CVE-2026-54080 in veraPDF
Summary
by MITRE • 07/29/2026
veraPDF PDF parser is a PDF parser for veraPDF. Prior to 1.30.2 and 1.31.23, veraPDF-parser contains a denial-of-service vulnerability in veraPDF-parser/src/main/java/org/verapdf/pd/font/cmap/CMapParser.java and veraPDF-parser/src/main/java/org/verapdf/parser/postscript/PSOperator.java, where a crafted Type 0 font /Encoding or /ToUnicode CMap stream can execute unbounded PostScript array allocation or a zero-increment for loop and exhaust validator memory or CPU. This issue is fixed in versions 1.30.2 and 1.31.23.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2026
The veraPDF PDF parser vulnerability represents a critical denial-of-service weakness that affects the library's ability to process PDF documents safely. This flaw exists in the CMapParser.java and PSOperator.java components of the veraPDF-parser module, specifically targeting how the system handles Type 0 font encoding and Unicode mapping streams. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management during the parsing of structured PDF elements that define character mappings and font rendering behaviors. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious PDF files containing specially formatted CMap streams that trigger excessive resource consumption during processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits fundamental parsing mechanisms within the veraPDF library through two distinct attack vectors. The first vector involves unbounded PostScript array allocation in CMap stream processing, where crafted arrays can cause memory exhaustion by requesting allocations that grow without proper bounds checking. The second vector targets zero-increment for loops in PostScript operator handling, creating infinite loops that consume excessive CPU cycles and prevent legitimate processing from completing. Both attack vectors leverage the parser's failure to implement adequate resource limits and loop termination conditions when encountering malformed input data structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire validation workflows and system availability. When exploited, these vulnerabilities can cause the veraPDF validator to consume all available memory resources or exhaust CPU cycles, effectively rendering the application unusable for legitimate PDF processing tasks. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in automated environments where PDF validation is performed continuously, as it can lead to cascading failures across dependent systems and processes. The attack requires minimal sophistication to execute successfully, making it accessible to threat actors with basic knowledge of PDF structure and parsing behaviors.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and resource limiting mechanisms within the affected components. The fix implemented in versions 1.30.2 and 1.31.23 addresses these issues by adding proper bounds checking for array allocations and loop termination conditions that prevent unbounded resource consumption. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to these patched versions immediately, while also implementing additional defensive measures such as memory limits on processing containers and monitoring for unusual resource consumption patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) and CWE-674 (Uncontrolled Recursion) categories, demonstrating how insufficient input validation can lead to system-wide availability compromise.
This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.001 (Endpoint Denial of Service) and represents a classic example of resource exhaustion attacks targeting parsing libraries. The attack surface is particularly concerning given veraPDF's widespread use in PDF validation and compliance checking across various industries including financial services, government agencies, and healthcare organizations that rely on automated document processing workflows. Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual processing patterns, establish baseline resource consumption metrics, and ensure regular patching schedules are maintained to prevent exploitation of similar parsing vulnerabilities in other components of their document processing infrastructure.