Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
ImageMagick can read past the end of heap memory when decoding specially crafted MAP image files. For organizations that process user-supplied images, this could cause crashes or limited memory disclosure. Patched versions are available, and there is no source-provided evidence of active exploitation.
Executive priority
Address in the normal vulnerability remediation cycle, with faster action for public upload or media-processing services. The issue is not currently supported by source evidence of exploitation, but patched versions exist and exposure can be broad through embedded ImageMagick dependencies.
Technical view
CVE-2026-25987 is a CWE-125 heap buffer over-read in ImageMagick's MAP image decoder before 7.1.2-15 and 6.9.13-40. The CVSS 3.1 score is 5.3, with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction. Reported impact is low confidentiality exposure; integrity and availability are not scored as impacted.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant where ImageMagick processes untrusted or externally supplied MAP files, such as image upload, conversion, thumbnailing, or media-processing pipelines. Affected ranges are ImageMagick 7.0.0 through before 7.1.2-15, and 6.x before 6.9.13-40.
Exploitation context
The provided sources describe crafted MAP files triggering the decoder issue. The CVE is not marked KEV, and the source bundle does not cite active exploitation. Treat internet-facing or automated image-processing services as higher priority because attackers may supply files without direct system access.
Researcher notes
Key validation points are version lineage, use of ImageMagick 6 versus 7, and whether untrusted MAP files reach the decoder. The public record identifies memory over-read and patch versions, but does not provide evidence here of exploitation in the wild or broader product-specific downstream fixes.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade ImageMagick 7.x to 7.1.2-15 or later.
- Upgrade ImageMagick 6.x to 6.9.13-40 or later.
- Prioritize systems processing untrusted images or MAP files.
- Check the GitHub advisory for any updated vendor guidance.
- Limit untrusted MAP processing until patched where operationally feasible.
Validation and detection
- Inventory ImageMagick versions across servers, containers, and build images.
- Identify services that accept, convert, or thumbnail user-supplied images.
- Confirm whether MAP decoding is used or allowed in workflows.
- Verify deployed versions meet patched release levels.
- Review logs for crashes in image-processing services after MAP file handling.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-25987 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N3.91.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/security/advisories/GHSA-42p5-62qq-mmh7CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.