FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_45"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_45-b14)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.45-b02, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
The compiler does not always obey the specification for private field access.

The Java Language Specification, section 6.6.1 [1], says: "Otherwise, the member or constructor is declared private, and access is permitted if and only if it occurs within the body of the top level class (§7.6) that encloses the declaration of the member or constructor."

In the example below (cf. "Steps to Reproduce"), "the top level class that encloses the declaration of the member or constructor" is A. And access occurs within its body, so access must be permitted & the example must compile successfully.

[1] http://docs.oracle.com/javase/specs/jls/se8/html/jls-6.html#jls-6.6.1

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Save the code below to a file named A.java & try to compile it: javac A.java


class A {

    private int a;

    private static class B {
        
        private int b;
        
    }

    private class C extends B {
        
        private int c;
        
        void testAccess() {
int x = a+b+c;
        }

    }

}


EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The file compiles successfully.
ACTUAL -
An error occurs:

A.java:16: error: b has private access in B
                        int x = a+b+c;
                                        ^
1 error

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.