FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.7.0_40"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_40-b43)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 24.0-b56, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
Java Web Start

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Set a value in java.util.logging.config.class to a class that does nothing.

When the LogManager class is initialized in a Java Web Start application, a NullPointerException is thrown.

The exception does not occur when the application main class is directly launched in a JVM.

REGRESSION. Last worked in version 7u25

REGRESSION : Additional Information
The issue is coming from the changes made to correct bug JDK-8017174.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Launch the application through Java Web Start

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
No exception and LogManager is correctly initialized with only a default logger without any handler.
ACTUAL -
NullPointerException exception is thrown

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
java.lang.NullPointerException
at java.util.logging.Logger.setParent(Unknown Source)
at java.util.logging.LogManager$6.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.util.logging.LogManager.doSetParent(Unknown Source)
at java.util.logging.LogManager.access$1100(Unknown Source)
at java.util.logging.LogManager$LogNode.walkAndSetParent(Unknown Source)
at java.util.logging.LogManager$LoggerContext.addLocalLogger(Unknown Source)
at java.util.logging.LogManager$LoggerContext.addLocalLogger(Unknown Source)
at java.util.logging.LogManager.addLogger(Unknown Source)
at java.util.logging.LogManager$1.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.util.logging.LogManager.<clinit>(Unknown Source)
at Main.main(Main.java:46)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.javaws.Launcher.executeApplication(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.javaws.Launcher.executeMainClass(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.javaws.Launcher.doLaunchApp(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.javaws.Launcher.run(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.util.logging.LogManager;


public class Main
{

    public static class DummyJDKConfigClass
    {

        public DummyJDKConfigClass()
        {
      // Do not initialize anything
        }

    }

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        System.setProperty("java.util.logging.config.class", DummyJDKConfigClass.class.getName());

        Thread currentThread = Thread.currentThread();
        ClassLoader previousClassLoader = currentThread.getContextClassLoader();
        try
        {
            // change the current thread class loader so the LogManager can find our class
            currentThread.setContextClassLoader(Main.class.getClassLoader());

            LogManager.getLogManager();
        }
        finally
        {
            currentThread.setContextClassLoader(previousClassLoader);
        }
    }

}

---------- END SOURCE ----------