JR57059: SELF-REFERENCING DATA MODEL MIGHT CAUSE OUTOFMEMORY ISSUE

bpm.8570.cf2016.12.delta.repository
Downloading IBM Business Process Manager V8.5.7 Cumulative Fix 2016.12

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Invoking IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) REST APIs that
  return process or task details might cause out-of-memory
  exceptions if the process or task data contains business objects
  that contain a property that refers to the business object
  itself, creating a recursive data structure. A heap dump
  analysis includes call stacks that show recursive invocations of
  com.ibm.bpm.json.util.JSONUtil.TWObjectToJSON, for example
  
  WebContainer : 12
    at java.lang.StringBuffer.ensureCapacityImpl(I)V
  (StringBuffer.java:338(Compiled Code))
    at
  java.lang.StringBuffer.append(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljava/lang/Stri
  ngBuffer
  ; (StringBuffer.java:204(Compiled Code))
    at
  com.ibm.bpm.json.util.JSONUtil.TWObjectToJSON(Ljava/lang/Object;
  I)Ljava/
  lang/String; (JSONUtil.java:123(Compiled Code))
    at
  com.ibm.bpm.json.util.JSONUtil.TWObjectToJSON(Ljava/lang/Object;
  I)Ljava/
  lang/String; (JSONUtil.java:199(Compiled Code))
    at
  com.ibm.bpm.json.util.JSONUtil.TWObjectToJSON(Ljava/lang/Object;
  I)Ljava/
  lang/String; (JSONUtil.java:199(Compiled Code))
    at
  ...
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• While serializing the data structure to JSON in the REST API
  response, IBM BPM might not stop the recursion in time before
  the available memory is used when a business object refers to
  itself.
  

Problem conclusion

• A interim fix is available on request from BPM level 3 support
  for IBM BPM V8.5.7 cumulative fix 2016.06
  
  A fix is available for IBM BPM V8.5.7 cumulative fix 2016.12
  that introduces a detection mechanism for a self-referencing
  data structures. In general, such data structures should be
  avoided in process models, but if the IBM BPM runtime
  environment encounters such data the serialization stops
  recursively serializing the business object.
  
  To determine whether the IBM BPM V8.5.7 cumulative fix 2016.12
  is available and download it if it is, complete the following
  steps on Fix Central:
  
  1. On the Select product tab, select WebSphere as the product
  group, IBM Business Process Manager with your edition from the
  WebSphere options, All as the installed version, and All as the
  platform, and then click Continue.
  2. In the Text field, enter "cumulative fix", and click
  Continue.
  
  PRODUCTS AFFECTED
  IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) Advanced
  IBM BPM Standard
  IBM BPM Express
  

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

  BPM STANDARD

• Fixed component ID

  5725C9500

Applicable component levels

• R857 PSY

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