FULL PRODUCT VERSION :


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
I have two classes A and B, where B extends A and A is package protected. Both classes are in the same package.

class A
{
      public static final String VALUE = "foo";
}

public class B extends A
{
}

// The static constant VALUE from A is accessible through B:
System.out.println( B.VALUE );

// Reflective access doesn't work without making the field accessible, which is not always an option.
// And whenever regular access is possible, reflective access should be as well from the same context.

Class< B > clazz = ...;
Field field = clazz.getField( "VALUE" );
String value = (String) field.get( null );
System.out.println( value );

REGRESSION. Last worked in version 8u131

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Whenever regular access is possible, reflective access should be as well from the same context.

ACTUAL -
Reflective access doesn't work without making the field accessible, which is not always an option.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.