#vulnerable code 
                                @Test
    public void testDefaultDataConsumerAccess(){
        DataPipe thePipe = new DataPipe();
        DataConsumer dc = thePipe.getDataConsumer();

        Assert.assertNotNull(dc);
        Assert.assertNotNull(dc.getFlags());
        Assert.assertFalse(dc.getFlags().get(0).get());
        Assert.assertEquals(10000, dc.getMaxNumberOfLines());
    } 
                            #location 8 
                            #vulnerability type NULL_DEREFERENCE
#fixed code
                                @Test
    public void testDefaultDataConsumerAccess() {
        DataPipe thePipe = new DataPipe();
        DataConsumer dc = thePipe.getDataConsumer();
        dc.setFlags(new Hashtable<String, AtomicBoolean>());

        Assert.assertNotNull(dc);
        Assert.assertNotNull(dc.getFlags());
        Assert.assertEquals(10000, dc.getMaxNumberOfLines());
    }