ADDITIONAL SYSTEM INFORMATION :
Windows Server 2019 Essentials (64-bit)

java version "21" 2023-09-19 LTS
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 21+35-LTS-2513)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 21+35-LTS-2513, mixed mode, sharing)

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
`C:\Program Files\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath\java.exe` doubles all backslashes when it calls the actual `C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-21\bin\java.exe`.

Example command typed into cmd:

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath\java.exe" Sleep.java a\1\2\3

launches a new process with the following command line (per ProcessExplorer):

"C:\\Program Files\\Java\\jdk-21\\bin\\java.exe" Sleep.java a\\1\\2\\3

While the extra backslashes in the file path are tolerated by Windows, the extra backlashes in arguments or VM parameters are a cause for problems.

REGRESSION : Last worked in version 20.0.2

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath\java.exe" PrintArgs.java a\1\2\3

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The program prints the following to stdout:
a\1\2\3
ACTUAL -
The program prints the following to stdout:
a\\1\\2\\3

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
public class PrintArgs{
    public static void main(String[] args){
        for(String arg: args) System.out.println(arg);
    }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Call the actual java.exe in `C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-21\bin` directly.

FREQUENCY : always