Comment by b3lvedere

Comment by b3lvedere 3 days ago

35 replies

"Since looking into it, I noticed that uBlock Origin already has the default list "Block Outsider Intrusion into LAN" but it wasn't enabled."

Never knew that this existed. Thank you!

nerflad 3 days ago

Checking out the initial request on github for this feature I wonder why is this necessary? What access to the local network does the browser provide, or need to provide, and why isn't this something developers are more concerned about? I had a feeling this was possible as I see lots of mdns requests when I connect to certain things running sockets.

https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uAssets/issues/4318

  • dannyw 3 days ago

    There are certainly use cases, but whether they’re warranted is a good question.

    One popular router maker offers a ‘magic URL’ (domain name) that scans your network for the gateway management page, and redirects. It’s not necessary, but it certainly helps novice users. Having worked in IT support,

    I’ve also purchased hardware devices that have a web management UI; which connects directly instead of proxying through a cloud.

    Ultimately this is probably one thing that should be behind a permission request (like webcam access), but it’s not a feature without value.

  • lol768 3 days ago
    • theyinwhy 3 days ago

      7 year old ticket updated and prioritized because of https://localmess.github.io/

      • sitkack 3 days ago

        This is how it always is with Firefox, you hit some bug and then find that it was entered YEARS ago, while they burn focus on things like Pocket.

adastra22 3 days ago

I’m flabbergasted that this is even allowed. Who thought it was a good idea to allow any web page you visit to access your local network?

  • johncolanduoni 3 days ago

    Internal apps on non-private IP addresses occasionally use this. There is a standard called Private Network Access[1] that requires these requests to have preflights like CORS requests. Only Chrome has implemented it so far.

    [1]: https://wicg.github.io/private-network-access/

    • adastra22 3 days ago

      Why though? What is the use case that demands this? It'd better be a real pressing need because the security risks are immense and obvious. This is a backdoor to every network firewall.

      • johncolanduoni 3 days ago

        It’s more that it wasn’t prevented back when the web was first coming together, because security wasn’t on almost anyone’s minds at all. There wasn’t a hole added at some point; it’s just that browsers didn’t specifically block domains that resolve to public IPs from accessing domains that resolve to private IPs.

        Realistically, it’s a backdoor to every network firewall that has existed for the entire era in which browsers were used in “secured” internal networks also connected to the internet. Everyone has either designed with it in mind, or gotten lucky that nobody tried to use it on them for like 30 years. I think it’s good to put away this footgun, but there’s no useful blame to assign here.

      • psd1 3 days ago

        I'm hazy on the details, but:

        Home Assistant has a well-known public name that opens your local instance. On first access, you need to give it the name or ip of your instance, which is saved in browser storage. This supports deep links into your config from forum posts.

        My mum also had a shitty D-Link wifi mesh device, which was packaged as an appliance. I cannot speak lowly enough about that garbage device, but then, I am not really the target market. iirc it had something similar; a public dns name for local appliance mgmt.

balamatom 3 days ago

Massively improved my security posture with this. Thanks all!

buyucu 3 days ago

Likewise I didn't know it existed, but it was enabled on my laptop and mobile browsers.

dd_xplore 3 days ago

Is that available in lite version too? Now that the origin js being phased out

  • LarMachinarum 3 days ago

    … or you can instead phase out those browsers who try to force blocker restrictions i.e. spyware on you (e.g. chrome and such), and use one of the browsers where you can use the full-featured (not "lite") uBlock Origin instead, e.g. Firefox.

    • Filligree 3 days ago

      Firefox might be an okay browser, but that would imply supporting Mozilla.

      I've been meaning to switch to Vivaldi. Just as soon as the onboarding dialog stops crashing.

      • Rastonbury 3 days ago

        I wonder how bad does Mozilla have to be that you have to continue using Chrome without ublock?

      • tos1 2 days ago

        I'm curious: What's your reasons for not wanting to support Mozilla?

        • Filligree 2 days ago

          I disagree with their politics, I'm concerned by the multiple privacy incidents, and I generally refuse to support them until they refocus on Firefox instead of all the other stuff they're doing.

          If they worked only on Firefox, I'd have nothing against them. As it stands, I can't even donate to Firefox if I want to.

  • daveidol 3 days ago

    It’s only being phased out on Chrome, by Google.

    • ddlsmurf 3 days ago

      Yes, to make us safer, now you enable developer mode and disable signature checking to install it locally, thanks Google

      • maleldil 3 days ago

        Soon, you won't be able to install it locally because the API it relies on will no longer be available. Use Firefox.

  • nicce 3 days ago

    You can't change browser? Or is there something bigger happening?

    • surajrmal 3 days ago

      Not everyone wants to change browsers.

      • LarMachinarum 3 days ago

        then again, if the makers of one big browser (and via there also the derived browsers) start force-shoving spyware upon you (by restricting blockers), it comes down to a decision of how you set your priorities. Personally, It's a clear cut red line, but you do you.

  • bilalq 3 days ago

    Just checked, and it seems like it is. Not enabled by default for some reason.

  • buyucu 3 days ago

    It is not being phased out for Firefox.