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1318 points xvector | 3 comments | | HN request time: 0.606s | source
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rmbryan ◴[] No.19825581[source]
Update: We have rolled out a partial fix for this issue. We generated a new intermediate certificate with the same name/key but an updated validity window and pushed it out to users via Normandy (this should be most users). Users who have Normandy on should see their add-ons start working over the next few hours. We are continuing to work on packaging up the new certificate for users who have Normandy disabled.
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inferiorhuman ◴[] No.19825665[source]
pushed it out to users via Normandy (this should be most users)

Is the existence of a back door method of updating Firefox preferences something that will be disclosed to users? What about a UI knob to disable it?

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daleharvey ◴[] No.19825686[source]
> Is the existence of a back door method of updating Firefox preferences something that will be disclosed to users?

It will even be documented for them: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Normandy/PreferenceRollout

> What about a UI knob to disable it?

app.normandy.enabled

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lawl ◴[] No.19825745[source]
The UI knob is

    Options -> Privacy & Security > Allow Firefox to install and run studies
They're using the studies system to push this hotfix faster for those that have it enabled.

Edit: Source:

See: https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/certificate-issue-causing-ad...

> In order to be able to provide this fix on short notice, we are using the Studies system. You can check if you have studies enabled by going to Firefox Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> Allow Firefox to install and run studies.

Normandy seems to be the internal name for this system: https://github.com/mozilla/normandy

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SilasX ◴[] No.19826186[source]
Why is it supposed to be reassuring that their “studies” can override the cryptographic infrastructure?

Edit: rephrase for clarity

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1. bilbo0s ◴[] No.19826237[source]
Thank you.

I happen to be one of the users with Normandy disabled, so I'm foobar'd anyway. That said, the reason I disabled it is because it is a security hole you could drive a semi-truck through. And now they want us to enable it to provide a "fix" for the secure way in?

I thought I was the only one who saw a problem with that. Your post is evidence that I'm not completely off in my thinking.

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2. SilasX ◴[] No.19826313[source]
And thank you for assuring me I wasn’t alone in worrying about that!
3. reubenmorais ◴[] No.19827304[source]
The studies system is also code-signed, but with a different certificate chain, hence why it wasn't affected. What security hole do you think this opens in Firefox?