CVE-2016-3714
CVE-2016-3714 is a security flaw in ImageMagick, software for processing images, built into many websites. Opening a booby-trapped file can let an attacker run their own code through ImageMagick. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 9 Sep 2024.[1]
ImageMagick is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. ImageMagick has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it an improper input validation in ImageMagick ImageMagick. In its words: “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.”[1]
The underlying weakness is improper input validation (CWE-20), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 8.4 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; ImageMagick’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as ImageMagick ImageMagick.
Most families won’t have ImageMagick; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 9 Sep 2024, 3,049 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 30 Sep 2024 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 97%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
ImageMagick has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.ImageMagick is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 30 Sep 2024 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 8.4.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 97%.[4] |
See also
Other ImageMagick flaws
- CVE-2016-3718: server-side request forgery (SSRF) ·
- CVE-2016-3715: arbitrary file deletion ·
Other improper input validation flaws
- CVE-2026-93952, Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2026-12569, PTC Windchill and FlexPLM: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-34910, Ubiquiti UniFi OS: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-6973, Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM): improper input validation ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-40766, SonicWall SonicOS: improper access control ·
- CVE-2017-1000253, Linux Kernel: PIE stack buffer corruption ·
Every ImageMagick flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in September 2024
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “ImageMagick Improper Input Validation Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 9 Sep 2024.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2016-3714 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 5 May 2016.
- ^ ImageMagick. Advisories and fixes: imagemagick.org, imagemagick.org, imagetragick.com, imagemagick.org, imagemagick.org.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.975, percentile 99.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2016-3714”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.