diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 7109e47da..b592f1a93 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ Changes in version 0.2.0.20-?? - 2008-02-??
     - Make the new hidden service code respect the SafeLogging setting.
       Bugfix on 0.2.0.x.  Patch from Karsten.
     - Detect size overflow in zlib code.
+    - We were comparing the raw BridgePassword entry with a base64'ed
+      version of it, when handling a "/tor/networkstatus-bridges"
+      directory request. Now compare correctly. Noticed by Veracode.
 
   o Code simplifications and refactoring:
     - Remove the tor_strpartition function: its logic was confused,
diff --git a/src/or/directory.c b/src/or/directory.c
index 818c684e8..6f494ec3c 100644
--- a/src/or/directory.c
+++ b/src/or/directory.c
@@ -2639,27 +2639,19 @@ directory_handle_command_get(dir_connection_t *conn, const char *headers,
       connection_dir_is_encrypted(conn) &&
       !strcmp(url,"/tor/networkstatus-bridges")) {
     char *status;
-    char decoded[64];
-    char *secret;
-    int r;
+    char *secret = alloc_http_authenticator(options->BridgePassword);
 
     header = http_get_header(headers, "Authorization: Basic ");
 
-    if (!header) {
-      write_http_status_line(conn, 404, "Not found");
-      goto done;
-    }
-
-    /* now make sure the password is right */
-    r = base64_decode(decoded, sizeof(decoded), header, strlen(header));
-    secret = alloc_http_authenticator(options->BridgePassword);
-    if (r < 0 || (unsigned)r != strlen(secret) || memcmp(decoded, secret, r)) {
-      /* failed to decode, or didn't match. Refuse. */
+    /* now make sure the password is there and right */
+    if (!header || strcmp(header, secret)) {
       write_http_status_line(conn, 404, "Not found");
+      tor_free(secret);
       tor_free(header);
       goto done;
     }
     tor_free(secret);
+    tor_free(header);
 
     /* all happy now. send an answer. */
     status = networkstatus_getinfo_by_purpose("bridge", time(NULL));