The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-24407 affects iccDEV, a library and toolset developed by the InternationalColorConsortium for handling ICC color management profiles. Specifically, the flaw exists in the icSigCalcOp() function, which processes structured binary blobs representing ICC profiles. Versions 2.3.1.1 and earlier do not properly validate user-controllable input before incorporating it into ICC profile data structures. This improper input validation (CWE-20) leads to undefined behavior (CWE-758), which can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious ICC profiles. When such a profile is processed by vulnerable versions of iccDEV, it can cause denial of service by crashing the application or manipulating internal data structures. More critically, the flaw may allow attackers to bypass application logic or execute arbitrary code, potentially compromising system integrity and availability. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N), but requires user interaction (UI:R), such as opening or processing a malicious ICC profile. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, reflecting high severity due to the potential for significant impact on availability and integrity. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant given the widespread use of ICC profiles in color management workflows across various industries. The issue has been addressed in iccDEV version 2.3.1.2, which includes proper input validation and handling to prevent undefined behavior.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, particularly for those in industries relying heavily on color management technologies, such as printing, publishing, photography, graphic design, and manufacturing. Exploitation could lead to denial of service, disrupting critical workflows and causing operational downtime. Data manipulation or logic bypass could compromise the integrity of color profiles, leading to incorrect color rendering or quality control failures, which may affect product quality and brand reputation. In worst-case scenarios, arbitrary code execution could allow attackers to gain control over affected systems, potentially leading to broader network compromise or data breaches. Given the remote exploitability and lack of required privileges, attackers could target exposed systems via crafted ICC profiles embedded in documents, images, or transmitted over networks. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time. Organizations with automated or large-scale image processing pipelines are particularly vulnerable to cascading effects from exploitation.

Organizations should immediately upgrade all instances of iccDEV to version 2.3.1.2 or later to ensure the vulnerability is patched. Where upgrading is not immediately feasible, implement strict input validation and filtering on all ICC profiles before processing, including sandboxing or isolating processes that handle untrusted ICC data. Employ application whitelisting and restrict the ability to open or process ICC profiles from untrusted sources. Monitor logs and system behavior for anomalies indicative of exploitation attempts, such as crashes or unexpected process terminations related to color management tools. Incorporate vulnerability scanning and software composition analysis into the development and deployment pipelines to detect vulnerable iccDEV versions. Educate users about the risks of opening files from untrusted sources, especially those containing embedded ICC profiles. For environments with high security requirements, consider disabling ICC profile processing where not essential or using alternative libraries with a stronger security track record. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential exploitation.