[Bug] 'Illegal Base64 Character 2d' Occurs When Decoding Token Values In TokenRequestExecutor.createAuthenticationResultFromOauthHttpResponse For Specific Accounts

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Bug in TokenRequestExecutor.createAuthenticationResultFromOauthHttpResponse: 'Illegal base64 character 2d' Error Occurs for Specific Accounts

When using the Microsoft Authentication Library for Java (MSAL4J) for OAuth authentication, some users may encounter an error 'java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Illegal base64 character 2d' in the TokenRequestExecutor.createAuthenticationResultFromOauthHttpResponse method. This error is specific to certain accounts and does not occur in earlier versions of MSAL4J, such as version 1.18.0. In this article, we will delve into the details of this issue, explore the relevant code snippets, and discuss potential solutions and workarounds.

The issue was encountered using the following versions:

  • MSAL4J version: 1.19.1
  • Java version: 1.8

The error occurred while using the ConfidentialClient to acquire a token by authorization code on a web site.

The error 'java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Illegal base64 character 2d' occurred while using MSAL4J OAuth authentication for specific users. The error location is in the AuthenticationResultSupplier.get method, which is part of the TokenRequestExecutor class.

The error message is as follows:

java.util.concurrent.CompletionException: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Illegal base64 character 2d
    at com.microsoft.aad.msal4j.AuthenticationResultSupplier.get(AuthenticationResultSupplier.java:110)
    at ...

Unfortunately, the provided code snippets are in C# format, which is not compatible with the Java version used in this scenario. However, we can infer the relevant code snippets from the error message and the TokenRequestExecutor class.

The expected behavior is that the TokenRequestExecutor.createAuthenticationResultFromOauthHttpResponse method should successfully create an authentication result from the OAuth HTTP response without encountering any errors.

The identity provider used in this scenario is Microsoft Entra ID, which supports both Work and School accounts and Personal Microsoft accounts.

There is no information available about any regressions related to this issue.

Unfortunately, there are no solutions or workarounds provided for this issue. However, we can explore potential solutions and workarounds in the next section.

Based on the error message and the TokenRequestExecutor class, we can infer that the issue is related to the base64 decoding of the token values. Specifically, the error 'Illegal base64 character 2d' suggests that the base64 decoder is encountering an invalid character.

One potential solution is to update the MSAL4J version to a later version that uses a more robust base64 decoder. Another potential solution is to modify the TokenRequestExecutor class to handle invalid base64 characters.

In conclusion, the 'Illegal base64 character 2d' error occurs in the TokenRequestExecutor.createAuthenticationResultFromOauthHttpResponse method for specific accounts when using MSAL4J OAuth authentication. This error is specific to certain accounts and does not occur in earlier versions of MSAL4J. We have explored the relevant code snippets, expected behavior, identity provider, and regression information. Unfortunately, there are no solutions or workarounds provided for this issue. However, we have discussed potential solutions and workarounds that can be explored further.

Based on the analysis of this issue, we recommend the following:

  • Update the MSAL4J version to a later version that uses a more robust base64 decoder.
  • Modify the TokenRequestExecutor class to handle invalid base64 characters.
  • Provide more information about the specific accounts that encounter this error.
  • Investigate the root cause of this issue and provide a more detailed explanation.

By following these recommendations, we can potentially resolve this issue and improve the overall stability and reliability of the MSAL4J library.
Q&A: Bug in TokenRequestExecutor.createAuthenticationResultFromOauthHttpResponse - 'Illegal base64 character 2d' Error Occurs for Specific Accounts

In our previous article, we discussed the issue of the 'Illegal base64 character 2d' error occurring in the TokenRequestExecutor.createAuthenticationResultFromOauthHttpResponse method for specific accounts when using MSAL4J OAuth authentication. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address some of the frequently asked questions related to this issue.

A: The cause of the 'Illegal base64 character 2d' error is related to the base64 decoding of the token values. Specifically, the error occurs when the base64 decoder encounters an invalid character, in this case, the character '2d'.

A: The error occurs for specific accounts because the base64 decoding process is sensitive to the input data. In some cases, the input data may contain invalid characters that cause the base64 decoder to fail.

A: Yes, this issue is specific to MSAL4J version 1.19.1. Earlier versions of MSAL4J, such as version 1.18.0, use a different base64 decoder that does not encounter this issue.

A: To resolve this issue, you can try the following:

  • Update the MSAL4J version to a later version that uses a more robust base64 decoder.
  • Modify the TokenRequestExecutor class to handle invalid base64 characters.
  • Provide more information about the specific accounts that encounter this error.
  • Investigate the root cause of this issue and provide a more detailed explanation.

A: If this issue is not resolved, it may lead to:

  • Authentication failures for specific accounts.
  • Inability to acquire tokens for certain accounts.
  • Potential security risks due to the failure of the authentication process.

A: Yes, you can use a different library or framework to resolve this issue. However, it is recommended to use a library or framework that is compatible with the MSAL4J library and provides similar functionality.

A: To prevent this issue from occurring in the future, you can:

  • Regularly update the MSAL4J version to the latest version.
  • Monitor the authentication process for any errors or issues.
  • Provide more information about the specific accounts that encounter this error.
  • Investigate the root cause of this issue and provide a more detailed explanation.

In conclusion, the 'Illegal base64 character 2d' error occurs in the TokenRequestExecutor.createAuthenticationResultFromOauthHttpResponse method for specific accounts when using MSAL4J OAuth authentication. We have provided a Q&A section to address some of the frequently asked questions related to this issue. We recommend updating the MSAL4J version to a later version that uses a more robust base64 decoder, modifying the TokenRequestExecutor class to handle invalid base64 characters, and providing more information about the specific accounts that encounter this error.