CVE-2026-24406 is a heap buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the iccDEV library, which is widely used for interacting with and manipulating ICC color management profiles. The vulnerability resides in the CIccTagNamedColor2::SetSize() function, where improper input validation (CWE-20) allows unsafe incorporation of user-controllable input into ICC profile data or other structured binary blobs. This leads to a heap buffer overflow (CWE-122), enabling attackers to corrupt memory. The flaw can be triggered remotely without requiring privileges, but user interaction is necessary, typically by processing a maliciously crafted ICC profile file. Successful exploitation can result in denial of service (application crashes), unauthorized data manipulation, bypassing of application logic, and potentially remote code execution. The vulnerability affects all iccDEV versions below 2.3.1.2, which contains the fix. The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges required. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the nature of the vulnerability makes it a critical risk for applications that parse ICC profiles, such as image editing software, printing solutions, and color management tools.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially in industries reliant on accurate color management such as graphic design, printing, photography, and manufacturing sectors involving color-critical processes. Exploitation could lead to service disruptions through denial of service attacks, data integrity issues by manipulating color profile data, and potentially full system compromise via remote code execution. This could result in operational downtime, loss of intellectual property, and damage to brand reputation. Organizations processing untrusted ICC profiles, including those receiving files from external partners or customers, are at heightened risk. Additionally, supply chain attacks targeting software that incorporates iccDEV could propagate the vulnerability widely. The high CVSS score underscores the criticality of addressing this vulnerability promptly to avoid exploitation that could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately upgrade all instances of iccDEV to version 2.3.1.2 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. Organizations should audit their software stacks to identify any applications or services that utilize iccDEV for ICC profile processing. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all ICC profile data, especially from untrusted sources. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Monitor logs and network traffic for anomalous behavior related to ICC profile processing. Where possible, restrict the acceptance of ICC profiles to trusted sources only. Conduct regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on image processing and color management components. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from any exploitation attempts.