+44 1865 950 828 Secure Your Business
Actively exploited

CVE-2016-3714 ImageMagick Improper Input Validation Vulnerability

ImageMagick contains an improper input validation vulnerability that affects the EPHEMERAL, HTTPS, MVG, MSL, TEXT, SHOW, WIN, and PLT coders. This allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via shell metacharacters in a crafted image.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch urgentlyCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 9 Sep 2024.
  • Rated High severity (CVSS 8.4, scored by CISA).
  • It has been in the catalogue for 788 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

The (1) EPHEMERAL, (2) HTTPS, (3) MVG, (4) MSL, (5) TEXT, (6) SHOW, (7) WIN, and (8) PLT coders in ImageMagick before 6.9.3-10 and 7.x before 7.0.1-1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via shell metacharacters in a crafted image, aka "ImageTragick."

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for ImageMagick. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated high, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 30 Sep 2024 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

Stay Ahead

More Exploited ImageMagick Flaws

Get alerts for ImageMagickWe email you when a new ImageMagick vulnerability is confirmed as exploited. Add more vendors on Threat Watch.

By signing up you agree to receive Threat Watch alerts. Unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy.

CVE-2016-3715ImageMagick Arbitrary File Deletion VulnerabilityAdded 3 Nov 2021CVE-2016-3718ImageMagick Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) VulnerabilityAdded 3 Nov 2021

All 3 exploited ImageMagick vulnerabilities

Not Sure If You Are Exposed?

Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2016-3714 and every other exploited flaw on the list.

Check My Exposure
Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2016-3714
  3. CVE record: CVE-2016-3714
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. access.redhat.com/security/vulnerabilities/2296071
  6. git.imagemagick.org/repos/ImageMagick/blob/a01518e08c840577cabd7d3ff291a9ba735f7276/ChangeLog
  7. lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-05/msg00028.html
  8. securitytracker.com/id/1035742
  9. imagetragick.com/
  10. oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinapr2016-2952096.html
  11. imagemagick.org/discourse-server/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=29588
  12. openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/05/03/13