CVE-2026-54073
VeraCrypt: Hidden volume quick format weakens plausible deniability
Description
VeraCrypt provides disk encryption with strong security based on TrueCrypt. From 1.26.6 until 1.26.29, file-hosted hidden volume creation forces quick format and the FormatNoFs function in src/Common/Format.c and FormatFat function in src/Common/Fat.c use WriteFile to place raw zeroed sectors at predictable 128 MiB intervals. These writes bypass the normal EncryptDataUnits formatting path, leaving deterministic plaintext markers in an area expected to resemble random ciphertext. The markers can weaken plausible deniability during forensic inspection, although they do not disclose hidden-volume content or reduce the strength of VeraCrypt encryption. This issue is fixed in version 1.26.29.
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 21, 2026, 7:17 p.m.
Last Modified :
Oct. 14, 2026, 7:10 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
[email protected]
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | |||||
| CVSS 4.0 | MEDIUM | [email protected] |
Solution
- Update VeraCrypt to version 1.26.29.
- Recreate hidden volumes with the updated version.
- Avoid quick format for hidden volumes.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-54073.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-54073 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-54073
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-54073 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-54073 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
CVE Translated by [email protected]
Oct. 14, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Translation Title: VeraCrypt, Description: VeraCrypt proporciona cifrado de disco con seguridad robusta basado en TrueCrypt. Desde la versión 1.26.6 hasta la 1.26.29, la creación de volúmenes ocultos alojados en archivos fuerza el formato rápido y la función FormatNoFs en src/Common/Format.c y la función FormatFat en src/Common/Fat.c usan WriteFile para colocar sectores en bruto rellenados con ceros en intervalos predecibles de 128 MiB. Estas escrituras eluden la ruta de formato normal de EncryptDataUnits, dejando marcadores de texto plano deterministas en un área que se espera que se asemeje a un texto cifrado aleatorio. Los marcadores pueden debilitar la negación plausible durante una inspección forense, aunque no revelan el contenido del volumen oculto ni reducen la fuerza del cifrado de VeraCrypt. Este problema está solucionado en la versión 1.26.29. -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Aug. 21, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-jjcr-75w7-58jp Added SSVC {'id': 'CVE-2026-54073', 'role': 'CISA Coordinator', 'options': [{'exploitation': 'poc'}, {'automatable': 'no'}, {'technicalImpact': 'partial'}], 'version': '2.0.3', 'timestamp': '2026-08-21T19:32:21.279284Z'} -
New CVE Received by [email protected]
Aug. 21, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'vendor': 'veracrypt', 'product': 'VeraCrypt', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '>= 1.26.6, < 1.26.29'}]}] Added Description VeraCrypt provides disk encryption with strong security based on TrueCrypt. From 1.26.6 until 1.26.29, file-hosted hidden volume creation forces quick format and the FormatNoFs function in src/Common/Format.c and FormatFat function in src/Common/Fat.c use WriteFile to place raw zeroed sectors at predictable 128 MiB intervals. These writes bypass the normal EncryptDataUnits formatting path, leaving deterministic plaintext markers in an area expected to resemble random ciphertext. The markers can weaken plausible deniability during forensic inspection, although they do not disclose hidden-volume content or reduce the strength of VeraCrypt encryption. This issue is fixed in version 1.26.29. Added CVSS V4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X Added CWE CWE-693 Added Reference https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt/commit/689a59cd584f090ca5f9214d5f2f3a9eac499e53 Added Reference https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt/releases/tag/VeraCrypt_1.26.29 Added Reference https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-jjcr-75w7-58jp