Medium severity · published Aug 21, 2026
CVE-2026-54073
VeraCrypt: Hidden volume quick format weakens plausible deniability
4.6
CVSS
0.1%
EPSS
No
On KEV
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.
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.1% · higher than 3% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
VE
VeraCrypt · veracrypt
>= 1.26.6, < 1.26.29 · source: vendor
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54073
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-54073
github.com
https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt/commit/689a59cd584f090ca5f9214d5f2f3a9eac499e53
github.com
https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt/releases/tag/VeraCrypt_1.26.29
github.com
https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-jjcr-75w7-58jp
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