# CVE-2026-54079: veraPDF Validation XXE via XFA - **Severity:** High 8.7 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 29 Jul 2026 - **Updated:** 29 Jul 2026 - **Also known as:** GHSA-36mm-w85j-3q2j ## What is CVE-2026-54079? CVE-2026-54079 is a high-severity vulnerability in veraPDF-validation, published on 29 Jul 2026. ### Official description veraPDF validation provides PDF/A and PDF/UA validation, feature reporting, and metadata repair. From 1.17.35 until 1.30.2 and 1.31.71, veraPDF-validation contains an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in validation-model/src/main/java/org/verapdf/gf/model/impl/pd/GFPDAcroForm.java in the getdynamicRender() method, where a crafted PDF containing a malicious XFA stream can cause external entity expansion during PDF/UA-1 validation and allow local file disclosure or outbound server-side requests. This issue is fixed in versions 1.30.2 and 1.31.71. Weakness: CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-54079? 8 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.verapdf:validation-model and org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `org.verapdf:validation-model` | Maven | From 1.17.35 | 1.30.2 | | `org.verapdf:validation-model` | Maven | From 1.17.35 | 1.30.2 | | `org.verapdf:validation-model` | Maven | From 1.31.1 | 1.31.71 | | `org.verapdf:validation-model` | Maven | From 1.31.1 | 1.31.71 | | `org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta` | Maven | From 1.17.35 | 1.30.2 | | `org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta` | Maven | From 1.17.35 | 1.30.2 | | `org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta` | Maven | From 1.31.1 | 1.31.71 | | `org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta` | Maven | From 1.31.1 | 1.31.71 | ## How do I fix CVE-2026-54079? Upgrade org.verapdf:validation-model to a fixed version for your release line: 1.30.2 or 1.31.71. ## Is CVE-2026-54079 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-54079 in the wild and no public exploit code. ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2026-54079 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2026-54079 is a high-severity vulnerability in veraPDF-validation, published on 29 Jul 2026. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-54079 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - org.verapdf:validation-model (Maven): affected from 1.17.35; fixed in 1.30.2 - org.verapdf:validation-model (Maven): affected from 1.17.35; fixed in 1.30.2 - org.verapdf:validation-model (Maven): affected from 1.31.1; fixed in 1.31.71 - org.verapdf:validation-model (Maven): affected from 1.31.1; fixed in 1.31.71 - org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta (Maven): affected from 1.17.35; fixed in 1.30.2 - org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta (Maven): affected from 1.17.35; fixed in 1.30.2 - org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta (Maven): affected from 1.31.1; fixed in 1.31.71 - org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta (Maven): affected from 1.31.1; fixed in 1.31.71 Task: 1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies. 2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it. 3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead. 4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why. 5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing. Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54079/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54079/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-54079 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54079 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-54079 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54079/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.