CVE-2016-10062

What it actually does

The ReadGROUP4Image function in coders/tiff.c fails to check the return value of fwrite, allowing unhandled errors from a crafted TIFF file to trigger an application crash.

Why it matters to the business

Image processing workflows can be interrupted by unexpected application crashes when handling certain image files, leading to downtime for users and systems relying on ImageMagick.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker creates a specially crafted TIFF image that causes fwrite to fail inside ReadGROUP4Image; when the file is opened, the missing error check results in a crash. No known threat actors or campaigns are associated with this issue.

How to fix it

Upgrade to ImageMagick commit 2615e69b7e7d72e3bd5eef828708d08d1490b7fe or a later version that properly validates the fwrite return value.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the fix is present by inspecting the source for error checking after fwrite in tiff.c or by testing with a crafted file that previously caused a crash.

Typical attack path

1. Craft a malicious TIFF file that triggers fwrite failure in ReadGROUP4Image
2. Deliver the file to a target system or user
3. Trick the victim into opening the file using ImageMagick
4. Trigger denial-of-service crash

How to detect it

Review application and system logs for unexpected crashes or terminations during TIFF image processing; correlate with file open events involving untrusted images.

What your security team should do

• Upgrade all ImageMagick installations to the fixed commit or newer release
• Review and restrict image file processing to trusted sources
• Monitor for application crashes during TIFF handling