CVE-2026-24856 Overview
CVE-2026-24856 is an undefined behavior vulnerability affecting the iccDEV library, a collection of libraries and tools for interaction, manipulation, and application of ICC color management profiles. The vulnerability occurs when floating-point NaN (Not a Number) values are converted to unsigned short integer types during ICC profile XML parsing, potentially corrupting memory structures and enabling arbitrary code execution.
This vulnerability poses a significant risk to applications that process ICC color profiles, particularly in image processing, printing, and digital media workflows where ICC profiles are commonly used for color management.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation of this undefined behavior vulnerability can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution when processing maliciously crafted ICC profile XML data.
Affected Products
- iccDEV library versions prior to 2.3.1.2
- Applications using vulnerable iccDEV library for ICC profile processing
- Systems processing ICC color profiles from untrusted sources
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-28 - CVE CVE-2026-24856 published to NVD
- 2026-01-29 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-24856
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the iccDEV library's XML parsing functionality, specifically in the IccUtilXml.cpp file within the IccXML/IccLibXML directory. When the library parses ICC profile XML data containing floating-point NaN values, these values are converted to unsigned short integer types without proper validation. This conversion triggers undefined behavior in C/C++, as the C standard does not define the result of converting a NaN floating-point value to an integer type.
The undefined behavior can manifest in multiple ways depending on the compiler, optimization level, and target architecture. In the worst case, this can lead to memory corruption when the resulting undefined integer value is used to index arrays, calculate buffer sizes, or populate data structures within the ICC profile processing code.
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), as the root cause is the failure to validate floating-point values before type conversion operations.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper input validation when processing floating-point values in ICC profile XML data. The template function handling tag type signatures failed to check for special floating-point values (NaN, infinity) before performing type conversions to unsigned integer types. When a NaN value is cast to an unsigned short, the C/C++ standard defines this as undefined behavior, meaning the compiler can generate arbitrary code that may corrupt adjacent memory structures.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker must craft a malicious ICC profile XML file containing NaN floating-point values in specific fields. When a victim application using the vulnerable iccDEV library processes this malicious file, the undefined behavior is triggered during XML parsing.
Attack scenarios include:
- Embedding malicious ICC profiles in image files (JPEG, PNG, TIFF) that are processed by applications using iccDEV
- Distributing standalone ICC profile files through file sharing or email
- Injecting malicious ICC data through web applications that accept color profile uploads
The security patch adds proper type trait checks to validate floating-point values before conversion:
#include <cstring> /* C strings strcpy, memcpy ... */
#include <cmath> /* nanf */
#include <limits>
+#include <type_traits>
Source: GitHub Commit Update
The fix introduces <type_traits> header usage to properly handle type conversions and validate floating-point values before casting to integer types, eliminating the undefined behavior condition.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24856
Indicators of Compromise
- Presence of ICC profile files or XML data containing NaN or infinity floating-point values
- Application crashes during ICC profile parsing with memory corruption signatures
- Anomalous behavior in applications processing color profiles from untrusted sources
- Unexpected memory access patterns in processes using iccDEV library functions
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for abnormal crashes in applications that process ICC color profiles
- Implement file integrity monitoring on ICC profile directories to detect potentially malicious profiles
- Use memory sanitization tools (AddressSanitizer, UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer) during development and testing
- Deploy endpoint protection that can detect exploitation attempts through memory corruption signatures
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed crash logging for applications that use iccDEV library functions
- Monitor network traffic for unusual ICC profile transfers or downloads
- Implement application-level logging for ICC profile parsing operations
- Set up alerts for multiple parsing failures that may indicate exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24856
Immediate Actions Required
- Update iccDEV library to version 2.3.1.2 or later immediately
- Audit applications in your environment that depend on iccDEV for ICC profile processing
- Consider blocking or quarantining ICC profile files from untrusted sources until patching is complete
- Review logs for any suspicious activity related to ICC profile processing
Patch Information
The vulnerability has been fixed in iccDEV version 2.3.1.2. The patch is available through the official repository and introduces proper type trait handling to prevent undefined behavior during floating-point to integer conversions.
Detailed patch information is available via the following resources:
Workarounds
- No official workarounds are available for this vulnerability according to the vendor advisory
- As a temporary measure, restrict ICC profile processing to trusted sources only
- Consider sandboxing applications that process ICC profiles from untrusted sources
- Implement strict input validation at the application layer to reject ICC profiles with suspicious characteristics
# Verify iccDEV version after update
# Check if the patched version is installed
pkg-config --modversion iccDEV
# Expected output: 2.3.1.2 or higher
# For systems using CMake-based builds
cmake --find-package -DNAME=iccDEV -DCOMPILER_ID=GNU -DLANGUAGE=CXX -DMODE=EXIST
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
