src/java.base/share/classes/sun/security/provider/certpath/PKIXMasterCertPathValidator.java

@@ -129,12 +129,12 @@
                             " validation succeeded");
                     }
 
                 } catch (CertPathValidatorException cpve) {
                     throw new CertPathValidatorException(cpve.getMessage(),
-                        cpve.getCause(), cpOriginal, cpSize - (i + 1),
-                        cpve.getReason());
+                        (cpve.getCause() != null) ? cpve.getCause() : cpve,
+                            cpOriginal, cpSize - (i + 1), cpve.getReason());
                 }
             }
 
             if (!unresCritExts.isEmpty()) {
                 throw new CertPathValidatorException("unrecognized " +