[4.x]: Graph QL asset field query of matrix block is responding as fatal error

What happened?

Description

We use Graph QL to query assets in matrix blocks of an entry based on user selection in the front end. It was running smoothly until upgrading to 4.5.6.1. Since the upgrade querying asset in a matrix blocks results in a fatal error. But there is another standalone asset field in the section where querying it is responding as expected.

We have a staging site that runs on Craft 4.2.5.2 where the same query is responding as expected.

Steps to reproduce

1. Install Craft 4.5.6.1
2. Navigate to Graph QL explorer
3. use Graph QL query to retrieve asset field in a matrix block

Expected behavior

The response should include an array of asset details or an empty array

Request

query findProductsBySite($site: [QueryArgument]) {
  productsEntries(siteId: $site) {
    ... on products_products_Entry {
      id
      title
      productFeaturedImage {
        ... on images_Asset {
          id
          title
        }
      }
      productVariants {
        ... on productVariants_variants_BlockType {
          id
          stockcode
          productImages {
            ... on images_Asset {
              id
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Response

{
  "data": {
    "productsEntries": [
      {
        "id": "12944275",
        "title": "test",
        "productVariants": []
      },
      {
        "id": "12936742",
        "title": "724",
        "productVariants": [
          {
            "id": "12936743",
            "stockcode": "724-11-5-SC",
            "productImages": []
          },
          {
            "id": "12936744",
            "stockcode": "724-11-5-PC",
            "productImages": []
          },
          {
            "id": "12936745",
            "stockcode": "724-11-5-BN",
            "productImages": []
          },
          {
            "id": "12936746",
            "stockcode": "724-11-0-SC",
            "productImages": []
          },
... so on

Actual behavior

{
  "name": "PHP Fatal Error",
  "message": "A server error occurred.",
  "code": 1,
  "error": "A server error occurred."
}

Craft CMS version

4.5.6.1

PHP version

8.1

Operating system and version

Linux 5.4.0-155-generic

Database type and version

MySQL 5.7.32

Image driver and version

Imagick (ImageMagick 6.9.10-23)

Installed plugins and versions

• Async Queue 3.1.0
• Element API 3.0.1.1
• Field Manager 3.0.7
• Linkit 4.0.4.1
• Navigation 2.0.16
• Neo 3.4.0
• Redactor 3.0.3
• Redactor Anchors 1.4.0
• Redactor Custom Styles 4.0.3
• Redirect manager 2.0.0
• SEOmatic 4.0.19
• Custom plugin 4.1.15

Reproduce the asset-field query in the GraphQL Explorer on Craft 4.5.6.1, using the provided Matrix block query, and compare it with the reported behavior on 4.2.5.2. Trace the resulting PHP fatal error and verify that querying productImages returns asset details or an empty array without a fatal response.