CVE-2025-57803: ImageMagick Heap Buffer Overflow in BMP Encoder — Global Risk Analysis by CyberDudeBivash

 

Author: CyberDudeBivash

Powered by: CyberDudeBivash.com | CyberBivash.blogspot.com

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Executive Summary

CVE-2025-57803 is a high-severity heap buffer overflow vulnerability discovered in the BMP encoder of ImageMagick (32-bit builds). This flaw, stemming from a 32-bit integer overflow in scanline stride calculation, allows remote attackers to trigger memory corruption via crafted BMP images.

Although currently rated with a CVSS score of 7.5 (High), the exploitability and industry impact suggest that in certain environments—particularly cloud hosting providers, image upload pipelines, and automated content conversion services—the real-world severity may reach “Critical.”

This CyberDudeBivash report breaks down the technical root cause, exploitation mechanics, industry impact, and mitigation strategy for CVE-2025-57803. It also demonstrates how integrating modern EDR solutions, proactive patch management, and AI-driven anomaly detection is essential for defense in 2025.

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Technical Breakdown

Vulnerable Component

• Affected software: ImageMagick

• Vulnerable function: WriteBMPImage (BMP encoder)

• Affected versions:

  • 6.9.13-27 and earlier (32-bit builds)

  • 7.1.2-1 and earlier (32-bit builds)

• Fixed versions:

  • 6.9.13-28

  • 7.1.2-2

Root Cause

The vulnerability occurs in the calculation of the scanline stride (bytes_per_line).

• In 32-bit builds, large width × bpp multiplications overflow.

• The stride value becomes artificially small, but the encoder still writes 3 × width bytes per row (24-bpp).

• Result: heap buffer overflow — data written beyond allocated memory.

Exploit Vector

• Attack vector: Remote, via crafted BMP images

• Attack complexity: High (precision crafting required)

• Privileges required: Low

• User interaction: None

• Exploitation impact: Arbitrary code execution, denial of service, memory corruption.

Risk Matrix

Factor	Value
CVSS v3.1     Score	7.5 (High)
Attack Vector	Network
User Interaction	None
Privileges Req.	Low
Impact Scope	Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability

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Exploitability Assessment

While exploit development is non-trivial due to stride precision, BMP parsing has historically been a target for:

• CTF-style exploits

• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) in espionage

• Malware loaders seeking persistence via image files

EPSS Score: ~0.04% (low immediate exploitation probability)
Industry Note: Low EPSS does not equal low risk. This CVE provides a stable memory corruption primitive for exploitation in high-value targets (CDNs, photo services, messaging apps).

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Affected Platforms

• Linux Distributions:

  • Ubuntu: Tagged “High,” pending patches for 20.04, 22.04, 24.04.

  • Debian: Evaluation ongoing.

• Enterprise Vendors:

  • SUSE rated severity as 9.0 (CVSS v4.0) — indicating critical system exposure.

• Common Deployments:

  • Web services using ImageMagick auto-convert

  • CMS platforms (WordPress plugins, PHP libraries)

  • Cloud storage/CDN image optimizers

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Potential Attack Scenarios

1. Malicious Image Upload Exploit

   • Attacker uploads crafted BMP → triggers auto-conversion → heap overflow → remote code execution.

2. Supply Chain Attack Vector

   • Malicious open-source image package triggers vulnerability when imported into enterprise pipeline.

3. APT Exploitation for Stealth Persistence

   • Advanced actors could exploit this via watering-hole attacks in image-sharing forums.

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Mitigation Strategy

1. Apply Vendor Patches

• Upgrade to ImageMagick 6.9.13-28 or 7.1.2-2 immediately.

• Favor 64-bit builds, which are not impacted.

2. Secure Processing Pipelines

• Disable BMP auto-conversion for untrusted sources.

• Implement content validation wrappers.

3. Deploy Detection Tools

• CrowdStrike Falcon (affiliate link) — detects heap corruption exploits.

• Bitdefender Total Security (affiliate link) — AI-driven exploit protection.

4. Harden Web Services

• Employ Cloudflare Web Application Firewall (affiliate).

• Integrate secure sandboxing for image conversion.

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CyberDudeBivash Ecosystem Solutions

CyberDudeBivash delivers multi-layer defense intelligence:

• CyberDudeBivash Threat Analyser App — AI-powered anomaly detection for input files.

• Daily Global CVE Breakdown — Real-time alerts on vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-57803.

• ThreatWire Newsletter — Executive summaries for CISOs and SOC leaders.

• Custom Advisory Services — Patch prioritization and exploit simulation.

For enterprise subscribers, we also offer Post-Exploit Forensics — investigating whether vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-57803 have been used in your environment.

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Conclusion

CVE-2025-57803 highlights a critical truth in 2025: legacy assumptions in 32-bit software can lead to modern exploitation risks.

Organizations must:

• Patch ImageMagick immediately.

• Harden upload/processing workflows.

• Adopt AI-driven EDR/XDR solutions.

• Subscribe to CyberDudeBivash intel feeds for proactive defense.

Cybersecurity is no longer about patching yesterday’s bugs — it’s about predicting tomorrow’s exploit strategies. CyberDudeBivash stands as your global partner in that mission.

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