FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_91"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_91-b14)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.91-b14, mixed mode)

Java Web Start 11.91.2.14

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
The system property 'user.dir' which previously resolved to the user's working directory is now resolving to the 'java.home' value when a JNLP application is launched using java web start packaged in Java 8 u91 on Windows.

This does not appear to be broken in the OS X version.

REGRESSION. Last worked in version 8u77

ADDITIONAL REGRESSION INFORMATION:
java version "1.8.0_77"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_77-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.77-b03, mixed mode)

Java Web Start 11.77.2.03

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Run any JNLP app with the Java Webstart console displayed. Press 's' to print the system properties.

With Java Web Start 11.77.2.03 or previous the user's working directory is shown. For Java Web Start 11.91.2.14 the java.home directory is shown.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Expect 'user.dir' to show the user's working directory


Java Web Start 11.77.2.03
Using JRE version 1.8.0_77-b03 Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM

java.home = C:\Users\David\Downloads\jre-8u77-windows-x64.tar\jre1.8.0_77
java.io.tmpdir = C:\Users\DAVID\AppData\Local\Temp\
java.library.path = C:\Users\David\Downloads\jre-8u77-windows-x64.tar\jre1.8.0_77\bin;C:\Windows\Sun\Java\bin;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;"C:\Users\David\Downloads\jre-8u77-windows-x64.tar\jre1.8.0_77\bin";.
java.protocol.handler.pkgs = com.sun.javaws.net.protocol|com.sun.deploy.net.protocol|com.sun.deploy.net.protocol
java.rmi.server.RMIClassLoaderSpi = com.sun.jnlp.JNLPRMIClassLoaderSpi
java.runtime.name = Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment
java.runtime.version = 1.8.0_77-b03
java.security.manager =
java.security.policy = file:C:\Users\David\Downloads\jre-8u77-windows-x64.tar\jre1.8.0_77\lib\security\javaws.policy
java.specification.name = Java Platform API Specification
java.specification.vendor = Oracle Corporation
java.specification.version = 1.8
java.vendor = Oracle Corporation
java.vendor.url = http://java.oracle.com/
java.vendor.url.bug = http://bugreport.sun.com/bugreport/
java.version = 1.8.0_77
java.vm.info = mixed mode
java.vm.name = Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM
java.vm.specification.name = Java Virtual Machine Specification
java.vm.specification.vendor = Oracle Corporation
java.vm.specification.version = 1.8
java.vm.vendor = Oracle Corporation
java.vm.version = 25.77-b03
javaplugin.proxy.config.type = direct
javawebstart.version = javaws-11.77.2.03

user.dir = C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
ACTUAL -
'user.dir' shows the java.home directory.


Java Web Start 11.91.2.14
Using JRE version 1.8.0_91-b14 Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM

java.home = C:\Users\David\Downloads\jre-8u91-windows-x64.tar\jre1.8.0_91
java.io.tmpdir = C:\Users\DAVID\AppData\Local\Temp\
java.library.path = C:\Users\David\Downloads\jre-8u91-windows-x64.tar\jre1.8.0_91\bin;C:\Windows\Sun\Java\bin;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;"C:\Users\David\Downloads\jre-8u91-windows-x64.tar\jre1.8.0_91\bin";.
java.protocol.handler.pkgs = com.sun.javaws.net.protocol|com.sun.deploy.net.protocol|com.sun.deploy.net.protocol
java.rmi.server.RMIClassLoaderSpi = com.sun.jnlp.JNLPRMIClassLoaderSpi
java.runtime.name = Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment
java.runtime.version = 1.8.0_91-b14
java.security.manager =
java.security.policy = file:C:\Users\David\Downloads\jre-8u91-windows-x64.tar\jre1.8.0_91\lib\security\javaws.policy
java.specification.name = Java Platform API Specification
java.specification.vendor = Oracle Corporation
java.specification.version = 1.8
java.vendor = Oracle Corporation
java.vendor.url = http://java.oracle.com/
java.vendor.url.bug = http://bugreport.sun.com/bugreport/
java.version = 1.8.0_91
java.vm.info = mixed mode
java.vm.name = Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM
java.vm.specification.name = Java Virtual Machine Specification
java.vm.specification.vendor = Oracle Corporation
java.vm.specification.version = 1.8
java.vm.vendor = Oracle Corporation
java.vm.version = 25.91-b14
javaplugin.proxy.config.type = direct
javawebstart.version = javaws-11.91.2.14

user.dir = C:\Users\David\Downloads\jre-8u91-windows-x64.tar\jre1.8.0_91

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
Launch one of the Java tutorial examples e.g.:

https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorialJWS/samples/uiswing/BorderDemoProject/BorderDemo.jnlp
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Revert to older java version