PK75948: NULLPOINTEREXCEPTION ON GETREQUESTDISPATCHER() CALL WHEN LEADING SLASH IS OMITTED ON THE PATH.

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• In WebSphere v6.1 the servlet engine may throw the following
  NullPointerException if a getRequestDispatcher invocation
  doesn't pass in a path that contains a leading slash:
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebAppDispatcherContext.
           getRequestDispatcher(WebAppDispatcherContext.java:340)
  at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.srt.SRTServletRequest.
                getRequestDispatcher(SRTServletRequest.java:1759)
  ...
  Note that the J2EE spec does require a leading slash on these
  invocations, however, the current WebSphere implementation
  doesn't give good feedback on the user error by allowing the
  NullPointerException to be thrown.
  

Local fix

• Add a leading slash to the path passed in on the
  getRequestDispatcher invocation.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1 *
  *                 users with security enabled.                 *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: A filter used in a login/logout         *
  *                      process will receive a null pointer     *
  *                      exception if it calls                   *
  *                      HttpServletRequest.getRequestDispatcher *
  *                      with a path which does not include      *
  *                      a leading "/".                          *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  If a filter is defined for a request to j_security_check or
  ibm_security_logout and the filter calls
  HttpServletRequest.getRequestDispatcher with a path which does
  not start with "/", the following null pointer exception occurs:
  

Problem conclusion

• The WebContainer has been updated to add a leading "/" to the
  path passed in on a HttpServletRequest.getRequestDispatcher()
  invocation if the path specified does not include a leading
  slash and the request involved is to either j_security_check or
  ibm_security_logout.
  
  APAR PK75948 is currently targeted for inclusion in Service
  Level (Fix Pack) 7.0.0.1 of WebSphere Application Server V7.0
  for z/OS.
  
  Please refer to URL:
  //www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=404&uid=swg27006970
  for Fix Pack availability.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

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

  PK67895

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

Modules/Macros

• BBGUBINF BBOUBINF
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  WEBSPHERE FOR Z

• Fixed component ID

  5655I3500

Applicable component levels

• R700 PSY UK41764

     UP08/12/05 P F812

Fix is available

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