CVE-2026-21507 identifies a vulnerability in the iccDEV library, specifically in versions earlier than 2.3.1.1. The issue stems from an infinite loop in the function CalcProfileID within the IccProfile.cpp source file. This function is responsible for calculating a unique identifier for ICC color profiles, which are widely used in color management workflows across various applications and devices. The infinite loop arises due to an unreachable exit condition in the loop logic, causing the function to never terminate under certain malformed or crafted input conditions. This results in the consuming application entering a state of indefinite processing, effectively causing a denial of service (DoS) by exhausting CPU resources. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring any privileges or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The impact is limited to availability, with no direct confidentiality or integrity compromise. The issue was addressed in iccDEV version 2.3.1.1, which corrects the loop condition to ensure proper termination. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's characteristics make it a credible threat to systems processing ICC profiles, especially in automated or network-facing environments.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2026-21507 is the potential for denial of service in systems that utilize iccDEV for ICC color profile processing. This can disrupt critical workflows in industries such as digital printing, graphic design, media production, and manufacturing where color accuracy and management are essential. Service outages caused by infinite loops can lead to operational delays, increased support costs, and potential loss of business continuity. Since the vulnerability can be triggered remotely without authentication, exposed services or applications that process ICC profiles from untrusted sources are at risk of being targeted for DoS attacks. This could affect cloud-based services, print servers, or image processing pipelines. While no confidentiality or data integrity risks are associated, the availability impact alone can be significant for organizations relying on continuous processing of color profiles. Additionally, the lack of user interaction requirement increases the likelihood of automated exploitation attempts once the vulnerability becomes widely known.

The most effective mitigation is to upgrade all instances of iccDEV to version 2.3.1.1 or later, where the infinite loop issue has been fixed. Organizations should conduct an inventory of software and systems that include iccDEV libraries, including third-party applications and internal tools that handle ICC profiles. If immediate upgrading is not feasible, implementing input validation or filtering to detect and block malformed ICC profiles before processing can reduce exposure. Network-level protections such as rate limiting, application-layer firewalls, or intrusion prevention systems can help mitigate exploitation attempts by limiting the frequency and source of ICC profile submissions. Monitoring system resource usage and application logs for signs of abnormal processing times or hangs related to ICC profile handling can provide early detection of exploitation attempts. Engaging with software vendors to confirm their use of iccDEV and their patch status is also recommended to ensure comprehensive coverage.