Score:1

In Ubuntu 21.10, Firefox and Chromium cannot open file in hidden directory

sc flag

In Ubuntu 21.10, Firefox 93.0 can't open a file in a hidden directory like /home/alba/.toto/0000000d.html.

(Whatever the name and content of the HTML file, you can use an empty file.)

Nor does Chromium 95.0.4638.54 snap but Dillo version 3.0.5 and Google Chrome 90.0.4430.93 can do it.

In 21.04, Firefox 93.0, Dillo 3.0.5 and Google Chrome 90.0.4430.93 can do it, only Chromium 94.0.446.71 snap cannot, so this is a regression.

Can you confirm? Is it worth reporting a bug? Is it Firefox or Ubuntu bug?

I found this by using Claws Mails that stores HTML mail files in ~/.claws-mail/.

us flag
How are you opening the file? I am able to open an empty file `~/.toto/0000000d.html` using the `*.deb` version of Firefox 93.0 in Ubuntu 21.10. I can drag the file from Nautilus onto Firefox, and it opens. Also, I can right-click on the file and select to open the file in Firefox, and it opens.
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
I open the file by right clicking on it in Nautilus.
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
I have also tried to open in the command line `firefox /home/alba/.toto/0000000d.html`, same result. But I see this `Gtk-Message: 22:11:44.197: Failed to load module "canberra-gtk-module`.
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
I don't have this message in 21.04. Found this https://askubuntu.com/questions/342202/failed-to-load-module-canberra-gtk-module-but-already-installed but `sudo apt install libcanberra-gtk-module libcanberra-gtk3-module` does not remove the message.
us flag
`firefox ~/.toto/0000000d.html` just opens the (blank) file in Firefox for me, without errors. Try the `*.deb` version. May be the snap sand-boxing is causing this? By the way, I have `libcanberra-gtk`, `libcanberra-gtk0`, `libcanberra-gtk3-0`, and `libcanberra-gtk3-module` installed.
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
I have tried a third method to open the file. First I had to reinstall the menu bar in Firefox, second File > Open file or more simply `control-o`. This methods works. However, it does not solve the Claws Mail issue, which relies basically on the command line. Maybe some option in the command line may solve the problem,
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
I have removed Firefox snap 93.0-1 rev 631 with `sudo snap remove --purge firefox` then reinstalled `sudo apt install firefox` and the problem with Firefox has vanished. Thanks. I suppose that the problem is that snap does not connect well to the libacanberra installed with apt.
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
My Chromium is also a snap and on the contrary Dillo and Google Chrome are deb. Obviously a problem with snap,
us flag
I think that may be the case. I know that the Firefox snap allows special access to the user's home directory (outside of the sand-box). Therefore, all subdirectories in the user's home directory should also be accessible (even if they are hidden). I would open a bug report about this issue.
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
I rediscover the problem after upgrading to Ubuntu 22.04, coming with snap Firefox.
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
I do not know where to report a bug.
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
Good to know. I conclude that it is a snap design (or flaw depending on the point of view) since the .deb version of Firefox can open "hidden" file. A consequence is that HTML mail attachments in `~/.claws-mail` cannot be opened.
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
Related https://askubuntu.com/questions/1238211/how-to-make-snaps-access-hidden-files-and-folders-in-home https://superuser.com/questions/1546550/chromium-81-wont-display-dotfiles-anymore
Pierre ALBARÈDE avatar
sc flag
Existing bug report https://bugs.launchpad.net/snapd/+bug/1607067
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