When in <application-desc> is present "progress-class" attribute javaws cannot start

FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_161"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_161-b12)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.161-b12, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Windows 7

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
When calling javaws with an jnlp that contains the "progress-class" the process hang and windows shows an error dialog. An error can be also seen in event viewer.

REGRESSION. Last worked in version 8u151

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Download the jnlp file from AccessibleScrollDemo Example from https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/examples/misc/index.html and add the "progress-class" parameter into "application-desc":
<application-desc main-class="misc.AccessibleScrollDemo" progress-class="misc.AccessibleScrollDemo"/>

The class mentioned inside is not relevant.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The apllication starts.
ACTUAL -
The process hang and windows shows an error dialog. An error can be also seen in event viewer.

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
Problemsignatur:
  Problemereignisname: APPCRASH
  Anwendungsname: javaws.exe
  Anwendungsversion: 11.161.2.12
  Anwendungszeitstempel: 5a39c695
  Fehlermodulname: javaws.exe
  Fehlermodulversion: 11.161.2.12
  Fehlermodulzeitstempel: 5a39c695
  Ausnahmecode: c0000005
  Ausnahmeoffset: 0000000000001117
  Betriebsystemversion: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.27
  Gebietsschema-ID: 1031
  Zusatzinformation 1: 9b3a
  Zusatzinformation 2: 9b3ae79fdc81822ca15b8a5b9096ef21
  Zusatzinformation 3: af71
  Zusatzinformation 4: af71adee7de11d08af6c35caaa467030

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Remove "progress-class" from jnlp.