The vulnerability CVE-2026-24409 affects iccDEV, a library suite used for handling ICC color management profiles, which are critical in color calibration across imaging and printing workflows. Versions 2.3.1.1 and earlier contain a flaw in the CIccTagXmlFloatNum<>::ParseXml() function, where improper input validation leads to undefined behavior and null pointer dereference. This occurs when user-controllable input is unsafely incorporated into ICC profile data or other structured binary blobs, allowing attackers to craft malicious ICC profiles that trigger the vulnerability. The consequences include denial of service (application crashes), data manipulation, bypassing application logic, and potentially arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability does not require authentication but does require user interaction, such as opening or processing a malicious ICC profile. The issue is rooted in multiple CWE categories: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), CWE-476 (Null Pointer Dereference), CWE-690 (Unchecked Return Value to NULL Pointer Dereference), and CWE-758 (Undefined Behavior). The vulnerability has been addressed in iccDEV version 2.3.1.2, which corrects the input validation and parsing logic. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction needed, unchanged scope, no confidentiality impact, low integrity impact, and high availability impact.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks particularly to industries relying on accurate color management such as digital media production, printing, photography, and manufacturing sectors involving color calibration. Exploitation can lead to denial of service, disrupting critical workflows and causing operational downtime. Data manipulation or bypassing application logic could undermine the integrity of color profiles, potentially affecting product quality or digital content authenticity. In worst cases, code execution could allow attackers to compromise systems processing ICC profiles, leading to broader network infiltration. The impact is heightened in environments where ICC profiles are exchanged frequently or processed automatically, such as print service providers or graphic design firms. Given the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering could be used to deliver malicious profiles. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time.

European organizations should immediately upgrade all instances of iccDEV to version 2.3.1.2 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. Additionally, implement strict validation and sanitization of ICC profile inputs before processing, especially in automated workflows. Employ application whitelisting or sandboxing for software handling ICC profiles to contain potential exploitation. Train users to recognize suspicious files and avoid opening ICC profiles from untrusted sources. Integrate security scanning tools that can detect malformed or malicious ICC profiles in file ingestion pipelines. Monitor logs for crashes or unusual behavior in applications using iccDEV, which may indicate exploitation attempts. Coordinate with software vendors and service providers to ensure patched versions are deployed promptly. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to mitigate potential denial of service or compromise scenarios.