CVE-2026-48525

PyJWT: Unauthenticated DoS via unbounded Base64URL decoding of unused payload segment in b64=false detached JWS

MEDIUM
5.3
CVSS Score
Published: May 28, 2026 at 03:11 PM UTC
Updated: October 25, 2026 at 11:10 PM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsPyjwtPyjwt

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Severity
MEDIUM5.3
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.4%
SSVC
PoC

Description

PyJWT is a JSON Web Token implementation in Python. From 2.8.0 to 2.12.1, when verifying detached JWS tokens using the unencoded-payload option ("b64": false, RFC 7797), PyJWT performs Base64URL decoding of the compact-serialization payload segment before enforcing the detached-payload rules. For b64=false, PyJWT later discards that decoded payload and replaces it with the caller-provided detached_payload. In practice, this turns the middle segment into an attacker-controlled “work amplifier”: a remote client can supply an arbitrarily large Base64URL payload segment that forces CPU work + memory allocations even if the signature is invalid. This creates an unauthenticated DoS vector against any endpoint that verifies detached JWS using PyJWT. This vulnerability is fixed in 2.13.0.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

2.8.0 ≤ v ≤ 2.12.1
Affected range stops below 2.13.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (1)

x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitMitigationVendor Advisory
Source: cverecord
https://github.com/jpadilla/pyjwt/security/advisories/GHSA-w7vc-732c-9m39

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCPoCAutomatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

5.3MEDIUMGitHub_M
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
LOW
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
CWE-400

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