BUG #19702: decode() accepts Base64 payload after terminal padding

From: PG Bug reporting form <noreply(at)postgresql(dot)org>
To: pgsql-bugs(at)lists(dot)postgresql(dot)org
Cc: imchifan(at)163(dot)com
Subject: BUG #19702: decode() accepts Base64 payload after terminal padding
Date: 2026-09-19 11:15:48
Message-ID: 19702-9ed4a131fcfadb9d@postgresql.org
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The following bug has been logged on the website:

Bug reference: 19702
Logged by: Qifan Liu
Email address: imchifan(at)163(dot)com
PostgreSQL version: 18.6
Operating system: Linux/amd64
Description:

decode() accepts Base64 alphabet characters after terminal '=' padding and
incorporates them into the decoded bytea value. Once terminal padding
completes a Base64 value, only ignorable whitespace may follow. Applications
relying on decode() to validate Base64 input may consequently process
malformed input as valid data.

Steps to reproduce
------------------
Run the following with psql:

\set ON_ERROR_STOP on
SELECT encode(decode('YQ==Yg==', 'base64'), 'hex') AS decoded_hex;
SELECT encode(decode('YQ==AAAA', 'base64'), 'hex') AS
decoded_hex_after_padding;

Actual result
-------------
decoded_hex
-------------
6162
(1 row)

decoded_hex_after_padding
---------------------------
6100
(1 row)

Expected result
---------------
Both decode() calls should reject their input with SQLSTATE 22023 because
Base64 alphabet characters occur after terminal '=' padding. They should not
silently decode the trailing payload.

Additional information
----------------------
The issue was reproduced on PostgreSQL 20devel, PostgreSQL 18.6, and
PostgreSQL 17.11.

Responses

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