PH02742: NPE WHEN DOING DIRECT FORWARD OPERATION

18.0.0.4: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 18.0.0.4
19.0.0.1: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.1
19.0.0.2: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.2
19.0.0.3: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.3
19.0.0.4: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.4
19.0.0.5: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.5
19.0.0.6: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.6
19.0.0.7: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.7
19.0.0.8: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.8
19.0.0.9: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.9
19.0.0.10: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.10
19.0.0.11: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.11
19.0.0.12: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 19.0.0.12
20.0.0.1: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 20.0.0.1
20.0.0.2: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 20.0.0.2
20.0.0.3: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 20.0.0.3
20.0.0.4: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 20.0.0.4
20.0.0.5: WebSphere Application Server Liberty 20.0.0.5

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• [10/09/18 20:52:27:919 UTC] 00000060 id=00000000
  
  com.ibm.commerce.websocket.rest.server.MessageProcessor
  E
  
  null
  
  
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  
  at
  
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.service(Servl
  etWr
  
  apper.java:1356)
  
  at
  
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.handleRequest
  (Ser
  
  vletWrapper.java:743)
  
  at
  
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.handleRequest
  (Ser
  
  vletWrapper.java:440)
  
  at
  
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.filter.WebAppFilterManager.invokeFil
  ters
  
  (WebAppFilterManager.java:1208)
  
  
  
  at
  
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.filter.WebAppFilterManager.invokeFil
  ters
  
  (WebAppFilterManager.java:1005)
  
  at
  
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebAppRequestDispatcher.dispa
  tch(
  
  WebAppRequestDispatcher.java:1410)
  
  at
  
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebAppRequestDispatcher.forwa
  rd(W
  
  ebAppRequestDispatcher.java:171)
  

Local fix

• N/A
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server Liberty                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: NullPointerException might occur during *
  *                      dispatch forward.                       *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  When WebSocket is used to handle a request, spins off a runnable
  thread, and dispatches forward to a resource, it bypasses most
  of the initial setup in the WebContainer (in the runnable
  thread). This can cause a NullPointerException during the
  servlet's service() post process or cleanup.
  
  The problem does not happen if the dispatch forward is kept in
  the same thread of the initial WebSocket (i.e do not create a
  runnable thread).
  
  Sample of the stack
  
  [10/09/18 20:52:27:919 UTC] 00000060 id=00000000
  com.ibm.commerce.websocket.rest.server.MessageProcessor     E
  null java.lang.NullPointerException
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.service(ServletWr
  apper.java:1356)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.handleRequest(Ser
  vletWrapper.java:743)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.handleRequest(Ser
  vletWrapper.java:440)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.filter.WebAppFilterManager.invokeFilters
  (WebAppFilterManager.java:1208)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.filter.WebAppFilterManager.invokeFilters
  (WebAppFilterManager.java:1005)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebAppRequestDispatcher.dispatch(
  WebAppRequestDispatcher.java:1410)
  atcom.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebAppRequestDispatcher.forward
  (WebAppRequestDispatcher.java:171)
  ........
  

Problem conclusion

• The WebContainer was corrected to prevent the exception in this
  direct dispatch forward call.
  
  The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in fix
  pack 18.0.0.4.  Please refer to the Recommended Updates page for
  delivery information:
  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  LIBERTY PROFILE

• Fixed component ID

  5724J0814

Applicable component levels

• RCD0 PSY

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