Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-21503 affects iccDEV, a library/toolset for ICC color profile handling. Versions before 2.3.1.2 can hit undefined behavior from a null pointer passed to memcpy() in CIccTagSparseMatrixArray. The main business risk is application crash or disruption when vulnerable software processes affected profile data.
Executive priority
Treat as a normal-priority availability and reliability fix. It is not currently supported by evidence of active exploitation, but affected image, print, color-management, or file-processing workflows should upgrade promptly to reduce crash and data-handling risk.
Technical view
The CVE describes improper handling in CIccTagSparseMatrixArray leading to null pointer use with memcpy(). CVSS 3.1 is 6.1, local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, user interaction required, no confidentiality impact, low integrity impact, and high availability impact. Fixed in iccDEV 2.3.1.2.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to systems, applications, or build pipelines using InternationalColorConsortium iccDEV versions earlier than 2.3.1.2. Risk is higher where untrusted ICC profile files are opened, validated, transformed, or processed.
Exploitation context
No active exploitation is indicated in the provided sources, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. The CVSS vector indicates local access and user interaction are required, so this is not described as a remotely exploitable network issue from the available evidence.
Researcher notes
The root issue is undefined behavior involving a null pointer passed to memcpy() in CIccTagSparseMatrixArray. The public record references GitHub issue 367, pull request 417, and commit 55259a6395c4f6124b5d0e38469c77412926bd3d as the remediation trail.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade iccDEV to version 2.3.1.2 or later.
- Identify applications statically or dynamically linking vulnerable iccDEV versions.
- Restrict processing of untrusted ICC profiles until upgraded.
- Review vendor advisory and project patch notes for deployment guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory iccDEV versions in source, packages, containers, and bundled third-party components.
- Confirm deployed builds use iccDEV 2.3.1.2 or later.
- Check dependency manifests and SBOMs for InternationalColorConsortium iccDEV.
- Prioritize validation in workflows that process external ICC profiles.
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
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CWE-131: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-20: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-476: 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-628: 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-2026-21503 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:N/I:L/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:N/I:L/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:N/I:L/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/InternationalColorConsortium/iccDEV/security/advisories/GHSA-h554-qrfh-53gxCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/InternationalColorConsortium/iccDEV/issues/367CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/InternationalColorConsortium/iccDEV/pull/417CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/InternationalColorConsortium/iccDEV/commit/55259a6395c4f6124b5d0e38469c77412926bd3dCVE 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.
Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size
Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Improper Input Validation
Improper Input Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Function Call with Incorrectly Specified Arguments
Function Call with Incorrectly Specified Arguments represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.