CVE-2026-54073

VeraCrypt: Hidden volume quick format weakens plausible deniability

CVE-2026-54073 is fixed in VeraCrypt on 1 platform by VeraCrypt 1.26.29 (version 1.26.29), released June 8, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

Routine

CVSS

4.6

No vendor severity

Exploitation

None reported

No vendor assessment

CISA KEV

Not listed

Not in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

EPSS

0.0014

3rd percentile

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.

Where it's fixed

Product	Fixed in	Fix	Released
Windows apps
VeraCrypt	1.26.29	VeraCrypt 1.26.29	Jun 8, 2026

Details

Published
August 21, 2026
Weakness
CWE-693: Protection Mechanism Failure
Vendor advisory
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54073

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