CVE-2016-7799

What it actually does

The flaw permits an out-of-bounds read in MagickCore/profile.c during profile parsing, causing a denial of service when a crafted image file is processed.

Why it matters to the business

Image processing services can become temporarily unavailable when handling malicious files, potentially disrupting workflows that depend on image manipulation in older installations.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker crafts a file that triggers the out-of-bounds read in profile handling. The file is sent to a target who opens it in an affected ImageMagick version, resulting in an application crash without requiring elevated privileges.

How to fix it

Upgrade to a build containing commit a7bb158b7bedd1449a34432feb3a67c8f1873bfa or later; rebuild from source if using GIT checkout and verify the commit is present.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the installed version includes the referenced commit hash; test with known crafted files to ensure no crash occurs during profile parsing.

Typical attack path

1. Create a malicious image file that exploits the profile parsing logic
2. Deliver the file through email, web download, or other means
3. Victim opens or processes the file with a vulnerable ImageMagick build
4. Out-of-bounds read occurs leading to denial of service

How to detect it

Review application and system logs for segmentation faults or crashes during image file processing; inspect recent input files for unusual profile sections if crashes are observed.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize updating all ImageMagick installations to the fixed commit
• Replace or rebuild packages that pull in older versions
• Restrict image processing to trusted inputs where possible until patched