Strange and unexpected behavior of the gnome ui continued since firefox-exr
ver: 78.6.1esr-1~deb10u1 got pulled in and installed from debian repositories
via apt.
Most obvious issue was the random glitch with sudden inability to move
applications around the screen by grabbing top bar with the mouse.
Random loss of ability to close / quit applications using normal exit dialog,
for example if chromuim or gedit confirming exit when more than one tab is
opened or if a user wants to save changes if such where made before exit.
Dialog is prompted but clicking produces no action and dialog window just stays
on the screen.
Using a 'TAB' button on the keyboard followed by the 'enter' button on the
keyboard closes an application as expected.
So this bug seems to have something to do with the mouse clicks interpretations
in the gonme UI.
Multiple applications are affected ranging from wonky behavior of gnome
terminal, to chromium and tor browser.
All related to managing application in UI with the mouse.
To stop all of this from happening I had to do the following: downgrade
firefox-esr.
And here comes next unexpected and strange issue.
Last know version that worked with out messing up gnome ui on my host was a
firefox-esr ver: 76.6.0esr-1~deb10u1
However (howeva!), when checking against debian repository servers, turns out
this version is no longer available. ;( bummer.
Instead, an older version available - 78.5.0esr-1~deb10u1
It is what is is, so here we go, that's what i had to do:
1. Elevate your user privileges or use sudo.
2. Check (ask) via apt what options do I have by quavering the following:
# apt policy firefox-esr
Examine the answer and look for the proper naming schema for firefox-esr
versions.
firefox-esr:
Installed: 78.6.1esr-1~deb10u1
Candidate: 78.5.0esr-1~deb10u1
Version table:
78.6.1esr-1~deb10u1 500
500 http://security.debian.org/debian-security buster/updates/main
amd64 Packages
*** 78.5.0esr-1~deb10u1 500
500 http://deb.debian.org/debian buster/main amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
In this output its clear I need version '78.5.0esr-1~deb10u1'
3. Okie-dokie, let's do it... instruct apt do pull down the older version,
override the currently installed version - effectively downgrading the
firefox-esr by issuing the following instruction to apt:
# apt install firefox-esr=78.5.0esr-1~deb10u1
Confirm to apt that yes, that's what has to happened.
Once this done, I logged out my user session in gnome, logged back in... and
for the past 12 hours everything is running as expected with no issues.
QUESTION (!) If some one from Debian security team can chime in and comment on
the following:
When I submitted this ticket for a potential bug with the firefox-esr:
78.6.1esr-1~deb10u1 I used 'reportbug' package. Ok, details provided and right
before I submitted it, 'reportbug' package collected basic info about my host
and this has cut my attention.
In the report there is a section labeled '-- Extensions information'
With in that section it appears a reference to a file in my system:
Location: /usr/lib/firefox-esr/browser/omni.ja
I have checked and yes, this file is present in my Debian instance and yes,
with in this file there is amazon. bing, google all mentioned.
Question, what is that, why is it in there, and why hasn't anyone disclosed it
to a user before integrating it to a code?
I do not want anything in my Debian instance having anything to do with dose
platforms.
It would be very reassuring if some one independent of Mozilla, like Debian
security team to comment and perhaps clarify the purpose of those 'extensions'
I have never installed and yet according to this info, they are present AND
enabled in my system somehow.
I have checked and Firefox normal GUI settings do not show anything remotely
like that.
Aiy Dios Mio! Karramba!!!
Please, someone... what is this???
Damien
