Crash and memory disclosure via unbounded Unicode scan
Published Jan 6, 2026 · Updated Jan 6, 2026
Heap-based buffer overflow in iccDEV before 2.3.1.2 allows attackers to read adjacent memory or crash applications processing crafted ICC profiles. CIccTagTextDescription::ReleaseUnicode scans m_uzUnicodeText for a null terminator without bounding the loop by m_nUnicodeSize, so an unterminated one-unit Unicode string causes a two-byte out-of-bounds read. Exploitation requires a consuming application to process a crafted profile; the demonstrated read crosses the heap boundary and can disclose memory or terminate the process.
Summary
What happened
Heap-based buffer overflow in iccDEV before 2.3.1.2 allows attackers to read adjacent memory or crash applications processing crafted ICC profiles. CIccTagTextDescription::ReleaseUnicode scans m_uzUnicodeText for a null terminator without bounding the loop by m_nUnicodeSize, so an unterminated one-unit Unicode string causes a two-byte out-of-bounds read. Exploitation requires a consuming application to process a crafted profile; the demonstrated read crosses the heap boundary and can disclose memory or terminate the process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-21491
- Published
- Jan 6, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 6, 2026
- Vendor
- International Color Consortium
- Product
- iccDEV
- Classifications
- CWE-193, CWE-125, CWE-122, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 6, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=< 2.3.1.2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Malformed ICC profile reproducerproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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