CVE-2026-21507 identifies a vulnerability in the iccDEV library, specifically in versions before 2.3.1.1, where the function CalcProfileID in IccProfile.cpp contains a loop with an unreachable exit condition, classified under CWE-835 (Infinite Loop). This flaw causes the program to enter an infinite loop when processing certain ICC color profiles, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition by consuming excessive CPU resources and potentially causing application or system unresponsiveness. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without requiring authentication or user interaction, as it can be triggered by supplying a maliciously crafted ICC profile to any application or service that uses iccDEV for color profile management. The impact is limited to availability, with no direct compromise of confidentiality or integrity. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5, reflecting its high severity due to ease of exploitation (network vector, low attack complexity) and significant impact on availability. The issue was fixed in iccDEV version 2.3.1.1, but no official patch links are provided in the source. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the potential for disruption exists in environments processing untrusted ICC profiles. Given iccDEV's role in color management for imaging, printing, and graphic design software, this vulnerability could affect a range of applications and services that rely on accurate color profile handling.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk of denial of service in systems that utilize iccDEV for ICC color profile processing. Industries such as digital media production, professional printing, publishing, and graphic design, which rely heavily on accurate color management, may experience service outages or degraded performance if exposed to malicious ICC profiles. This can disrupt workflows, delay production timelines, and potentially cause financial losses. Additionally, organizations providing cloud-based imaging or printing services could face customer dissatisfaction or reputational damage if their services become unavailable. Since the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity, data breaches are unlikely; however, availability impacts can cascade into operational disruptions. The risk is heightened in environments that automatically ingest or process ICC profiles from external sources without validation. European regulatory frameworks emphasizing operational resilience, such as NIS2, may require affected organizations to address this vulnerability promptly to maintain compliance.

To mitigate CVE-2026-21507, European organizations should immediately upgrade iccDEV to version 2.3.1.1 or later, where the infinite loop issue is resolved. In environments where immediate upgrading is not feasible, implement input validation and sanitization to detect and reject malformed or suspicious ICC profiles before processing. Employ application-level timeouts or watchdog mechanisms to detect and terminate processes stuck in infinite loops. Restrict the acceptance of ICC profiles to trusted sources and avoid automatic processing of unverified profiles. Monitor system performance and logs for signs of abnormal CPU usage indicative of exploitation attempts. Incorporate vulnerability scanning and patch management processes specifically targeting iccDEV and related libraries. For cloud or multi-tenant environments, isolate ICC profile processing to minimize the impact of potential DoS attacks. Finally, maintain awareness of updates from the International Color Consortium and security advisories to respond promptly to any emerging threats or patches.