[BUG][code-analyzer] PMD NullPointerException scanning two LWC JavaScript files

[Phil4390]

Have you tried to resolve this issue yourself first?

• I confirm I have gone through the above steps and still have an issue to report.

Bug Description

Salesforce Code Analyzer's PMD engine throws a NullPointerException while scanning two Lightning Web Component JavaScript files, owJobDetail.js and owJobList.js. The scan produces an HTML report, but PMD does not complete analysis of those files.

The error occurred with Code Analyzer 5.13.0 and reproduced with 5.16.0 using the AppExchange and Recommended:Security rule selectors. I need a complete scan for a managed-package security review.

Output / Logs

PMD issued a processing error for owJobDetail.js:
NullPointerException: Cannot invoke "org.mozilla.javascript.ast.Name.visit(org.mozilla.javascript.ast.NodeVisitor)" because "this.varName" is null

PMD issued the same processing error for owJobList.js.

The run generated an HTML report with 15 violations (12 High, 3 Moderate), but PMD did not complete analysis of these two JavaScript files.

Steps To Reproduce

1. From the root of a Salesforce project containing the two LWC JavaScript files, run:

sf code-analyzer run --rule-selector AppExchange --rule-selector Recommended:Security --workspace packages/ondaworx-job-board --output-file ../ow-job-board-security-review/CodeAnalyzerReport-v5.16.html

2. Observe PMD processing errors for owJobDetail.js and owJobList.js.
3. The same error occurred with plugin versions 5.13.0 and 5.16.0 on this Mac. The source is in a private managed-package repository, so I have not attached it publicly.

Expected Behavior

PMD should analyse both JavaScript files and either report rule violations or complete without a processing error. If the syntax is unsupported, it should provide a diagnostic that identifies the relevant syntax and location.

Operating System

macOS 26.5.2

Salesforce CLI Version

@salesforce/cli/2.141.6 darwin-x64 node-v22.22.3

Code Analyzer Plugin (code-analyzer) Version

code-analyzer 5.16.0

Node Version

v26.5.0

Java Version

openjdk version "21.0.12.1" 2026-08-18

Python Version

No response

Additional Context (Screenshots, Files, etc)

This scan is needed for a Salesforce managed-package security review. I have reproduced the error twice on this Mac with different plugin versions. I have not tested it on a second computer. I can provide further diagnostic information or a reduced reproduction if requested.

Workaround

No workaround found. Updating Code Analyzer from 5.13.0 to 5.16.0 did not resolve the error.

Urgency

High