[GR-71126][Native Image] Proxy access fails on CI but passes locally

[mhalbritter]

Describe the Issue

We have a very strange problem which only happens on our CI.

This is the output from our CI:

https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-aot-smoke-tests/actions/runs/18744515842/job/53468498318

and here's the Gradle build scan:

https://ge.spring.io/s/w3d5pjzywb5qg/tests/task/:data:data-mongodb:nativeAppTest/details/com.example.data.mongodb.DataMongoDbApplicationAotTests/findAll(AssertableOutput)?top-execution=1

That's the relevant part:

    "java.lang.RuntimeException: org.graalvm.nativeimage.MissingReflectionRegistrationError: Cannot reflectively access the proxy class inheriting ['java.util.SequencedCollection','org.springframework.data.mongodb.core.convert.LazyLoadingProxy','java.util.List','org.springframework.aop.SpringProxy','org.springframework.aop.framework.Advised','org.springframework.core.DecoratingProxy']. To allow this operation, add the following to the 'reflection' section of 'reachability-metadata.json' and rebuild the native image:",	
    "",	
    "  {",	
    "    "type": {",	
    "      "proxy": [",	
    "        "java.util.SequencedCollection",",	
    "        "org.springframework.data.mongodb.core.convert.LazyLoadingProxy",",	
    "        "java.util.List",",	
    "        "org.springframework.aop.SpringProxy",",	
    "        "org.springframework.aop.framework.Advised",",	
    "        "org.springframework.core.DecoratingProxy"",	
    "      ]",	
    "    }",	
    "  }",	
    "",

However, the Spring-generated reachability-metadata.json (it's located in data/data-mongodb/build/generated/aotResources/META-INF/native-image/spring-aot-smoke-tests.data/data-mongodb/reachability-metadata.json after build) contains this snippet:

    {
      "type": {
        "proxy": [
          "java.util.SequencedCollection",
          "org.springframework.data.mongodb.core.convert.LazyLoadingProxy",
          "java.util.List",
          "org.springframework.aop.SpringProxy",
          "org.springframework.aop.framework.Advised",
          "org.springframework.core.DecoratingProxy"
        ]
      }
    },

When running the test locally, using the same GraalVM version as CI, this is not reproducible and the test passes.

Using the latest version of GraalVM can resolve many issues.

• I tried with the latest version of GraalVM.

GraalVM Version

openjdk version "25.0.1" 2025-10-21
OpenJDK Runtime Environment GraalVM CE 25.0.1+8.1 (build 25.0.1+8-jvmci-b01)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM GraalVM CE 25.0.1+8.1 (build 25.0.1+8-jvmci-b01, mixed mode, sharing)

Operating System and Version

CI is using ubuntu-latest, I've tested with Ubuntu 24.04.3: Linux ubuntu-2404 6.8.0-86-generic #87-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Mon Sep 22 18:03:36 UTC 2025 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Troubleshooting Confirmation

• I tried the suggestions in the troubleshooting guide.

Run Command

git clone https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-aot-smoke-tests
cd spring-aot-smoke-tests/
git switch main
cd data/data-mongodb
../../gradlew nativeAppTest

Expected Behavior

Test passes.

Actual Behavior

Test fails.

Steps to Reproduce

See run command

Additional Context

It only fails on CI. It works on a Fedora 41 machine, and it works in a Ubuntu 24.04.3 virtual machine. It also passes on a mac.

Run-Time Log Output and Error Messages

No response

[mhalbritter]

@christophstrobl