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.
Metrics
Affected Vendors & Products
References
History
Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:45:00 +0000
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Veracrypt
Veracrypt veracrypt |
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Veracrypt
Veracrypt veracrypt |
Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:30:00 +0000
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ssvc
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Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:15:00 +0000
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| 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. | |
| Title | VeraCrypt: Hidden volume quick format weakens plausible deniability | |
| Weaknesses | CWE-693 | |
| References |
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| Metrics |
cvssV4_0
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: GitHub_M
Published: 2026-08-21T18:51:58.855Z
Updated: 2026-08-21T19:32:34.830Z
Reserved: 2026-06-11T18:24:35.098Z
Link: CVE-2026-54073
Updated: 2026-08-21T19:32:05.323Z
Status : Received
Published: 2026-08-21T19:17:02.870
Modified: 2026-08-21T20:16:37.233
Link: CVE-2026-54073
No data.