---
id: "CVE-2016-3715"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2016-3715"]
title: "ImageMagick ImageMagick: ImageMagick Arbitrary File Deletion Vulnerability"
severity: "high"
cvss: 5.8
epss: 0.75307
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: [{"name": "ImageMagick ImageMagick", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "image-processing", "imagemagick", "package", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["no-imagemagick-installed", "no-untrusted-image-input"]
published_at: "2016-05-05T18:59:04+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-3715", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-3715", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3715", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# ImageMagick ImageMagick: ImageMagick Arbitrary File Deletion Vulnerability

ImageMagick's 'ephemeral' pseudo-protocol deletes a file after reading it, and an attacker can abuse it to delete arbitrary files on the server. Exploitation of this flaw is recorded in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:ImageMagick ImageMagick affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply updates per vendor instructions; the sources do not name a fixed version.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2016-3715
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2016-3715
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3715

## From the sources

ImageMagick contains an unspecified vulnerability that could allow users to delete files by using ImageMagick's 'ephemeral' pseudo protocol, which deletes files after reading.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_