[BEANUTILS-158] BeanUtils describe() subject to infinite loop

• Type: Bug
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Critical
• Resolution: Cannot Reproduce
• Affects Version/s: 1.7.0
• Fix Version/s: 1.8.0

Environment

Operating System: All
Platform: All

• Bugzilla Id: 31019
• Assignee: Unassigned
• Reporter: Dan Allen
• Created: 03/Sep/04 00:12
• Updated: 25/Mar/08 08:08
• Resolved: 25/Mar/08 08:08

Description

BeanUtils.describe() has the problem that it can be called infinitely if used
inside of the bean it is describing. For instance, a bean with the following
code will fail:

class MyBean
{
public Map getParameterMap()

{ BeanUtils.describe(this); }

}

The problem is when the method calls getProperty() on the "parameterMap"
property. I would expect some sort of sanity check as this can bring down the
server with a StackOverflow exception, when it is not entirely obvious why.