FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
Version for running 144
java version "1.8.0_144"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_144-b01)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.144-b01, mixed mode)
Version for running 152
java version "1.8.0_152"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_152-b16)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.152-b16, mixed mode)
ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Linux whitefly 2.6.32-696.1.1.el6.x86_64 #1 SMP Tue Mar 21 12:19:18 EDT 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
Scripts for running located in the TestApplication directory
Script for testing 144
#!/bin/bash
export JAVA_HOME=/usr/java/jdk1.8.0_144
export NETBEANS_HOME=/usr/local/netbeans-8.2
export ANT_HOME=${NETBEANS_HOME}/extide/ant
export JAVA=${JAVA_HOME}/bin
export NETBEANS=${NETBEANS_HOME}/bin
export ANT=${ANT_HOME}/bin
export PATH=${JAVA}:${NETBEANS}:${ANT}:${PATH}
uname -a
java -version
cd dist
java -classpath $(pwd)/TestApplication.jar -jar TestApplication.jar
Script for testing 152
#!/bin/bash
export JAVA_HOME=/usr/java/jdk1.8.0_152
export NETBEANS_HOME=/usr/local/netbeans-8.2
export ANT_HOME=${NETBEANS_HOME}/extide/ant
export JAVA=${JAVA_HOME}/bin
export NETBEANS=${NETBEANS_HOME}/bin
export ANT=${ANT_HOME}/bin
export PATH=${JAVA}:${NETBEANS}:${ANT}:${PATH}
uname -a
java -version
cd dist
java -classpath $(pwd)/TestApplication.jar -jar TestApplication.jar
A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
When getting the MANIFEST.MF for a class in an application jar I am getting jar:file:/usr/java/jdk1.8.0_152/jre/lib/ext/jfxrt.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF instead of getting jar:file:/users/sewardge/NetBeansProjects/TestApplication/dist/TestApplication.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF as expected.
By the way I believe the code works on 151.
REGRESSION.  Last worked in version 8u144
STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1.  Created a java application called TestApplication.
2.  Created a jframe form called TestWindow.
3.  Created a jpanel in the form.
4.  Created a jbutton in the jpanel.
5.  Added the following code to the post init of the button.
        URL manifestURL;
        manifestURL = getClass().getResource("/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF");
        System.out.println("class getResource manifestURL = " + manifestURL);
        manifestURL = TestWindow.class.getResource("/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF");
        System.out.println("class getResource manifestURL = " + manifestURL);
        manifestURL = ((URLClassLoader) TestWindow.class.getClassLoader()).getResource("META-INF/MANIFEST.MF");
        System.out.println("URLClassLoader getResource manifestURL = " + manifestURL);
        manifestURL = ((URLClassLoader) TestWindow.class.getClassLoader()).findResource("META-INF/MANIFEST.MF");
        System.out.println("URLClassLoader findResource manifestURL = " + manifestURL);
6. Fixed the imports.
7. Built the application using netbeans.
Ran the scripts mentioned in the additional configuration section.
EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Linux whitefly 2.6.32-696.1.1.el6.x86_64 #1 SMP Tue Mar 21 12:19:18 EDT 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
java version "1.8.0_144"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_144-b01)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.144-b01, mixed mode)
class getResource manifestURL = jar:file:/users/sewardge/NetBeansProjects/TestApplication/dist/TestApplication.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
class getResource manifestURL = jar:file:/users/sewardge/NetBeansProjects/TestApplication/dist/TestApplication.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
URLClassLoader getResource manifestURL = jar:file:/users/sewardge/NetBeansProjects/TestApplication/dist/TestApplication.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
URLClassLoader findResource manifestURL = jar:file:/users/sewardge/NetBeansProjects/TestApplication/dist/TestApplication.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
ACTUAL -
Linux whitefly 2.6.32-696.1.1.el6.x86_64 #1 SMP Tue Mar 21 12:19:18 EDT 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
java version "1.8.0_152"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_152-b16)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.152-b16, mixed mode)
class getResource manifestURL = jar:file:/usr/java/jdk1.8.0_152/jre/lib/ext/jfxrt.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
class getResource manifestURL = jar:file:/usr/java/jdk1.8.0_152/jre/lib/ext/jfxrt.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
URLClassLoader getResource manifestURL = jar:file:/usr/java/jdk1.8.0_152/jre/lib/ext/jfxrt.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
URLClassLoader findResource manifestURL = jar:file:/users/sewardge/NetBeansProjects/TestApplication/dist/TestApplication.jar!/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.
---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
TestApplication.java
/*
 * To change this license header, choose License Headers in Project Properties.
 * To change this template file, choose Tools | Templates
 * and open the template in the editor.
 */
package testapplication;
/**
 *
 * @author sewardge
 */
public class TestApplication {
   static TestWindow bForm;
   
    /**
     * @param args the command line arguments
     */
    public static void main(String[] args) {
      bForm = new TestWindow();
      bForm.setVisible(true);
    }
    
}
TestWindow.java
/*
 * To change this license header, choose License Headers in Project Properties.
 * To change this template file, choose Tools | Templates
 * and open the template in the editor.
 */
package testapplication;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.URLClassLoader;
/**
 *
 * @author sewardge
 */
public class TestWindow extends javax.swing.JFrame {
    /**
     * Creates new form TestWindow
     */
    public TestWindow() {
        initComponents();
    }
    /**
     * This method is called from within the constructor to initialize the form.
     * WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is always
     * regenerated by the Form Editor.
     */
    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
    // <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">//GEN-BEGIN:initComponents
    private void initComponents() {
        jPanel1 = new javax.swing.JPanel();
        jButton1 = new javax.swing.JButton();
        setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        jButton1.setText("jButton1");
        URL manifestURL;
        manifestURL = getClass().getResource("/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF");
        System.out.println("class getResource manifestURL = " + manifestURL);
        manifestURL = TestWindow.class.getResource("/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF");
        System.out.println("class getResource manifestURL = " + manifestURL);
        manifestURL = ((URLClassLoader) TestWindow.class.getClassLoader()).getResource("META-INF/MANIFEST.MF");
        System.out.println("URLClassLoader getResource manifestURL = " + manifestURL);
        manifestURL = ((URLClassLoader) TestWindow.class.getClassLoader()).findResource("META-INF/MANIFEST.MF");
        System.out.println("URLClassLoader findResource manifestURL = " + manifestURL);
        javax.swing.GroupLayout jPanel1Layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(jPanel1);
        jPanel1.setLayout(jPanel1Layout);
        jPanel1Layout.setHorizontalGroup(
            jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addGap(132, 132, 132)
                .addComponent(jButton1)
                .addContainerGap(180, Short.MAX_VALUE))
        );
        jPanel1Layout.setVerticalGroup(
            jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addGap(100, 100, 100)
                .addComponent(jButton1)
                .addContainerGap(175, Short.MAX_VALUE))
        );
        javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
        getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
        layout.setHorizontalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addComponent(jPanel1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
        );
        layout.setVerticalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addComponent(jPanel1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
        );
        pack();
    }// </editor-fold>//GEN-END:initComponents
    /**
     * @param args the command line arguments
     */
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        /* Set the Nimbus look and feel */
        //<editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Look and feel setting code (optional) ">
        /* If Nimbus (introduced in Java SE 6) is not available, stay with the default look and feel.
         * For details see http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html 
         */
        try {
            for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
                if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
                    javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
                    break;
                }
            }
        } catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
            java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(TestWindow.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
        } catch (InstantiationException ex) {
            java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(TestWindow.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
        } catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
            java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(TestWindow.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
        } catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
            java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(TestWindow.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
        }
        //</editor-fold>
        /* Create and display the form */
        java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                new TestWindow().setVisible(true);
            }
        });
    }
    // Variables declaration - do not modify//GEN-BEGIN:variables
    private javax.swing.JButton jButton1;
    private javax.swing.JPanel jPanel1;
    // End of variables declaration//GEN-END:variables
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------
CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
The following is an excerpt from the above source codes that works for both 144 and 152.
        URL manifestURL = ((URLClassLoader) TestWindow.class.getClassLoader()).findResource("META-INF/MANIFEST.MF");
        System.out.println("URLClassLoader findResource manifestURL = " + manifestURL);