CVE-2026-54078
highpriority · track · 0EPSS 0.006 · 46 %ileDEEUUSEPSS · scored 2026-10-27
veraPDF validation model is an implementation of the veraPDF validation model. From 1.25.73 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/tools/DictionaryKeysHelper.java in getRichTextStringOrStreamEntryStringRepresentation(), where a crafted PDF containing a malicious rich-text /RC or /RV entry can cause external entity expansion and reflect local file contents into the validation report. This issue is fixed in versions 1.30.2 and 1.31.71.
cvss
Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.
base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · medium–high · 6.6–8.7
ssvc
A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.
weaknesses
The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.
affected products (10)
Products and version ranges known to be affected.
- Maven org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta1.25.73 → 1.30.2osvUSpkg:maven/org.verapdf/validation-model-jakarta
- Maven org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta1.31.1 → 1.31.71osvUSpkg:maven/org.verapdf/validation-model-jakarta
advisories (2)
Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.
- WID-SEC-W-2026-2867RealObjects PDFreactor: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen nicht spezifizierten AngriffDeutsch2026-08-16csaf · cert_bundDE
Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in RealObjects PDFreactor ausnutzen, um einen nicht näher spezifizierten Angriff durchzuführen.
- GHSA-3jh7-wm29-q568veraPDF Validation XXE via Rich Text2026-07-29ghsa · osvUS
## Summary **Description** An XML External Entity Injection (CWE-611) vulnerability in veraPDF allows a remote attacker to read arbitrary files on the server file system and perform Server-Side Request Forgery by submitting a crafted PDF containing a malicious rich-text (/RC or /RV) entry. This affects all current versions of veraPDF-validation. ## Details The vulnerability resides in veraPDF-validation `validation-model/src/main/java/org/verapdf/gf/model/tools/DictionaryKeysHelper.java` within the `getRichTextStringOrStreamEntryStringRepresentation()` method. This helper extracts the XHTML rich-text body from a PDF dictionary string or stream and parses it with a DOM parser to return the concatenated text content. The vulnerability stems from two combined issues: - The DocumentBuilderFactory is instantiated with default settings , no disallow-doctype-decl, no disabling of external general/parameter entities, no FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING, and no secure EntityResolver. The default JAXP/Xerces parser will therefore resolve `<!DOCTYPE … SYSTEM "…">` and `<!ENTITY … SYSTEM "…">` declarations. - After parsing, `getAllNodeText()` recursively concatenates every text node in the document and returns it as the model property value. This means the expanded contents of any external entity are reflected directly back into the validation report. ## Impact This impacts all current releases of the veraPDF validation-model module. Successful exploitation requires only that the target validate an attacker-supplied PDF. A single markup annotation with a crafted /RC string is sufficient. ## Proposed Patch Harden the `DocumentBuilderFactory` in `validation-model/src/main/java/org/verapdf/gf/model/tools/DictionaryKeysHelper.java` per the OWASP XXE Prevention Cheat Sheet to disallow DOCTYPE outright.
also known as (3)
Other names and identifiers for this entity.
sources
Which sources assert this record, and when.
references (13)
External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validationPatchcnnvd
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/commit/94caa46c1a594512247fbd46c808edae39469542cnnvd
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/commit/cacd9436d0de40b0e58cc7d2dbb06451619e61eccnnvd
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/pull/730cnnvd
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/security/advisories/GHSA-3jh7-wm29-q568cnnvd
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/commit/94caa46c1a594512247fbd46c808edae39469542enisa_euvd
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/commit/cacd9436d0de40b0e58cc7d2dbb06451619e61ecenisa_euvd
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/pull/730enisa_euvd
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