# CVE-2016-3715: ImageMagick Arbitrary File Deletion Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-3715-imagemagick-arbitrary-file-deletion-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-3715 · Severity: critical · CVSS 5.5 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

The EPHEMERAL coder in ImageMagick allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary files via a crafted image. This occurs because the 'ephemeral' pseudo protocol deletes files after reading them, which can be exploited if an attacker can trigger the processing of a malicious image.

Technologies: [ImageMagick](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/imagemagick). Vendors: [ImageMagick](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/imagemagick).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-3715 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2016-3715 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2016-3715?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 5.5, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** ImageMagick Studio LLC ImageMagick before 6.9.3-10, 7.x before 7.0.1-1.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-3715?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2016-3715 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-3715?** Check whether you run ImageMagick. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- ImageMagick Studio LLC ImageMagick before 6.9.3-10, 7.x before 7.0.1-1

## Timeline

- 2016-05-03: disclosed: Initial public disclosure via oss-security list
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

## Related threats

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- [ImageMagick memory leak in XMP profile handling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116155-imagemagick-before-6-9-13-58-and-7-x-before-7-1-2-33-contains-a)
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- [ImageMagick memory leak in MAT decoder](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116152-imagemagick-before-7-1-2-33-contains-a-memory-leak-vulnerability)
- [ImageMagick stack buffer overflow in bzip2 decompression](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-116149-imagemagick-before-6-9-13-58-and-7-x-before-7-1-2-33-contains-a)