CVE-2019-19949: In ImageMagick 7.0.8-43 Q16, there is a heap-based buffer over-read in the function WritePNGImage of coders/pn

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CRITICAL 9.1REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2019-19949 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.1) affecting imagemagick, debian linux, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

In ImageMagick 7.0.8-43 Q16, there is a heap-based buffer over-read in the function WritePNGImage of coders/png.c, related to Magick_png_write_raw_profile and LocaleNCompare.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.1 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.9% (top 13%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-125
Published	2019-12-24
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · debian · imagemagick · opensuse

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2019-12-24 01:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:27 UTCUpdated Record last modified

imagemagick imagemagick UPGRADE

Affected: >= 6.9.9-33 and < 6.9.10-43 · >= 7.0.7-23 and < 7.0.8-43

Fixed in: 6.9.10-43, 7.0.8-43

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.9.9-33

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy imagemagick || rpm -q imagemagick || imagemagick --version

2. UPGRADE to 6.9.10-43 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade imagemagick

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade imagemagick

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 6.9.9-33 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison imagemagick sudo apt install imagemagick=<VERSION_BEFORE_6.9.9-33> sudo apt-mark hold imagemagick

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list imagemagick sudo dnf downgrade imagemagick-<VERSION_BEFORE_6.9.9-33> sudo dnf versionlock add imagemagick

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0 · 9.0 · 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 20.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 20.04

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

opensuse leap MITIGATE

Affected: 15.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.1

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · libopenmpt · FIXED · 0.8.10-2.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-a9998621be · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-a9998621be

Debian 12 · imagemagick · FIXED · 8:6.9.11.24+dfsg-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade imagemagick dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' imagemagick)" ge "8:6.9.11.24+dfsg-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · imagemagick · FIXED · 8:6.9.11.24+dfsg-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade imagemagick dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' imagemagick)" ge "8:6.9.11.24+dfsg-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 7 · autotrace · FIXED · autotrace-0.31.1-38.el7

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:1180 rpm -q autotrace

RHEL 7 · emacs · FIXED · emacs-24.3-23.el7

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:1180 rpm -q emacs

RHEL 7 · ImageMagick · FIXED · ImageMagick-6.9.10.68-3.el7

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:1180 rpm -q ImageMagick

RHEL 7 · inkscape · FIXED · inkscape-0.92.2-3.el7

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:1180 rpm -q inkscape

RHEL 5 · ImageMagick · DEFERRED

Alpine 3.20 · imagemagick · FIXED · imagemagick-7.0.8.44-r0

apk add --upgrade imagemagick apk info -v imagemagick

Alpine 3.21 · imagemagick · FIXED · imagemagick-7.0.8.44-r0

apk add --upgrade imagemagick apk info -v imagemagick

Alpine 3.22 · imagemagick · FIXED · imagemagick-7.0.8.44-r0

apk add --upgrade imagemagick apk info -v imagemagick

Alpine 3.23 · imagemagick · FIXED · imagemagick-7.0.8.44-r0

apk add --upgrade imagemagick apk info -v imagemagick

Amazon Linux 2 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2-2024-2432 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS2-2024-2432

Amazon Linux 1 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS-2024-1926 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2024-1926

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: github.com/ImageMagick/ImageMagick/issues/1561
GitHub PoC: Live-Hack-CVE/CVE-2019-19949

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2019-19949?

imagemagick: upgrade to 6.9.10-43, 7.0.8-43; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2019-19949 being exploited?

CVE-2019-19949 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2019-19949 affect?

CVE-2019-19949 affects imagemagick, debian linux, ubuntu linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.1). In ImageMagick 7.0.8-43 Q16, there is a heap-based buffer over-read in the function WritePNGImage of coders/png.c, related to Magick_png_write_raw_profile and LocaleNCompare.

How urgent is CVE-2019-19949?

Priority 69/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities · ImageMagick vulnerabilities

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References

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