Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-21489 affects iccDEV, a library/toolset for ICC color profile handling. A malformed profile or related input could trigger memory-reading errors and integer underflow, potentially causing information exposure or a crash. The issue affects versions 2.3.1.1 and earlier and is fixed in 2.3.1.2.
Executive priority
Treat as a targeted medium-priority update, higher for workflows that ingest external image, print, or color-profile files. The main business concern is service disruption from crashes, with limited confidentiality risk. Patch during the next regular maintenance window unless untrusted profile processing is common.
Technical view
The vulnerability is in CIccCalculatorFunc::SequenceNeedTempReset in iccDEV. Sources identify CWE-125 out-of-bounds read and CWE-191 integer underflow/wraparound. CVSS 3.1 is 6.1 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, required user interaction, low confidentiality impact, and high availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where iccDEV versions before 2.3.1.2 are installed directly or embedded in software that parses ICC color management profiles. Systems processing untrusted or user-supplied ICC profiles should be prioritized.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates exploitation is local and requires user interaction. The provided sources do not report active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied data. Practical risk depends on whether vulnerable iccDEV code handles untrusted ICC profile content.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record, GitHub advisory, and fix commit. No public exploitation is stated in the supplied sources. Focus analysis on the fixed function and how caller-controlled profile data reaches it, while avoiding assumptions about products that embed iccDEV.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade iccDEV to version 2.3.1.2 or later.
- Identify applications or packages that bundle iccDEV before 2.3.1.2.
- Limit processing of untrusted ICC profiles until upgraded.
- Review the GitHub advisory and fix commit for vendor-specific guidance.
Validation and detection
- Check installed iccDEV version and confirm it is 2.3.1.2 or later.
- Review dependency manifests and SBOMs for iccDEV usage.
- Confirm downstream applications rebuilt against the fixed iccDEV version.
- Monitor vendor advisories for any additional affected-package guidance.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-191: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-21489 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H1.84.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/InternationalColorConsortium/iccDEV/security/advisories/GHSA-ph89-6q5h-wfw5CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/InternationalColorConsortium/iccDEV/commit/cfabfe52c9c7eb0481b62c8aad56580bb11efdadCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound)
Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.