Test env:
winxp jre 7u4 b20

Steps to reproduce:
1) load the following applet with java console open
http://rehte.cn.oracle.com:8080/wshost/new_framework/new_framework/tests/plugin/ThreadTests/html/testChangeBackground.html
or
http://rehte.cn.oracle.com:8080/wshost/new_framework/new_framework/tests/plugin/ThreadTests/html/testChangeBackgroundJnlp.html
they have parameters
<param name="boxbgcolor" value="#ff0000">
<param name="boxfgcolor" value="#0000ff">
to set background and foreground

2) if log like
>>>> initial background color: java.awt.Color[r=255,g=255,b=255]
>>>> initial foreground color: java.awt.Color[r=0,g=0,b=0]
>>>> expected color is red
>>>> expected color is blue
is printed, it means background and foreground don't get set, bug is reproduced.

Source code location:
http://rehte.cn.oracle.com:8080/wshost/new_framework/new_framework/tests/plugin/ThreadTests/src/BackGroundColorChanger.java