Detailed reproducer:
---------------------

# install JDKs and LDAP utils
yum install -y java-1.6.0-openjdk-devel java-1.7.0-openjdk-devel openldap-clients

# OpenDS has some issues with newer Java versions, so let's use 1.6
export OPENDS_JAVA_BIN=/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.6.0-openjdk.x86_64/bin/java

# for the Java LDAP client we'll use OpenJDK 1.7
export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

# download and unpack the OpenDS LDAP server
wget http://java.net/downloads/opends/promoted-builds/2.2.1/OpenDS-2.2.1.zip
unzip -q OpenDS-2.2.1.zip

# configure and start OpenDS on port 10389
cd OpenDS-2.2.1
./setup -i -n -b "dc=example,dc=com" -a -p 10389 -S -D "cn=Directory Manager" -w secret

# add sample LDAP data (with a referral pointing to the same server)
ldapadd -x -H "ldap://localhost:10389/" -D "cn=Directory Manager" -w secret << EOT
dn: ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
objectclass: top
objectclass: organizationalUnit
ou: People

dn: ou=RefPeople,dc=example,dc=com
objectclass: top
objectclass: organizationalUnit
ou: RefPeople

dn: uid=jduke,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
objectclass: top
objectclass: uidObject
objectclass: person
uid: jduke
cn: Java Duke
sn: Duke
userPassword: theduke

dn: ou=Refs,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
objectClass: extensibleObject
objectClass: referral
objectClass: top
ou: Refs
ref: ldap://localhost:10389/ou=RefPeople,dc=example,dc=com

EOT

# prepare Java test program
cat << EOT >> LdapTest.java
import java.util.Properties;

import javax.naming.*;
import javax.naming.directory.SearchResult;
import javax.naming.ldap.*;

public class LdapTest {

    public static void main(String[] args) throws NamingException {
        final String ldapUrl = "ldap://localhost:10389";
        final Properties env = new Properties();
        env.put(Context.INITIAL_CONTEXT_FACTORY, "com.sun.jndi.ldap.LdapCtxFactory");
        env.put(Context.PROVIDER_URL, ldapUrl);
        env.put(Context.SECURITY_AUTHENTICATION, "simple");
        env.put(Context.SECURITY_PRINCIPAL, "cn=Directory Manager");
        env.put(Context.SECURITY_CREDENTIALS, "secret");
        env.put(Context.REFERRAL, "follow");
        final LdapContext ctx = new InitialLdapContext(env, null);
        final NamingEnumeration<?> namingEnum = ctx.search("ou=People,dc=example,dc=com", "(objectclass=*)", null);
        while (namingEnum.hasMore()) {
            SearchResult sr = (SearchResult) namingEnum.next();
            System.out.println("NameInNamespace: " + sr.getNameInNamespace());
            System.out.println("Name:            " + sr.getName());
            System.out.println();
        }
        namingEnum.close();
        ctx.close();
    }
}
EOT

# compile and run the Java client
javac LdapTest.java
java LdapTest

# result is: Exception in thread "main" javax.naming.PartialResultException [Root exception is javax.naming.directory.InvalidSearchFilterException: Empty filter [Root exception is com.sun.jndi.ldap.LdapReferralException: Continuation Reference; remaining name 'ou=People,dc=example,dc=com']; remaining name '']

# do the same search with ldapsearch util:
ldapsearch -x -H 'ldap://localhost:10389/' -b 'ou=People,dc=example,dc=com' -D "cn=Directory Manager" -w secret -C

# the expected data are correctly displayed

# let's fix the behavior in the Java debugger (we'll simply replace empty String by null)
# start the client suspeded in debug mode
java -agentlib:jdwp=transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=y,address=8787 LdapTest

# attach with the debugger
jdb -attach 8787

# use following commands in the debugger interface:
# add the breakpoint to LdapReferralContext.overrideFilter method
stop in com.sun.jndi.ldap.LdapReferralContext.overrideFilter(java.lang.String)
# run the suspended program 
cont
# print what's in the LdapReferralContext object
dump this
# change value of member variable urlFilter from empty String to null
set this.urlFilter=null
# check the values again (you should see the null value in the urlFilter)
dump this
# let the program continue
cont

# Now the Java client finished succesfully with the expected result:
# [root@host OpenDS-2.2.1]# java -agentlib:jdwp=transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=y,address=8787 LdapTest
# Listening for transport dt_socket at address: 8787
# NameInNamespace: uid=jduke,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
# Name:            uid=jduke
# 
# NameInNamespace: ou=RefPeople,dc=example,dc=com
# Name:            ldap://localhost:10389/ou=RefPeople,dc=example,dc=com

Created attachment 1014906 [details]
Patch, submitted for review to upstream

Patch backported to 8u-dev, will appear in 8u60 release.
http://hg.openjdk.java.net/jdk8u/jdk8u-dev/jdk/rev/d4186d4bc3fb

Since the problem described in this bug report should be
resolved in a recent advisory, it has been closed with a
resolution of ERRATA.

For information on the advisory, and where to find the updated
files, follow the link below.

If the solution does not work for you, open a new bug report.

https://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHEA-2015-2177.html