[CI] InboundDecoderTests testDecodePreHeaderSizeVariableInt failing

[elasticsearchmachine]

Build Scans:

• elasticsearch-pull-request #84027 / part-1
• elasticsearch-pull-request #84013 / part-1
• elasticsearch-periodic-platform-support #9742 / windows-2025_checkpart1_platform-support-windows
• elasticsearch-periodic-platform-support #9742 / windows-2022_checkpart1_platform-support-windows
• elasticsearch-periodic-platform-support #9742 / windows-2019_checkpart1_platform-support-windows
• elasticsearch-periodic-platform-support #9742 / almalinux-8-aarch64_checkpart1_platform-support-arm
• elasticsearch-periodic #9731 / encryption-at-rest
• elasticsearch-periodic-platform-support #9742 / amazonlinux-2_platform-support-aws
• elasticsearch-periodic-platform-support #9742 / amazonlinux-2023_platform-support-aws
• elasticsearch-periodic #9731 / concurrent-search-tests

Reproduction Line:

./gradlew ":server:test" --tests "org.elasticsearch.transport.InboundDecoderTests.testDecodePreHeaderSizeVariableInt" -Dtests.seed=DAF126B299312BD2 -Dtests.locale=en-SX -Dtests.timezone=America/Indiana/Vevay -Druntime.java=24

Applicable branches:
8.19

Reproduces locally?:
N/A

Failure History:
See dashboard

Failure Message:

java.lang.AssertionError: invalid decRef call: already closed

Issue Reasons:

• [8.19] 3 consecutive failures in step windows-2025_checkpart1_platform-support-windows
• [8.19] 3 consecutive failures in step windows-2019_checkpart1_platform-support-windows
• [8.19] 2 consecutive failures in step almalinux-8-aarch64_checkpart1_platform-support-arm
• [8.19] 2 consecutive failures in step encryption-at-rest
• [8.19] 4 consecutive failures in step amazonlinux-2_platform-support-aws
• [8.19] 2 consecutive failures in step amazonlinux-2023_platform-support-aws
• [8.19] 2 consecutive failures in step oraclelinux-9_platform-support-unix
• [8.19] 4 consecutive failures in step rhel-8_platform-support-unix
• [8.19] 3 consecutive failures in step ubuntu-2204_platform-support-unix
• [8.19] 2 consecutive failures in step oraclelinux-8_platform-support-unix
• [8.19] 4 consecutive failures in step opensuse-leap-15_platform-support-unix
• [8.19] 2 consecutive failures in step debian-11_platform-support-unix
• [8.19] 4 consecutive failures in step almalinux-8_platform-support-unix
• [8.19] 2 consecutive failures in step sles-15_platform-support-unix
• [8.19] 2 consecutive failures in step single-processor-node-tests

Note:
This issue was created using new test triage automation. Please report issues or feedback to es-delivery.

[elasticsearchmachine]

Pinging @elastic/es-distributed-coordination (Team:Distributed Coordination)

[JeremyDahlgren]

It looks like testDecodePreHeaderSizeVariableInt() was removed in #121646 on main before Armin's main branch PR #123390 was merged. The backport PR #123554 had CI failures for this test that still existed on the 8.19 branch. I put the test in a loop on my local 8.19 branch and could consistently get a failure.

[ChrisHegarty]

I wonder why this test never auto-muted? I see it failing elsewhere in 8.19.x jobs. It is the reason by this job has not auto-merged, #132315, which is in turn preventing clean CI runs of any 8.19.x jobs.

We should either merge the fix promptly (if it is ready), or mute the test.

[JeremyDahlgren]

Closed by #132215.