CVE-2026-54078
CVE-2026-54078 is a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in org.verapdf:validation-model. O3 Security confirms whether CVE-2026-54078 is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.
veraPDF Validation XXE via Rich Text
Blast Radius
org.verapdf:validation-model☕org.verapdf:validation-model☕org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta☕org.verapdf:validation-model-jakartaReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
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.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.verapdf:validation-model | ≥ 1.25.73&&< 1.30.2 | 1.30.2 |
| ☕Maven | org.verapdf:validation-model | ≥ 1.31.1&&< 1.31.71 | 1.31.71 |
| ☕Maven | org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta | ≥ 1.25.73&&< 1.30.2 | 1.30.2 |
| ☕Maven | org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta | ≥ 1.31.1&&< 1.31.71 | 1.31.71 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.verapdf:validation-model. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update org.verapdf:validation-model to 1.30.2 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2026-54078 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether CVE-2026-54078 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to CVE-2026-54078. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2026-54078 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2026-54078 across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.