NJsonSchema.Validation.Error : PropertyRequired: #/__referencePath

[HelmutSchleicher]

In my C# program I try to validate a serialized json string with a json schema via NJsonSchema validator.

Expected behavior: Json string should be validated as correct and not throw an exception.
I tried different online schema validator which showed me that my json string was correct.

Actual behavior: Following exception is thrown: NJsonSchema.Validation.Error : PropertyRequired: #/__referencePath
I don't understand why the $ref isn't recognized as the required porperty anymore and how to fix this.

The C# code as well as the json file and schema are described below. Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

The json schema is summarized in the schema file "schema.txt":

{
    "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema",  
    "$ref": "#/definitions/reference_to_other_object",
    "definitions": {
        "reference_to_other_object": {
            "type": "object",
            "required": [
                "$ref"
            ],
            "additionalProperties": false,
            "properties": {
                "$ref": {
                    "type": "string",
                    "allOf": [
                        {
                            "format": "uri-reference"
                        },
                        {
                            "pattern": "^.*#/datatypes/.*$"
                        }
                    ]
                }
            }
        }
    }
} 

schema.txt

The json string that has to be validated is summarized in "data.txt":

{
  "$ref": "#/datatypes/MyCustomDataType"
}

data.txt

The short code snippet which should illustrate the problem is shown here:

using System;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using NJsonSchema;
using NJsonSchema.Validation;
using System.Resources;
    
class Program
    {

           static async Task Main(string[] args)
            {
                // Read json
                var jsonContent = Encoding.ASCII.GetString(Properties.Resources.data);
                var jsonSchema = Encoding.ASCII.GetString(Properties.Resources.schema);

                var validator = new JsonSchemaValidator();
                var schema = await JsonSchema.FromJsonAsync(jsonSchema);
                var result = validator.Validate(jsonContent, schema);

                Console.WriteLine(result);
            }
        
    } 

[RicoSuter]

Using $ref as a property name and not a reference propably messes up quite some things (edge case).

[HelmutSchleicher]

Using $ref as a property name and not a reference propably messes up quite some things (edge case).

Yes it seems like it. But I think it is defined in the JSON Schema standards.
Do you think that this bug can be fixed within the next weeks or do you think it will take longer?

[RicoSuter]

Do you think that this bug can be fixed within the next weeks or do you think it will take longer?

Who will fix it? Please create a PR - otherwise it probably takes longer.