CVE-2025-5992 in Qt
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2025
When passing values outside of the expected range to QColorTransferGenericFunction it can cause a denial of service, for example, this can happen when passing a specifically crafted ICC profile to QColorSpace::fromICCProfile.This issue affects Qt from 6.6.0 through 6.8.3, from 6.9.0 through 6.9.1. This is fixed in 6.8.4 and 6.9.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2025-5992 represents a denial of service condition within the Qt framework's color management system, specifically affecting the QColorTransferGenericFunction component. This flaw manifests when the system processes color profiles that contain values outside the expected parameter ranges, creating a potential vector for malicious actors to disrupt application functionality. The issue is particularly concerning as it impacts Qt versions ranging from 6.6.0 through 6.8.3 and from 6.9.0 through 6.9.1, indicating a significant portion of the Qt 6.x release cycle remains vulnerable. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the color space processing pipeline, where the QColorSpace::fromICCProfile method fails to properly sanitize or reject malformed ICC profile data before attempting to process it through the QColorTransferGenericFunction.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of ICC (International Color Consortium) color profiles, which are standardized files used to define color spaces and ensure consistent color representation across different devices and applications. When an attacker crafts a specially designed ICC profile containing out-of-range values, the QColorTransferGenericFunction encounters parameters that exceed its expected operational boundaries. This condition triggers an unhandled exception or memory corruption scenario that ultimately leads to application termination or system instability. The flaw operates at the intersection of color management protocols and software robustness, where the expected mathematical constraints of color transfer functions are violated by malformed input data.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-5992 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can affect any Qt-based application that processes color profiles or handles ICC data from untrusted sources. This includes graphic design applications, image processing software, printing systems, and any system that relies on Qt's color management capabilities for consistent visual output. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its potential for remote exploitation, as malicious ICC profiles could be embedded in various file formats or transmitted through network channels, allowing attackers to trigger the denial of service condition without requiring local system access. Applications that automatically process color profiles from user uploads, network resources, or third-party sources are particularly at risk, as they may not implement additional validation layers beyond the Qt framework's built-in processing.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-5992 primarily focus on upgrading to the patched versions of Qt 6.8.4 and 6.9.2, which contain the necessary code modifications to properly validate input parameters before processing. System administrators and developers should prioritize updating affected Qt installations across all environments, particularly those handling user-generated content or external color profile data. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation at application layers, sanitizing ICC profile data before passing it to Qt's color management functions, and deploying monitoring systems to detect unusual processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for color profile processing and establishing secure coding practices that emphasize parameter validation and error handling within color management workflows. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service through resource exhaustion, as the vulnerability can lead to application instability and system resource consumption during processing of malicious input data.