diff --git a/apisix/plugins/basic-auth.lua b/apisix/plugins/basic-auth.lua
index 5d3f46a94201..47e70c07b44d 100644
--- a/apisix/plugins/basic-auth.lua
+++ b/apisix/plugins/basic-auth.lua
@@ -43,7 +43,10 @@ local consumer_schema = {
     title = "work with consumer object",
     properties = {
         username = { type = "string" },
-        password = { type = "string" },
+        password = {
+            type = "string",
+            minLength = 1,
+        },
     },
     encrypt_fields = {"password"},
     required = {"username", "password"},
@@ -148,6 +151,13 @@ local function find_consumer(ctx)
         return nil, nil, "Invalid user authorization"
     end
 
+    -- RFC 8265 section 4.1: a password MUST NOT be zero-length. Fail closed
+    -- when the resolved password is empty, which also covers existing data
+    -- and $secret:// / $ENV:// references that resolve to "".
+    if password == "" or cur_consumer.auth_conf.password == "" then
+        return nil, nil, "Invalid user authorization"
+    end
+
     if cur_consumer.auth_conf.password ~= password then
         return nil, nil, "Invalid user authorization"
     end
diff --git a/t/plugin/basic-auth.t b/t/plugin/basic-auth.t
index 2e19a2f6d7f1..23748ca7770d 100644
--- a/t/plugin/basic-auth.t
+++ b/t/plugin/basic-auth.t
@@ -708,3 +708,81 @@ Authorization: bASiC Zm9vOmJhcg==
 hello world
 --- error_log
 find consumer foo
+
+
+=== TEST 40: consumer schema rejects empty password
+--- config
+    location /t {
+        content_by_lua_block {
+            local core = require("apisix.core")
+            local plugin = require("apisix.plugins.basic-auth")
+            local ok, err = plugin.check_schema({username = 'foo', password = ''}, core.schema.TYPE_CONSUMER)
+            if ok then
+                ngx.say("unexpected: schema accepted empty password")
+                return
+            end
+            ngx.say(err or "rejected")
+        }
+    }
+--- request
+GET /t
+--- response_body_like
+property "password" validation failed
+--- no_error_log
+unexpected
+
+
+
+=== TEST 41: admin api rejects consumer with empty password
+--- config
+    location /t {
+        content_by_lua_block {
+            local t = require("lib.test_admin").test
+            local code, body = t('/apisix/admin/consumers',
+                ngx.HTTP_PUT,
+                [[{
+                    "username": "empty-pass",
+                    "plugins": {
+                        "basic-auth": {
+                            "username": "empty-pass",
+                            "password": ""
+                        }
+                    }
+                }]]
+                )
+            if code < 400 then
+                ngx.status = 500
+                ngx.say("unexpected: admin api accepted empty password")
+                return
+            end
+            ngx.status = code
+            ngx.say(body)
+        }
+    }
+--- request
+GET /t
+--- error_code: 400
+--- response_body_like
+property "password" validation failed
+--- no_error_log
+unexpected
+
+
+
+=== TEST 42: empty password in Authorization header is rejected
+--- request
+GET /hello
+--- more_headers
+Authorization: Basic Zm9vOg==
+--- error_code: 401
+
+
+
+=== TEST 43: whitespace-only password in Authorization header is rejected
+--- request
+GET /hello
+--- more_headers
+Authorization: Basic Zm9vOiA=
+--- error_code: 401
+--- response_body
+{"message":"Invalid user authorization"}