1616546 - Add-ons sideloaded in the installation directory prior to FX74/FX75 cannot be removed after update to latest version

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 1616545

(Toolkit :: Add-ons Manager, defect)

Description

[Alex Cornestean]

Attachment: installation directory sideload.png

[Affected versions]:

• Firefox 74.0b5/20200218224219
• Firefox 75.0a1/20200218213359
  [Affected platforms]:
• Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
• macOS Catalina 10.15
• Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

[Prerequisites]:

1. Sideload an add-on in the browser’s installation directory on an older version of the browser (for example 72.0b11 and/or 73.0a1) as mentioned below:

Windows:

• Copy the add-on in the browser’s installation directory, under “browser” → “extensions”.
• The “extensions” folder must be created if non existent.

macOS:

• Copy the add-on in the browser’s installation directory, under “Contents”→”Resources”→”browser”→”extensions”.
• The “extensions” folder must be created if non existent.
• To access the above path, go to the location of the Firefox executable, right click it and in the displayed menu, select “Show package Contents”.

Ubuntu:

• Copy the add-on in the browser’s installation directory, under “browser” → “extensions”.
• The “extensions” folder must be created if non existent.

2. Launch the browser and check that the add-on has been successfully sideloaded (the add-on will be installed, present in Add-ons Manager and disabled)
3. Update the browser to the latest version

[Steps to reproduce]:

1. Launch the browser
2. Access the Add-ons Manager page (type about:addons in the URL bar)
3. Go to the Extensions tab
4. Notice that the previously sideloaded add-on (prior to the update) is installed and disabled
5. Click on the three-dot menu on the add-on’s card
6. Observe that the “Remove” option is not available, instead the “Can’t Be Removed Why?” option is present

[Description]:
Add-ons can still be sideloaded in the installation directory of the browser in FX74/FX75, with no option to remove them afterwards from Add-ons Manager.

[Expected results]:

1. Sideloading add-ons in the installation directory should no longer be possible as of FX74/FX75. Only profile sideloads should be allowed.
2. The sideloaded add-on should be removable

[Actual results]:
Add-ons can still be sideloaded in the installation directory in FX74/FX75 and cannot be removed via Add-ons Manager.

Comment 1

[Shane Caraveo (:mixedpuppy)]

This issue is resolved by the patch in bug 1616545