Content Hub cloning fails with 500 error when Content Item Asset field is empty

We are encountering an issue while cloning Content Hub items in Xperience by Kentico.

We have a reusable content type configured as follows:

Content Type: Comprehensive Partnership

Fields:

• Title (Text, required)

• Description (Long text)

• Image (Content Item Asset)

  🔹 Scenario

  ✅ Case 1 (Working as expected)

  1. Create a content item

  2. Populate all fields:

     • Title

     • Description

     • Image

  3. Save and publish

  4. Clone the item ✅ Result:
     Cloning works successfully.

  ❌ Case 2 (Failing scenario)

  1. Create a content item

  2. Populate only:

     • Title

     • Description
       (leave Image field empty)

  3. Save and publish

  4. Attempt to clone the item ❌ Result:

  • Cloning fails with HTTP 500 (Internal Server Error)

  • The error is logged in the Event Log

    🔹 Event Log Details

    Error Type:

    System.NullReferenceException
    

Relevant Stack Trace:

at CMS.ContentEngine.ContentItemAssetPathProvider.GetFileLocation(...)
at CMS.ContentEngine.ReusableContentItemAssetCloneManager.GetAssetMetadataWithFileSource(...)
at CMS.ContentEngine.ReusableContentItemCloneManager.CloneInternal(...)

🔹 Observations

• The issue occurs only when the Content Item Asset field is empty

• When an image is present, cloning works correctly

• This suggests the cloning process may not be handling null or missing asset metadata properly

🔹 Questions

1. Is this a known issue or bug in the current version of Xperience by Kentico?
2. Is there any configuration or validation setting required for Content Item Asset fields during cloning?
3. Should empty asset fields be handled gracefully by the platform during cloning?
4. Is there a recommended workaround (e.g., default value, validation, or patch)?
5. If this is unintended behavior, is there a fix or hotfix available?

Environment

• Xperience by Kentico version: 31.5.4

• .NET version: [10]