When passing data to the b64decode(), standard_b64decode(), and urlsafe_b64decode() functions in the "base64" module the characters "+/" will always be accepted, regardless of the value of "altchars" parameter, typically used to establish an "alternative base64 alphabet" such as the URL safe alphabet. This behavior matches what is recommended in earlier base64 RFCs, but newer RFCs now recommend either dropping characters outside the specified base64 alphabet or raising an error. The old behavior has the possibility of causing data integrity issues. This behavior can only be insecure if your application uses an alternate base64 alphabet (without "+/"). If your application does not use the "altchars" parameter or the urlsafe_b64decode() function, then your application does not use an alternative base64 alphabet. The attached patches DOES NOT make the base64-decode behavior raise an error, as this would be a change in behavior and break existing programs. Instead, the patch deprecates the behavior which will be replaced with the newly recommended behavior in a future version of Python. Users are recommended to mitigate by verifying user-controlled inputs match the base64 alphabet they are expecting or verify that their application would not be affected if the b64decode() functions accepted "+" or "/" outside of altchars.
History

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Python
Python cpython
Vendors & Products Python
Python cpython

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-20
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N'}

threat_severity

Moderate


Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0000


Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-704
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 21 Jan 2026 19:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description When passing data to the b64decode(), standard_b64decode(), and urlsafe_b64decode() functions in the "base64" module the characters "+/" will always be accepted, regardless of the value of "altchars" parameter, typically used to establish an "alternative base64 alphabet" such as the URL safe alphabet. This behavior matches what is recommended in earlier base64 RFCs, but newer RFCs now recommend either dropping characters outside the specified base64 alphabet or raising an error. The old behavior has the possibility of causing data integrity issues. This behavior can only be insecure if your application uses an alternate base64 alphabet (without "+/"). If your application does not use the "altchars" parameter or the urlsafe_b64decode() function, then your application does not use an alternative base64 alphabet. The attached patches DOES NOT make the base64-decode behavior raise an error, as this would be a change in behavior and break existing programs. Instead, the patch deprecates the behavior which will be replaced with the newly recommended behavior in a future version of Python. Users are recommended to mitigate by verifying user-controlled inputs match the base64 alphabet they are expecting or verify that their application would not be affected if the b64decode() functions accepted "+" or "/" outside of altchars.
Title base64.b64decode() always accepts "+/" characters, despite setting altchars
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 6.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: PSF

Published: 2026-01-21T19:34:47.979Z

Updated: 2026-01-22T20:12:56.421Z

Reserved: 2025-11-05T22:04:54.230Z

Link: CVE-2025-12781

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-01-22T14:53:14.185Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-01-21T20:16:04.423

Modified: 2026-01-22T21:15:49.257

Link: CVE-2025-12781

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-01-21T19:34:47Z

Links: CVE-2025-12781 - Bugzilla