[JENKINS-44360] '%' in branch name causes GitHub multi-branch job failures

A '%' character in a branch name breaks the GitHub API calls on a git repository if the job performing the clone is generated by GitHub Organization Folder plugin (windows or Linux) or the GitHub branch source (windows or Linux).

Steps to duplicate the problem:

1. Define a GitHub multibranch PIpeline job referencing the MarkEWaite/jenkins-bugs repository (or a GitHub Organization Folders job which references the GitHub organization MarkEWaite, looking only at the repository jenkins-bugs)


2. Scan the repository, watch the jobs run


3. Open the has-percent-%-JENKINS-44360 job and confirm it failed to clone

Steps to show the same branch working with a multibranch pipeline:

1. Define a multi-branch pipeline job using the MarkEWaite/jenkins-bugs github repo using Git as the branch source rather than GitHub


2. Scan the repository, watch the jobs run


3. Open the has-percent-%-JENKINS-44360 job and confirm it cloned successfully

The issue seems to require:

• GitHub Organization Folders or GitHub multibranch


• '%' in the branch name on the repository

---
Originally reported by markewaite, imported from: '%' in branch name causes GitHub multi-branch job failures

• status: Open
  
• priority: Minor
  
• component(s): github-branch-source-plugin
  
• resolution: Unresolved
  
• votes: 5
  
• watchers: 9
  
• imported: 2025-12-02
  

Raw content of original issue

A '%' character in a branch name breaks the GitHub API calls on a git repository if the job performing the clone is generated by GitHub Organization Folder plugin (windows or Linux) or the GitHub branch source (windows or Linux).


Steps to duplicate the problem:




	
Define a GitHub multibranch PIpeline job referencing the MarkEWaite/jenkins-bugs repository (or a GitHub Organization Folders job which references the GitHub organization MarkEWaite, looking only at the repository jenkins-bugs)

	
Scan the repository, watch the jobs run

	
Open the has-percent-%-JENKINS-44360 job and confirm it failed to clone



Steps to show the same branch working with a multibranch pipeline:




	
Define a multi-branch pipeline job using the MarkEWaite/jenkins-bugs github repo using Git as the branch source rather than GitHub

	
Scan the repository, watch the jobs run

	
Open the has-percent-%-JENKINS-44360 job and confirm it cloned successfully



The issue seems to require:



	
GitHub Organization Folders or GitHub multibranch

	
'%' in the branch name on the repository

2 attachments

- [JENKINS-44360.log](https://issues.jenkins.io/secure/attachment/47528/JENKINS-44360.log)
- [Jenkins-System-Information.pdf](https://issues.jenkins.io/secure/attachment/38199/Jenkins-System-Information.pdf)