CVE-2013-7455

What it actually does

Double free in DefaultICCintents allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code when a malformed ICC profile triggers an error in the default intent handler.

Why it matters to the business

Systems processing images or documents with embedded color profiles can be fully compromised by remote attackers, enabling data theft, ransomware deployment, or persistent access with no user interaction required.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker crafts a malformed ICC profile that causes an error path in the default intent handler, triggering the double-free condition in liblcms2 to achieve remote code execution.

How to fix it

Upgrade Little CMS to version 2.6 or later; rebuild and redeploy all dependent applications and libraries after the update.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm liblcms2 version is 2.6 or newer via package manager or library inspection; test processing of known-malformed ICC profiles in a controlled environment to verify absence of crashes or unexpected behavior.

Typical attack path

1. Identify target application that processes files containing ICC profiles via liblcms2
2. Craft or obtain a malformed ICC profile that exercises the error path in DefaultICCintents
3. Deliver the profile to the target (embedded in image, PDF, or other container)
4. Trigger processing of the profile to induce the double free and gain code execution

How to detect it

Review application and system logs for crashes or errors during ICC profile parsing; inspect for unexpected process termination or memory corruption indicators when handling untrusted files containing color profiles.

What your security team should do

• Immediately inventory all systems and applications using Little CMS 2.x and prioritize upgrade to 2.6+
• Apply compensating controls such as input sanitization or sandboxing for untrusted color profiles until patches are deployed
• Monitor for new exploit maturity indicators given the high CVSS and potential for remote code execution