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

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
Using JRE version 1.7.0_40-b43 Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (64-bit)


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
I have a self-signed applet running on a Tomcat server.
After updating my jre plug-in version from Java 6.X to 1.7.0_40, the applet no longer runs on Firefox/Chrome (till the applet is cached by IE).It runs on IE just fine. Subsequently, the cached applet can then be used by Firefox/Chrome. More details below.




REGRESSION. Last worked in version 6u45

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
- Download/write a simple applet . (I downloaded the HelloWorld.jar from http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/deployment/applet/examples/dist/applet_HelloWorld/applet_HelloWorld.jar and extracted the applet class files)
- Create a manifest file with essential info needed:
   Permissions: sandbox
   Main-Class: HelloWorld
-Create jar
   jar cvfm test.jar MANIFEST.MF *.class
- Sign jar using keystore file (created using keytool)
   jarsigner test.jar <name>
- Deploy the applet using the <applet> tag




EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The applet runs on Firefox/Chrome/IE.
ACTUAL -
This runs on IE. it does not run on Firefox/Chrome.

After this runs on IE and the applet is cached, it can run on Firefox/Chrome.

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
basic: Added progress listener: sun.plugin.util.ProgressMonitorAdapter@1401ab6
preloader: Installing progress monitor true
basic: Plugin2ClassLoader.addURL parent called for https://127.0.0.1/TestApp/html/test.jar
preloader: Using preloader class: null com.sun.deploy.uitoolkit.impl.awt.AWTAppletAdapter@c99b58
preloader: Using default preloader
preloader: Requested to use preloader class: null
network: Connecting https://127.0.0.1/TestApp/html/test.jar with proxy=DIRECT
network: Connecting http://127.0.0.1:443/ with proxy=DIRECT
preloader: Skipped all (0) download events prior to null
preloader: GrayBox: parent = sun.plugin2.main.client.PluginEmbeddedFrame[frame3,0,0,240x200,layout=java.awt.BorderLayout,title=,resizable,normal]
network: Server https://127.0.0.1/TestApp/html/test.jar requesting to set-cookie with "JSESSIONID=F89857C222531FB7240EB592E3C51E59; Path=/TestApp/; Secure; HttpOnly"
preloader: Delivering: DownloadEvent[type=load,loaded=2065, total=2065, percent=100]
preloader: Start progressCheck thread
basic: exception: null.
java.lang.NullPointerException
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader.getTrustedCodeSources(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.deploy.security.CPCallbackHandler$ParentCallback.strategy(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.deploy.security.CPCallbackHandler$ParentCallback.openClassPathElement(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.deploy.security.DeployURLClassPath$JarLoader.getJarFile(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.deploy.security.DeployURLClassPath$JarLoader.access$1000(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.deploy.security.DeployURLClassPath$JarLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at com.sun.deploy.security.DeployURLClassPath$JarLoader.ensureOpen(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.deploy.security.DeployURLClassPath$JarLoader.<init>(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.deploy.security.DeployURLClassPath$3.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at com.sun.deploy.security.DeployURLClassPath.getLoader(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.deploy.security.DeployURLClassPath.getLoader(Unknown Source)
at com.sun.deploy.security.DeployURLClassPath.getResource(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader$2.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader.findClassHelper(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Applet2ClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader.loadClass0(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader.loadClass0(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader.loadCode(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2Manager.initAppletAdapter(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2Manager$AppletExecutionRunnable.run(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
Ignored exception: java.lang.NullPointerException

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Run on IE once, and subsequently run on Firefox/Chrome (but trying explaining that to people)