ImageMagick: Write-what-where Condition
CVE-2025-55298 is a high-severity write-what-where condition vulnerability in ImageMagick, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected ImageMagick versions: < 7.1.2-2; < 6.9.13-28. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 4.68% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 8.07% of all scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
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.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| ImageMagick | ImageMagick | < 7.1.2-2; < 6.9.13-28 | 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
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- 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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (github.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
ImageMagick is free and open-source software used for editing and manipulating digital images. Prior to ImageMagick versions 6.9.13-28 and 7.1.2-2, a format string bug vulnerability exists in InterpretImageFilename function where user input is directly passed to FormatLocaleString without proper sanitization. An attacker can overwrite arbitrary memory regions, enabling a wide range of attacks from heap overflow to remote code execution. This issue has been patched in versions 6.9.13-28 and 7.1.2-2.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Write-what-where Condition
Any condition where the attacker has the ability to write an arbitrary value to an arbitrary location, often as the result of a buffer overflow.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.
- Use OS-level preventative functionality integrated after the fact. Not a complete solution.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- 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 Write-what-where Condition vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
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