FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_40-ea"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_40-ea-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.40-b18, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Darwin 14.1.0 Darwin Kernel Version 14.1.0: Thu Nov 13 18:36:56 PST 2014; root:xnu-2782.10.65~2/RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64
(Any Yosemite release)

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
Using a Dvorak keyboard layout, but I think it happens with QWERTY as well.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Pressing any modifier key (Command, Shift, Ctrl) causes a NullPointerException and the standard crash dialog. If you choose 'Continue' from the crash dialog, the process does recover successfully until the next modifier key is pressed.


ADDITIONAL REGRESSION INFORMATION:
This started with the earliest developer releases of Yosemite.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Open a standalone Swing application from the browser plugin. Press any modifier key.


ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :

Process: java [44214]
Path: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java
Identifier: net.java.openjdk.cmd
Version: 1.0 (1.0)
Code Type: X86-64 (Native)
Parent Process: Google Chrome Helper EH [44142]
Responsible: Google Chrome [44057]
User ID: 501

Date/Time: 2014-11-22 09:33:23.660 -0600
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.10.2 (14C68k)
Report Version: 11


Crashed Thread: 0 AppKit Thread Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

Exception Type: EXC_BAD_INSTRUCTION (SIGABRT)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000001, 0x0000000000000000

Application Specific Information:
Crashing on exception: java.lang.NullPointerException
at sun.awt.SunToolkit.getSystemEventQueueImplPP(SunToolkit.java:1078)
at sun.awt.SunToolkit.getSystemEventQueueImplPP(SunToolkit.java:1073)
at sun.awt.SunToolkit.getSystemEventQueueImpl(SunToolkit.java:1068)
at java.awt.Toolkit.getEventQueue(Toolkit.java:1734)
at java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(EventQueue.java:1257)
at sun.plugin2.main.client.MacOSXKeyHandler.notifyFlagsChangedFromNative(Unknown Source)
 
abort() called

Application Specific Backtrace 1:
0 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff948c166c __exceptionPreprocess + 172
1 libobjc.A.dylib 0x00007fff966da76e objc_exception_throw + 43
2 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff948c1209 -[NSException raise] + 9
3 JavaNativeFoundation 0x000000012165eeb0 JNFCallStaticVoidMethod + 233
4 libnpjp2.dylib 0x0000000128891dcc flagsChanged + 72
5 CoreGraphics 0x00007fff9547dfef processEventTapData + 619
6 CoreGraphics 0x00007fff9547dc61 _CGYPostEventTapData + 193
7 CoreGraphics 0x00007fff95251c96 _XPostEventTapData + 89
8 CoreGraphics 0x00007fff95251d7f CGYEventTap_server + 86
9 CoreGraphics 0x00007fff9547dd49 eventTapMessageHandler + 46
10 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947dfa2d __CFMachPortPerform + 285
11 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947df8f9 __CFRUNLOOP_IS_CALLING_OUT_TO_A_SOURCE1_PERFORM_FUNCTION__ + 41
12 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947df86b __CFRunLoopDoSource1 + 475
13 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947d13e7 __CFRunLoopRun + 2375
14 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947d0858 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 296
15 HIToolbox 0x00007fff963712df RunCurrentEventLoopInMode + 235
16 HIToolbox 0x00007fff9637105a ReceiveNextEventCommon + 431
17 HIToolbox 0x00007fff96370e9b _BlockUntilNextEventMatchingListInModeWithFilter + 71
18 AppKit 0x00007fff902b2cf1 _DPSNextEvent + 964
19 AppKit 0x00007fff902b24a0 -[NSApplication nextEventMatchingMask:untilDate:inMode:dequeue:] + 194
20 libosxapp.dylib 0x0000000123b1442a -[NSApplicationAWT nextEventMatchingMask:untilDate:inMode:dequeue:] + 124
21 AppKit 0x00007fff902a6463 -[NSApplication run] + 594
22 libosxapp.dylib 0x0000000123b1423e +[NSApplicationAWT runAWTLoopWithApp:] + 156
23 libawt_lwawt.dylib 0x0000000123aa37d7 -[AWTStarter starter:] + 905
24 Foundation 0x00007fff9a9ead6c __NSThreadPerformPerform + 293
25 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947df681 __CFRUNLOOP_IS_CALLING_OUT_TO_A_SOURCE0_PERFORM_FUNCTION__ + 17
26 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947d180d __CFRunLoopDoSources0 + 269
27 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947d0e3f __CFRunLoopRun + 927
28 CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947d0858 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 296
29 java 0x00000001038a0480 CreateExecutionEnvironment + 871
30 java 0x000000010389c20c JLI_Launch + 1952
31 java 0x00000001038a24dd main + 101
32 java 0x000000010389ba64 start + 52
33 ??? 0x000000000000000e 0x0 + 14

Thread 0 Crashed:: AppKit Thread Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread
0 libsystem_kernel.dylib 0x00007fff940ad286 __pthread_kill + 10
1 libsystem_c.dylib 0x00007fff8dd9fb53 abort + 129
2 libjvm.dylib 0x0000000104e6c91b os::abort(bool) + 25
3 libjvm.dylib 0x0000000104f8cc3e VMError::report_and_die() + 2250
4 libjvm.dylib 0x0000000104e6e546 JVM_handle_bsd_signal + 1131
5 libjvm.dylib 0x0000000104e6a823 signalHandler(int, __siginfo*, void*) + 47
6 libsystem_platform.dylib 0x00007fff91f31f1a _sigtramp + 26
7 com.apple.AppKit 0x00007fff905f4a70 -[NSApplication _crashOnException:] + 109
8 com.apple.AppKit 0x00007fff905f4d71 -[NSApplication _showException:] + 722
9 com.apple.AppKit 0x00007fff902a658c -[NSApplication run] + 891
10 libosxapp.dylib 0x0000000123b1423e +[NSApplicationAWT runAWTLoopWithApp:] + 156
11 libawt_lwawt.dylib 0x0000000123aa37d7 -[AWTStarter starter:] + 905
12 com.apple.Foundation 0x00007fff9a9ead6c __NSThreadPerformPerform + 293
13 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947df681 __CFRUNLOOP_IS_CALLING_OUT_TO_A_SOURCE0_PERFORM_FUNCTION__ + 17
14 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947d180d __CFRunLoopDoSources0 + 269
15 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947d0e3f __CFRunLoopRun + 927
16 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x00007fff947d0858 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 296
17 java 0x00000001038a0480 CreateExecutionEnvironment + 871
18 java 0x000000010389c20c JLI_Launch + 1952
19 java 0x00000001038a24dd main + 101
20 java 0x000000010389ba64 start + 52

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Entering any mixed-case text requires the use of copy-and-paste using only the mouse by entering the correct text in some other application then pasting it into the Swing application.