A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
As per source:
public boolean renameTo(File dest) {
        SecurityManager security = System.getSecurityManager();
        if (security != null) {
            security.checkWrite(path);
            security.checkWrite(dest.path);
        }
        if (dest == null) {
            throw new NullPointerException();
        }
        if (this.isInvalid() || dest.isInvalid()) {
            return false;
        }
        return fs.rename(this, dest);
    }

Only after dest.path is accessed is desc compared to null, causing a NPE before the expected place.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Call File.renameTo on any file with a null argument.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
A NullPointerException should be thrown from the throw clause.
ACTUAL -
A NPE was thrown due to a null argument in the call security.checkWrite(dest.path).

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
package bug;
import java.io.File;

public class Main{
    public static void main(String...args){
        new File("C:"+File.separator+"temp").renameTo(null);
    }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
None.

FREQUENCY : always