Opening a work item with a custom step processor for IBM® FileNet® Business Process Manager resulting in java.lang.NullPointerException

Symptom

Problem can be duplicated / simulated using out-of-the-box application using the following steps :

1. Login to Process Configuration Console.
2. Right click on the region -> properties.
3. In the Isolated Region Properties, click on Web Applications tab.
4. Create two entries under Web Application columns, namely 100 and 101. Set the Server Base URL to Workplace, e.g. http://192.168.XXX.XXX:8080/Workplace then click OK.
5. In the Isolated Region Properties, click on the Step Processor Info tab.
6. Create a new HTML step processor named Step100. Click in the Location column.
7. In the Step Processor Locations window, create a new entry 100 under Web Application column and in the corresponding Location tab, specify the out-of-the-box in the Step Processor Locations window, namely: html/ootb/WcmStepProcessor.jsp.
8. Repeat step 7 above and name the step processor Step101 for Web Application 101.
9. Commit the changes and exit from Process Configuration Console.
10. Login to Process Designer and create a simple workflow with Launch Step and two regular steps. Specify step processor 101 for the first step and step processor 102 for the second step. Set the step participant to F_Originator.
11. Specify a worklfow name and subject, validate, transfer, and launch the workflow.
12. Click Launch on the Launch Step.
13. Go to Inbox and open the 1st step, and complete it.
14. Refresh Inbox and open the 2nd step, and complete it.
15. Receive the error message: