.1.2-26 contains a memory leak vulnerability in the VIFF encoder when memory allocation fails. Attackers can trigger allocation failures by processing specially crafted VIFF images to exhaust available memory and cause denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2026
The vulnerability under consideration affects ImageMagick versions prior to 7.1.2-26 and specifically targets the VIFF encoder component within the software's image processing framework. This memory leak represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited through crafted malicious VIFF image files to induce denial of service conditions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling mechanisms during memory allocation processes, where the system fails to properly manage memory resources when allocation attempts encounter failures.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within the VIFF encoder's memory management routines, where insufficient validation and cleanup procedures exist when dealing with failed memory allocations. When an attacker submits a specially crafted VIFF image file, the encoder attempts to allocate memory for processing the image data but encounters allocation failures due to malformed input structures or deliberately constructed memory constraints. The system's failure to properly release previously allocated memory segments during these error conditions results in progressive memory consumption that eventually exhausts available system resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute successful denial of service attacks against systems running affected ImageMagick versions. The memory leak can be exploited through various attack vectors including web applications, file processing services, or any system that utilizes ImageMagick for image handling operations. The exploitation process requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where image processing is a common operational function. The vulnerability affects systems across multiple platforms and deployment scenarios where ImageMagick is integrated into larger software ecosystems.
The underlying cause of this issue aligns with CWE-401 which specifically addresses improper handling of memory allocation failures in software systems. This weakness represents a classic example of resource leak vulnerabilities that can be systematically exploited to exhaust system resources. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion, demonstrating how this memory leak can serve as a foundational element for broader denial of service operations.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected ImageMagick installations to version 7.1.2-26 or later, which includes proper memory allocation error handling and cleanup procedures. System administrators should implement input validation measures that filter suspicious VIFF image files before processing, particularly in environments where untrusted user uploads occur. Additional protective measures include implementing memory limits and resource monitoring for applications that utilize ImageMagick to detect and prevent excessive memory consumption patterns. Network segmentation and access controls can further limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts by restricting access to vulnerable systems and implementing proper rate limiting for image processing operations.