PyJWT accepts unknown `crit` header extensions
Summary
PyJWT does not validate the crit (Critical) Header Parameter defined in
RFC 7515 §4.1.11. When a JWS token contains a crit array listing
extensions that PyJWT does not understand, the library accepts the token
instead of rejecting it. This violates the MUST requirement in the RFC.
This is the same class of vulnerability as CVE-2025-59420 (Authlib), which received CVSS 7.5 (HIGH).
RFC Requirement
RFC 7515 §4.1.11:
The "crit" (Critical) Header Parameter indicates that extensions to this specification and/or [JWA] are being used that MUST be understood and processed. [...] If any of the listed extension Header Parameters are not understood and supported by the recipient, then the JWS is invalid.
Proof of Concept
import jwt # PyJWT 2.8.0
import hmac, hashlib, base64, json
# Construct token with unknown critical extension
header = {"alg": "HS256", "crit": ["x-custom-policy"], "x-custom-policy": "require-mfa"}
payload = {"sub": "attacker", "role": "admin"}
def b64url(data):
return base64.urlsafe_b64encode(data).rstrip(b"=").decode()
h = b64url(json.dumps(header, separators=(",", ":")).encode())
p = b64url(json.dumps(payload, separators=(",", ":")).encode())
sig = b64url(hmac.new(b"secret", f"{h}.{p}".encode(), hashlib.sha256).digest())
token = f"{h}.{p}.{sig}"
# Should REJECT — x-custom-policy is not understood by PyJWT
try:
result = jwt.decode(token, "secret", algorithms=["HS256"])
print(f"ACCEPTED: {result}")
# Output: ACCEPTED: {'sub': 'attacker', 'role': 'admin'}
except Exception as e:
print(f"REJECTED: {e}")Expected: jwt.exceptions.InvalidTokenError: Unsupported critical extension: x-custom-policy
Actual: Token accepted, payload returned.
Comparison with RFC-compliant library
# jwcrypto — correctly rejects
from jwcrypto import jwt as jw_jwt, jwk
key = jwk.JWK(kty="oct", k=b64url(b"secret"))
jw_jwt.JWT(jwt=token, key=key, algs=["HS256"])
# raises: InvalidJWSObject('Unknown critical header: "x-custom-policy"')Impact
- Split-brain verification in mixed-library deployments (e.g., API gateway using jwcrypto rejects, backend using PyJWT accepts)
- Security policy bypass when
critcarries enforcement semantics (MFA, token binding, scope restrictions) - Token binding bypass — RFC 7800
cnf(Proof-of-Possession) can be silently ignored - See CVE-2025-59420 for full impact analysis
Suggested Fix
In jwt/api_jwt.py, add validation in _validate_headers() or
decode():
_SUPPORTED_CRIT = {"b64"} # Add extensions PyJWT actually supports
def _validate_crit(self, headers: dict) -> None:
crit = headers.get("crit")
if crit is None:
return
if not isinstance(crit, list) or len(crit) == 0:
raise InvalidTokenError("crit must be a non-empty array")
for ext in crit:
if ext not in self._SUPPORTED_CRIT:
raise InvalidTokenError(f"Unsupported critical extension: {ext}")
if ext not in headers:
raise InvalidTokenError(f"Critical extension {ext} not in header")CWE
- CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
- CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
References
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python (PyPI) | pyjwt | < 2.12.0 | 2.12.0 |
References
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2026/05/msg00008.html
- https://github.com/jpadilla/pyjwt/security/advisories/GHSA-752w-5fwx-jx9f
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32597
- https://github.com/jpadilla/pyjwt
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/pyjwt/PYSEC-2026-120.yaml
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-345, CWE-863- Platform
- Python (PyPI)
- Package
pyjwt- Disclosed
- 13.03.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 15:17
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - PYSEC-2026-120 - PyPA Advisory Database; CC BY 4.0
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-752w-5fwx-jx9f - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: pyjwt
All published vulnerabilities of this package (Python (PyPI)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 24
- First → latest
- 08.2017 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 2
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 1
- High 10
- Medium 11
- Low 2
Disclosures per year
- 2017: 1
- 2018: 0
- 2019: 0
- 2020: 0
- 2021: 0
- 2022: 1
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 1
- 2025: 1
- 2026: 20
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