[JENKINS-76124] Github branch source plugin JWT errors #1478
Description
Hi,
The new breaking change upgrade broken the Github Branch Source plugin, It is no more able to connect Github with GithubApp private keys and throws below JWT error.
The private key is working fine as I have tested in my local and it can access Github API and clone, also have enough permissions.
The plugin was working before the breaking changes.
When I test connection on credentials window I get this error
org.kohsuke.github.HttpException: {"message":"A JSON web token could not be decoded","documentation_url":"https://docs.github.com/rest","status":"401"}
at PluginClassLoader for github-api//org.kohsuke.github.GitHubConnectorResponseErrorHandler$1.onError(GitHubConnectorResponseErrorHandler.java:88)
Also when I clone the repo it throws this error
ERROR: Error cloning remote repo 'origin' hudson.plugins.git.GitException: hudson.remoting.ProxyException: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Couldn't authenticate with GitHub app ID 1122 at PluginClassLoader for git-client//org.jenkinsci.plugins.gitclient.RemoteGitImpl$CommandInvocationHandler.execute(RemoteGitImpl.java:157)
Originally reported by 
chiranjeevi_patel, imported from: Github branch source plugin JWT errors
- status: Open
- priority: Critical
- component(s): github-branch-source-plugin
- label(s): github, githubbranchsource, plugins
- resolution: Unresolved
- votes: 0
- watchers: 2
- imported: 2025-12-02
Raw content of original issue
Hi,
The new breaking change upgrade broken the Github Branch Source plugin, It is no more able to connect Github with GithubApp private keys and throws below JWT error.
The private key is working fine as I have tested in my local and it can access Github API and clone, also have enough permissions.
The plugin was working before the breaking changes.
When I test connection on credentials window I get this error
org.kohsuke.github.HttpException: {"message":"A JSON web token could not be decoded","documentation_url":"https://docs.github.com/rest","status":"401"} at PluginClassLoader for github-api//org.kohsuke.github.GitHubConnectorResponseErrorHandler$1.onError(GitHubConnectorResponseErrorHandler.java:88)
Also when I clone the repo it throws this error
ERROR: Error cloning remote repo 'origin' hudson.plugins.git.GitException: hudson.remoting.ProxyException: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Couldn't authenticate with GitHub app ID 1122 at PluginClassLoader for git-client//org.jenkinsci.plugins.gitclient.RemoteGitImpl$CommandInvocationHandler.execute(RemoteGitImpl.java:157)
