CVE-2026-24852 in iccDEV
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2026
iccDEV provides a set of libraries and tools that allow for the interaction, manipulation, and application of ICC color management profiles. Prior to version 2.3.1.2, a heap buffer over-read when the strlen() function attempts to read a non-null-terminated buffer potentially leaking heap memory contents and causing application termination. This vulnerability affects users of the iccDEV library who process ICC color profiles. ICC Profile Injection vulnerabilities arise when user-controllable input is incorporated into ICC profile data or other structured binary blobs in an unsafe manner. Version 2.3.1.2 contains a fix for the issue. No known workarounds are available.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2026
The CVE-2026-24852 vulnerability represents a critical heap buffer over-read condition within the iccDEV library ecosystem that fundamentally compromises memory safety during ICC color profile processing operations. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the strlen() function attempts to process a buffer that lacks proper null-termination, creating a scenario where the function continues reading beyond allocated memory boundaries. The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of user-controllable input within ICC profile data structures, where binary blob manipulation does not adequately validate input boundaries before string length calculations. This memory corruption vulnerability directly maps to CWE-126, which categorizes buffer over-read conditions, and more specifically aligns with CWE-787, addressing out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities that can lead to information disclosure and system instability. The impact extends beyond simple memory leakage as the over-read can potentially expose sensitive heap contents, including cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory locations.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for any system relying on ICC color management profiles, particularly in professional imaging environments, print management systems, or digital asset management platforms where color accuracy is paramount. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious ICC profiles that trigger the buffer over-read condition during normal processing operations, potentially leading to application crashes, denial of service conditions, or even information disclosure attacks that could expose sensitive system memory contents. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage, where malicious ICC profiles might be used to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges within color management applications. Systems utilizing iccDEV libraries for color profile validation, conversion, or application processing are at risk, with the vulnerability affecting both desktop and server environments where color management services are deployed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-24852 require immediate deployment of the patched version 2.3.1.2, which implements proper input validation and buffer boundary checks within the iccDEV library functions. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected iccDEV components and ensure complete patch deployment across all environments. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper null-termination checks before strlen() operations and establishing robust input validation routines that prevent malformed ICC profile data from triggering buffer over-read conditions. Security teams should implement monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts through analysis of ICC profile processing logs and memory access patterns. Additionally, network segmentation strategies should be employed to limit exposure of systems handling color profile data, and application whitelisting should be implemented to restrict execution of untrusted ICC profiles. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization in binary data processing and demonstrates the critical need for memory safety validation in color management libraries that handle user-controllable data formats. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools that can detect malformed ICC profiles before they are processed by vulnerable applications, providing an additional layer of defense against this class of vulnerabilities.