ImageMagick: Buffer Underwrite
CVE-2025-53101 is a critical-severity buffer underwrite vulnerability in ImageMagick, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected ImageMagick versions: < 7.1.2-0; < 6.9.13-26. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.95% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 62% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of ImageMagick you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| ImageMagick | ImageMagick | < 7.1.2-0; < 6.9.13-26 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.4 | High | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
ImageMagick is free and open-source software used for editing and manipulating digital images. In versions prior to 7.1.2-0 and 6.9.13-26, in ImageMagick's `magick mogrify` command, specifying multiple consecutive `%d` format specifiers in a filename template causes internal pointer arithmetic to generate an address below the beginning of the stack buffer, resulting in a stack overflow through `vsnprintf()`. Versions 7.1.2-0 and 6.9.13-26 fix the issue.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Buffer Underwrite
The product writes to a buffer using an index or pointer that references a memory location prior to the beginning of the buffer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that is not susceptible to these issues.
- All calculated values that are used as index or for pointer arithmetic should be validated to ensure that they are within an expected range.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in ImageMagick
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Buffer Underwrite vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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