[GH-ISSUE #2367] Firefox won't start

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:05 -06:00

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Originally created by @alexandre1985 on GitHub (Jan 24, 2019).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netblue30/firejail/issues/2367

I'm using Manjaro Linux. I have a Nvidia video card.
I have firefox on my system that was installed using the tar.gz package of the official site. I have put the firefox directory on /usr/lib/.
I can't start firefox using firejail firefox.
I have also tried firejail --allow-debuggers --ignore=seccomp --ignore=protocol firefox -no-remote, no success.
The output error message that I get when I do firejail firefoxis:

Reading profile /etc/firejail/firefox.profile
Reading profile /etc/firejail/firefox-common.profile
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-common.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-devel.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-interpreters.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-programs.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/whitelist-common.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/whitelist-var-common.inc
Parent pid 20536, child pid 20537
Warning: An abstract unix socket for session D-BUS might still be available. Use --net or remove unix from --protocol set.
Warning: /sbin directory link was not blacklisted
Warning: /usr/sbin directory link was not blacklisted
Post-exec seccomp protector enabled
Seccomp list in: @clock,@cpu-emulation,@debug,@module,@obsolete,@raw-io,@reboot,@resources,@swap,acct,add_key,bpf,fanotify_init,io_cancel,io_destroy,io_getevents,io_setup,io_submit,ioprio_set,kcmp,keyctl,mount,name_to_handle_at,nfsservctl,ni_syscall,open_by_handle_at,personality,pivot_root,process_vm_readv,ptrace,remap_file_pages,request_key,setdomainname,sethostname,syslog,umount,umount2,userfaultfd,vhangup,vmsplice, check list: @default-keep, prelist: adjtimex,clock_adjtime,clock_settime,settimeofday,modify_ldt,lookup_dcookie,perf_event_open,process_vm_writev,delete_module,finit_module,init_module,_sysctl,afs_syscall,create_module,get_kernel_syms,getpmsg,putpmsg,query_module,security,sysfs,tuxcall,uselib,ustat,vserver,ioperm,iopl,kexec_load,kexec_file_load,reboot,set_mempolicy,migrate_pages,move_pages,mbind,swapon,swapoff,acct,add_key,bpf,fanotify_init,io_cancel,io_destroy,io_getevents,io_setup,io_submit,ioprio_set,kcmp,keyctl,mount,name_to_handle_at,nfsservctl,open_by_handle_at,personality,pivot_root,process_vm_readv,ptrace,remap_file_pages,request_key,setdomainname,sethostname,syslog,umount2,userfaultfd,vhangup,vmsplice,
Child process initialized in 150.75 ms
Error: no suitable firefox executable found

Parent is shutting down, bye...

When I do firejail /usr/lib/firefox/firefox I get a firefox window (yupi!) but on my terminal I still get the above message and my prompt returns to state that is when opening a terminal, instead of the prompt staying idle (which is the state that is should be, meaning that the program is running). The prompt not being idle gives me the indication that maybe firefox isn't firejailed when running firejail /usr/lib/firefox/firefox.

My firefox version is 64.0.2 (64-bit)
My firejail --version is:

firejail version 0.9.56

Compile time support:
	- AppArmor support is disabled
	- AppImage support is enabled
	- chroot support is enabled
	- file and directory whitelisting support is enabled
	- file transfer support is enabled
	- networking support is enabled
	- overlayfs support is enabled
	- private-home support is enabled
	- seccomp-bpf support is enabled
	- user namespace support is enabled
	- X11 sandboxing support is enabled

Originally created by @alexandre1985 on GitHub (Jan 24, 2019). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/netblue30/firejail/issues/2367 I'm using Manjaro Linux. I have a Nvidia video card. I have firefox on my system that was installed using the tar.gz package of the official site. I have put the firefox directory on `/usr/lib/`. I can't start firefox using `firejail firefox`. I have also tried `firejail --allow-debuggers --ignore=seccomp --ignore=protocol firefox -no-remote`, no success. The output error message that I get when I do `firejail firefox`is: ``` Reading profile /etc/firejail/firefox.profile Reading profile /etc/firejail/firefox-common.profile Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-common.inc Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-devel.inc Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-interpreters.inc Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-programs.inc Reading profile /etc/firejail/whitelist-common.inc Reading profile /etc/firejail/whitelist-var-common.inc Parent pid 20536, child pid 20537 Warning: An abstract unix socket for session D-BUS might still be available. Use --net or remove unix from --protocol set. Warning: /sbin directory link was not blacklisted Warning: /usr/sbin directory link was not blacklisted Post-exec seccomp protector enabled Seccomp list in: @clock,@cpu-emulation,@debug,@module,@obsolete,@raw-io,@reboot,@resources,@swap,acct,add_key,bpf,fanotify_init,io_cancel,io_destroy,io_getevents,io_setup,io_submit,ioprio_set,kcmp,keyctl,mount,name_to_handle_at,nfsservctl,ni_syscall,open_by_handle_at,personality,pivot_root,process_vm_readv,ptrace,remap_file_pages,request_key,setdomainname,sethostname,syslog,umount,umount2,userfaultfd,vhangup,vmsplice, check list: @default-keep, prelist: adjtimex,clock_adjtime,clock_settime,settimeofday,modify_ldt,lookup_dcookie,perf_event_open,process_vm_writev,delete_module,finit_module,init_module,_sysctl,afs_syscall,create_module,get_kernel_syms,getpmsg,putpmsg,query_module,security,sysfs,tuxcall,uselib,ustat,vserver,ioperm,iopl,kexec_load,kexec_file_load,reboot,set_mempolicy,migrate_pages,move_pages,mbind,swapon,swapoff,acct,add_key,bpf,fanotify_init,io_cancel,io_destroy,io_getevents,io_setup,io_submit,ioprio_set,kcmp,keyctl,mount,name_to_handle_at,nfsservctl,open_by_handle_at,personality,pivot_root,process_vm_readv,ptrace,remap_file_pages,request_key,setdomainname,sethostname,syslog,umount2,userfaultfd,vhangup,vmsplice, Child process initialized in 150.75 ms Error: no suitable firefox executable found Parent is shutting down, bye... ``` When I do `firejail /usr/lib/firefox/firefox` I get a firefox window (yupi!) but on my terminal I still get the above message and my prompt returns to state that is when opening a terminal, instead of the prompt staying idle (which is the state that is should be, meaning that the program is running). The prompt not being idle gives me the indication that maybe `firefox` isn't firejailed when running `firejail /usr/lib/firefox/firefox`. My firefox version is 64.0.2 (64-bit) My `firejail --version` is: ``` firejail version 0.9.56 Compile time support: - AppArmor support is disabled - AppImage support is enabled - chroot support is enabled - file and directory whitelisting support is enabled - file transfer support is enabled - networking support is enabled - overlayfs support is enabled - private-home support is enabled - seccomp-bpf support is enabled - user namespace support is enabled - X11 sandboxing support is enabled ```

gitea-mirror

2026-05-05 08:14:05 -06:00

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gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:08 -06:00

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@SkewedZeppelin commented on GitHub (Jan 24, 2019):

I have firefox on my system that was installed using the tar.gz package of the official site.

Why not install from package manager?

I can't start firefox using firejail firefox.

Does the tar add a launcher/binary to bin? it will only search your path like normal

When I do firejail /usr/lib/firefox/firefox I get a firefox window (yupi!) but on my terminal I still get the above message and my prompt returns to state that is when opening a terminal

If you already have an existing instance of Firefox open, it will join it, and not spawn a new one

@SkewedZeppelin commented on GitHub (Jan 24, 2019): > I have firefox on my system that was installed using the tar.gz package of the official site. Why not install from package manager? > I can't start firefox using firejail firefox. Does the tar add a launcher/binary to bin? it will only search your path like normal > When I do firejail /usr/lib/firefox/firefox I get a firefox window (yupi!) but on my terminal I still get the above message and my prompt returns to state that is when opening a terminal If you already have an existing instance of Firefox open, it will join it, and not spawn a new one

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:09 -06:00

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@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 24, 2019):

I have made sudo ln -s /my/firefox/path /usr/bin/firefox and now firejail firefox works.
Thanks

@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 24, 2019): I have made `sudo ln -s /my/firefox/path /usr/bin/firefox` and now `firejail firefox` works. Thanks

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:11 -06:00

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@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

I believe the problem was with the directory being /usr/lib/firefox/ because when I did whereis firefox it gave me:

firefox: /usr/bin/firefox /usr/lib/firefox /usr/local/bin/firefox

and /usr/lib/firefox isn't the program path, it should return /usr/lib/firefox/firefox instead.
I believe the problem comes from there.

Now, I have moved my firefox directory to another location and opening firefox through firefox.desktop is ok, running with firejail. So, no problem with that.
I have a symbolic link from /usr/local/bin/firefox to /usr/bin/firejail. To give you full information, I also have another symbolic link from /usr/bin/firefox to my new firefox path.

Now, when I run firefox it goes to /usr/local/bin/firefox -> /usr/bin/firejail so it is picking up firejail but I get this error message:

bash: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox: No such file or directory

So, it is my understanding that this error appears because firejail is grabbing the old firefox directory. I want firejail to update to the new firefox directory, how can I do that?

@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): I believe the problem was with the directory being `/usr/lib/firefox/` because when I did `whereis firefox` it gave me: ``` firefox: /usr/bin/firefox /usr/lib/firefox /usr/local/bin/firefox ``` and `/usr/lib/firefox` isn't the program path, it should return `/usr/lib/firefox/firefox` instead. I believe the problem comes from there. Now, I have moved my firefox directory to another location and opening firefox through `firefox.desktop` is ok, running with firejail. So, no problem with that. I have a symbolic link from `/usr/local/bin/firefox` to `/usr/bin/firejail`. To give you full information, I also have another symbolic link from `/usr/bin/firefox` to my new firefox path. Now, when I run `firefox` it goes to `/usr/local/bin/firefox -> /usr/bin/firejail` so it is picking up firejail but I get this error message: ``` bash: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox: No such file or directory ``` So, it is my understanding that this error appears because firejail is grabbing the old firefox directory. I want firejail to update to the new firefox directory, how can I do that?

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:12 -06:00

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@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

What does ls -lh /usr/bin/firefox give? I suspect that symbolic link points to /usr/lib/firefox/firefox...

@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): What does `ls -lh /usr/bin/firefox` give? I suspect that symbolic link points to `/usr/lib/firefox/firefox`...

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:12 -06:00

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@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

Also, to echo @SkewedZeppelin, why not just install firefox from the repositories?

@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): Also, to echo @SkewedZeppelin, why not just install `firefox` from the repositories?

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:13 -06:00

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@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

@chiraag-nataraj ls -lh /usr/bin/firefox gives the new firefox directory.
Installing firefox from the repository won't give updates to firefox automatically. I will only update firefox when the repository updates it, which is not that quick.
This is a firefox issue, I will try to create a new profile and see if that works.
Will submit this issue to firefox forum, thank you anyway 👍

@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): @chiraag-nataraj `ls -lh /usr/bin/firefox` gives the new firefox directory. Installing firefox from the repository won't give updates to firefox automatically. I will only update firefox when the repository updates it, which is not that quick. This is a firefox issue, I will try to create a new profile and see if that works. Will submit this issue to firefox forum, thank you anyway :+1:

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:13 -06:00

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@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

Installing firefox from the repository won't give updates to firefox automatically. I will only update firefox when the repository updates it, which is not that quick.

Manjaro Unstable has 66... https://repology.org/metapackage/firefox/versions

And if you only want to upgrade firefox to unstable while keeping everything else in stable, that should be possible via your package manager. What you're doing is an ugly hack because you will have to either manually check for and download updates or run firefox as root(!!) to have the autoupdater succeed. Neither is a good option.

@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): > Installing firefox from the repository won't give updates to firefox automatically. I will only update firefox when the repository updates it, which is not that quick. Manjaro Unstable has 66... https://repology.org/metapackage/firefox/versions And if you only want to upgrade `firefox` to unstable while keeping everything else in stable, that should be possible via your package manager. What you're doing is an ugly hack because you will have to either manually check for and download updates or run firefox as root(!!) to have the autoupdater succeed. Neither is a good option.

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:13 -06:00

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@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

I manually check for updates, don't mind about that.
My firefox isn't as root.
How do I install firefox as unstable and keep everything else in stable @chiraag-nataraj ?

@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): I manually check for updates, don't mind about that. My firefox isn't as root. How do I install firefox as unstable and keep everything else in stable @chiraag-nataraj ?

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:14 -06:00

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@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

I manually check for updates, don't mind about that.

This is strictly inferior to using the package manager with well-maintained packages.

How do I install firefox as unstable and keep everything else in stable @chiraag-nataraj ?

I don't know Arch or Manjaro, but I suspect there's something similar to apt's pinning mechanism in Debian.

@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): > I manually check for updates, don't mind about that. This is strictly inferior to using the package manager with well-maintained packages. > How do I install firefox as unstable and keep everything else in stable @chiraag-nataraj ? I don't know Arch or Manjaro, but I suspect there's something similar to apt's pinning mechanism in Debian.

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:14 -06:00

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@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

I stand corrected: https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php?title=System_Maintenance

@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): I stand corrected: https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php?title=System_Maintenance

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:15 -06:00

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@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

You could use the AUR...that might work?

@chiraag-nataraj commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): You could use the AUR...that might work?

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:15 -06:00

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@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019):

@chiraag-nataraj I think I will leave things as they are.
Thank you

@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 25, 2019): @chiraag-nataraj I think I will leave things as they are. Thank you

gitea-mirror commented

2026-05-05 08:14:15 -06:00

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@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 27, 2019):

I also have a firefox alias so that is why when I ran firefox on the terminal it went to /usr/lib/firefox/firefox. Just found out that.
It was a long time that I have configured that alias, so that's why I didn't remember.
Now everything is 100% well. Sorry 😅

@alexandre1985 commented on GitHub (Jan 27, 2019): I also have a `firefox` alias so that is why when I ran `firefox` on the terminal it went to /usr/lib/firefox/firefox. Just found out that. It was a long time that I have configured that alias, so that's why I didn't remember. Now everything is 100% well. Sorry :sweat_smile:

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[GH-ISSUE #2367] Firefox won't start #1578