CVE-2026-24411 Overview
CVE-2026-24411 affects iccDEV, a library and toolset from the International Color Consortium used to interact with, manipulate, and apply ICC color management profiles. Versions 2.3.1.1 and below contain undefined behavior in the CIccTagXmlSegmentedCurve::ToXml() function. The flaw triggers when user-controllable input is unsafely incorporated into ICC profile data or other structured binary blobs. Successful exploitation can lead to denial of service, data manipulation, application logic bypass, and code execution. The issue is fixed in version 2.3.1.2 and tracked under [CWE-20] Improper Input Validation.
Critical Impact
A network-reachable attacker can deliver a crafted ICC profile that triggers undefined behavior in iccDEV, enabling code execution, data tampering, or denial of service against any application that consumes the profile.
Affected Products
- International Color Consortium iccDEV versions 2.3.1.1 and earlier
- Applications and pipelines that link against vulnerable iccDEV libraries
- Color management toolchains processing untrusted ICC profile data
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-24 - CVE-2026-24411 published to NVD
- 2026-01-30 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-24411
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in CIccTagXmlSegmentedCurve::ToXml(), a routine that serializes segmented curve tag data from an ICC profile into XML. iccDEV fails to validate or sanitize attacker-controlled fields before they flow into this serialization path. The result is undefined behavior in C++ terms, which can manifest as memory corruption, malformed output, or unexpected control flow.
Because the bug sits in profile parsing and conversion logic, exploitation does not require local access. Any application that ingests an ICC profile through iccDEV — including image viewers, print workflows, and color pipelines — inherits the flaw. The CWE-20 classification reflects that input validation, not a single arithmetic or buffer primitive, is the root weakness.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper input validation inside CIccTagXmlSegmentedCurve::ToXml() when handling segmented curve structures from an ICC profile. iccDEV trusts size, count, and offset fields embedded in the binary blob and propagates them into serialization without bounds or type checks. Maliciously shaped values produce out-of-spec operations that the C++ standard does not define, opening the door to memory safety violations.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-adjacent through file delivery. An attacker crafts a malicious ICC profile and delivers it via email attachment, web download, embedded image metadata, or a document containing an embedded color profile. When a user opens the file in an application that uses iccDEV to parse and convert the profile to XML, the malformed segmented curve tag triggers the undefined behavior. User interaction is required, but the action is as routine as opening an image or document.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available for CVE-2026-24411. For technical detail on the specific change set, see GitHub Issue #499 and the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-x53f-7h27-9fc8.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24411
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes or hangs in processes that link against iccDEV when handling image, PDF, or print files
- ICC profile files with anomalously large or inconsistent segmented curve tag structures
- Child processes or shell activity spawned from color management or image processing utilities
- Outbound network connections initiated by processes immediately after parsing ICC profiles
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all software that bundles or links iccDEV and confirm the version in use is 2.3.1.2 or later
- Inspect ICC profile parsers with fuzz testing harnesses targeting CIccTagXmlSegmentedCurve::ToXml()
- Add YARA or content rules for ICC profiles with malformed segmented curve tags traversing email and web gateways
- Correlate process telemetry to flag color management binaries spawning interpreters such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor crash reports from image, document, and print workflows for repeated faults referencing iccDEV symbols
- Log and alert on ICC profile files exceeding expected size thresholds for the environment
- Track child process creation and file writes from applications that perform color profile conversion
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24411
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade iccDEV to version 2.3.1.2 across all build pipelines, container images, and runtime hosts
- Rebuild and redeploy any internal applications that statically link iccDEV
- Block ICC profiles from untrusted sources at email and web gateways until patching is complete
- Audit third-party software dependencies to identify embedded vulnerable iccDEV versions
Patch Information
The issue is resolved in iccDEV version 2.3.1.2. The fix is committed in the upstream repository under commit d6d6f51a999d4266ec09347cac7e0930d6e02eec. Review the iccDEV patch commit and the GitHub Security Advisory GHSA-x53f-7h27-9fc8 for the authoritative remediation reference.
Workarounds
- Restrict applications that use iccDEV to processing ICC profiles from trusted sources only
- Run color management workflows in sandboxed or containerized environments with no outbound network access
- Strip embedded ICC profiles from inbound images and documents at the perimeter when feasible
- Apply application allowlisting to prevent color management utilities from launching shells or interpreters
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
