CVE-2026-21498 is a vulnerability identified in the InternationalColorConsortium's iccDEV library, which is used for handling ICC color management profiles. The flaw resides in the XML calculator parser component, where improper input validation leads to a NULL pointer dereference. This occurs when the parser processes malformed or unexpected XML input, causing the application to dereference a null pointer and crash, resulting in a denial of service (DoS). The vulnerability affects all versions of iccDEV prior to 2.3.1.2, which was released to patch this issue. According to the CVSS 3.1 vector, the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and user interaction (UI:R). The impact is limited to availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity loss. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The vulnerability is related to several CWE categories including CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), CWE-252 (Unchecked Return Value), CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference), and CWE-690 (Unchecked Return Value to NULL Pointer Dereference). This suggests that the root cause is inadequate validation and error handling of input data in the XML parser. The vulnerability could be triggered by a user providing a specially crafted ICC profile or XML input to an application using iccDEV, causing the application to crash or become unresponsive. This can disrupt workflows in environments relying on color profile processing, such as printing, imaging, and publishing.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2026-21498 is denial of service, which can disrupt critical color management workflows in industries such as printing, publishing, graphic design, and digital imaging. This may lead to operational downtime, delayed production, and increased support costs. While the vulnerability does not expose sensitive data or allow code execution, the availability impact can affect service reliability and customer satisfaction. Organizations using iccDEV in automated pipelines or embedded systems may experience unexpected crashes, potentially halting batch processing or real-time color profile adjustments. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or compromised user accounts could still trigger the vulnerability. Given the widespread use of ICC profiles in professional imaging and printing sectors across Europe, the disruption could be significant in organizations with high dependency on color accuracy and processing throughput.

The most effective mitigation is to upgrade iccDEV to version 2.3.1.2 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should audit their software dependencies to identify any use of vulnerable iccDEV versions, including indirect dependencies in imaging or printing software stacks. For environments where immediate upgrading is not feasible, implementing strict input validation and sanitization on ICC profile data before processing can reduce risk. Additionally, restricting access to systems handling ICC profiles to trusted users and limiting user interaction with untrusted input can help mitigate exploitation. Monitoring application logs for crashes or abnormal terminations related to ICC profile processing may provide early detection of attempted exploitation. Finally, integrating vulnerability scanning into the software development lifecycle to catch outdated iccDEV versions can prevent future exposure.