--- old/src/java.xml.ws/share/classes/com/sun/xml/internal/messaging/saaj/soap/impl/ElementImpl.java	2017-09-29 13:58:38.464185392 +0100
+++ new/src/java.xml.ws/share/classes/com/sun/xml/internal/messaging/saaj/soap/impl/ElementImpl.java	2017-09-29 13:58:38.172185387 +0100
@@ -1720,7 +1720,11 @@
 
     @Override
     public NamedNodeMap getAttributes() {
-        return new NamedNodeMapImpl(element.getAttributes(), soapDocument);
+        NamedNodeMap attributes = element.getAttributes();
+        if (attributes == null) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        return new NamedNodeMapImpl(attributes, soapDocument);
     }
 
     public Element getDomElement() {