VeraCrypt: Hidden volume quick format weakens plausible deniability (CVE-2026-54073) | HOL Guard CVE

Unknown severity · Source severity not reportedCVE-2026-54073

VeraCrypt: Hidden volume quick format weakens plausible deniability

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-54073 records a Unknown severity vulnerability in VeraCrypt: Hidden volume quick format weakens plausible deniability. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps veracrypt/VeraCrypt (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Aug 21, 2026Updated Aug 21, 2026Source checked Aug 21, 2026First seen by HOL Aug 21, 2026Material review Aug 21, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Unknown severitySource severity not reported
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Not reported

Why this deserves its current priority

A CVSS score is not reported in the current record. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps veracrypt/VeraCrypt (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
veracrypt/VeraCryptgeneric	>= 1.26.6, < 1.26.29	Not reported

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for veracrypt/VeraCrypt.
Review the reported fix. Monitor this advisory for an available fix and review any installs of the affected package.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Aug 21, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Aug 21, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Aug 21, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source 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.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.