veraPDF Validation XXE via XFA
Summary
Description An XML External Entity Injection (CWE-611) vulnerability in veraPDF allows a remote attacker to read arbitrary files on the server file system and perform Server-Side Request Forgery by submitting a crafted PDF containing a malicious XFA stream. This affects all current versions of veraPDF-validation.
Details
The vulnerability resides in veraPDF-validation validation-model/src/main/java/org/verapdf/gf/model/impl/pd/GFPDAcroForm.java within the getdynamicRender() method. This method retrieves the /XFA entry from the PDF's /AcroForm dictionary, decodes the embedded XML stream, and parses it to extract the <dynamicRender> element value.
The vulnerability stems from the use of a default-configured DocumentBuilderFactory to parse fully attacker-controlled XML:
- The factory is created via
DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance()with no security features enabled. disallow-doctype-decl, external-general-entities, external-parameter-entities, and FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING are all left at their insecure defaults. - The input passed to
builder.parse()is the decoded /XFA stream taken directly from the untrusted PDF. - The text content of the
<dynamicRender>node is returned to the validation model. Note that the shipped PDF/UA-1 rule (dynamicRender != 'required') consumes this value but does not echo it into the report output, so reliable exfiltration requires the out-of-band parameter-entity technique described under Impact rather than in-band reflection.
Impact
This impacts all current releases of the veraPDF validation-model module.
Successful exploitation requires only that the target validate an attacker-supplied PDF against the PDF/UA-1 profile (or via flavour auto-detection on a PDF that declares PDF/UA-1 conformance), since getdynamicRender() is invoked by the dynamicRender != 'required' rule in the bundled PDF/UA-1 profile. No additional configuration or operator action is required.
Proposed Patch
Harden the DocumentBuilderFactory in validation-model/src/main/java/org/verapdf/gf/model/impl/pd/GFPDAcroForm.java per the OWASP XXE Prevention Cheat Sheet to disallow DOCTYPE outright.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.verapdf:validation-model | >= 1.17.35, < 1.30.2, >= 1.31.1, < 1.31.71 | 1.30.2, 1.31.71 |
| Java / Kotlin (Maven) | org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta | >= 1.17.35, < 1.30.2, >= 1.31.1, < 1.31.71 | 1.30.2, 1.31.71 |
References
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/security/advisories/GHSA-36mm-w85j-3q2j
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/pull/730
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/commit/94caa46c1a594512247fbd46c808edae39469542
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation/commit/cacd9436d0de40b0e58cc7d2dbb06451619e61ec
- https://github.com/veraPDF/veraPDF-validation
- CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-611- Platform
- Java / Kotlin (Maven)
- Package
org.verapdf:validation-model, org.verapdf:validation-model-jakarta- Disclosed
- 29.07.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 12:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-36mm-w85j-3q2j - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: org.verapdf:validation-model
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Java / Kotlin (Maven)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 3
- First → latest
- 07.2026 07.2026
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 2
- Medium 1
Disclosures per year
- 2026: 3
-
veraPDF Validation XXE via XFA this entry
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