Geoserver 2.2.4.x-CLOUD upgraded to Geoserver

With Geoserver Version 2.24.x-CLOUD we could make this request: https:///geoserver-cloud/wfs?request=GetFeature&service=WFS&outputFormat=application/json&feature_count=500&typeName=<TYPE_NAME?&cql_filter=<CUSTOM_PARAM>=‘<SOME_VALUE>’
But with Geoserver version 2.25.x-CLOUD we get a HTTP 500 error (or, if we set -DGEOSERVER_USE_STRICT_FIREWALL=false, we get HTTP 400 error instead
The request however works, if we change the = on the cql_filter to %3D instead, like this: https:///geoserver-cloud/wfs?request=GetFeature&service=WFS&outputFormat=application/json&feature_count=500&typeName=<TYPE_NAME?&cql_filter=<CUSTOM_PARAM>%3D’<SOME_VALUE>’
Any idea if the previous behaviour can be achieved with this new version, without having to change the = sign?