3198773 - SUM phase ends with error: 'Cannot parse expression'

• While running a system update using Software Update Manager (SUM) in phase PREP_PREPROC/SUBMOD_PROFPREPARE/MODPROF_TRANS_PREP the following error was reported:

  1 ETQ399 Read 31 modification commands from '/usr/sap/<SID>/SUM/abap/control/ALPXTRANS.XML'.
  1 ETQ399 Modifying '/usr/sap/<SID>/SUM/abap/sapnames/dttrans/<SID>_D01_hostname', writing to '/usr/sap/<SID>/SUM/abap/sapnames/dttrans/MODPROF_TRANS_PREP_0011.TMP'.
  1EETQ399 Last error code set is: Cannot parse expression '40` lt 4' - trailing garbage '` lt 4' 
  1EETQ204 Upgrade phase "MODPROF_TRANS_PREP" aborted with severe errors

      (the profile name and the character string after garbage is only an example)

• Error in phase PREP_PREPROC/SUBMOD_PROFPREPARE/CHANGEPROF_DIAG_PREP 

  1 ETQ399 Read 18 modification commands from '/install/<SID>/SUM/abap/control/ALPXPROD.XML'.
  1 ETQ399 Modifying '/install/<SID>/SUM/abap/sapnames/prod/<SAP_SYSTEM_PROFILE', writing to '/install/<SID>/SUM/abap/sapnames/prod/CHANGEPROF_DIAG_PREP_0034.TMP'.
  1EETQ399 Last error code set is: Cannot parse expression 'XXXX lt XXXXXX' - trailing garbage 'XXXXXX'
  1EETQ204 Upgrade phase "CHANGEPROF_DIAG_PREP" aborted with severe errors ("<date_timestamp")

Systems running on Netweaver 7.x 

SUM, Software Update Manager, profile, garbage, typo, rz10, Cannot parse expression, MODPROF_TRANS_PREP, CHANGEPROF_DIAG_PREP, upgrade, empty, blank,  trailing, Invalid, character, PREP_PREPROC/SUBMOD_PROFPREPARE/CHANGEPROF_DIAG_PREP, PREP_PREPROC/SUBMOD_PROFPREPARE/MODPROF_TRANS_PREP   , KBA , BC-UPG-TLS-TLA , Upgrade tools for ABAP , Problem