Error opening launched browsers installed with alternative packages

[jay-crnwll]

Describe the bug

The error message "The provided browser was not found" is returned when clicking on 'Launch Browser' in automated or manual scans. This looks to only occur when the web browser (in my case Firefox) was install through the Microsft Store in WIndows 11.

Steps to reproduce the behavior

1. Remove any installed versions of FIrefox (or have a fresh install of Windows 11)
2. Install Firefox from the Microsoft Store.
3. Run Zaproxy.
4. Enter a url in either the automated scan tab or manual tab.
5. Click on 'Launch browser' button.
6. The mentioned error message will/should appear.

Expected behavior

The relevant browser (i.e. Firefox or Chrome) should appear.

Software versions

Version 2.11.1

Screenshots

No response

Errors from the zap.log file

No response

Additional context

In my instance, uninstalling the browser and reinstalling it using the install app from the mozilla download page resolved this issue.

Would you like to help fix this issue?

• Yes

[kingthorin]

I’ll try to see if I can find a Win 11 VM to test this on.

[jay-crnwll]

I'm assuming the geckodriver driver is looking for the firefox executable in "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox" folder. But when Firefox is installed via the Microsoft store the exe is located somewhere else.

[thc202]

The locations of the browser binaries can be specified in the options: https://www.zaproxy.org/docs/desktop/addons/selenium/options/

That geckodriver is not finding the binary is not really a ZAP issue (geckodriver checks the registry: https://firefox-source-docs.mozilla.org/testing/geckodriver/Flags.html#code-b-var-binary-var-code-code-binary-var-binary-var-code ).

[psiinon]

@caladanjc where was Firefox installed?
We could potentially check this location on Windows as a special case...

[kingthorin]

Are you able to start Firefox from a command prompt or power shell? (Ex: is it in %path% ?)

Edit: When installed from the store.

[thc202]

Better raise an issue with geckodriver rather than add workarounds in ZAP, IMO.

[jay-crnwll]

My apologies, I thought the driver was created by Zap developers. I'll inform the relevant people(s).

In the meantime however, do you think it might be an idea to mention in the install process/steps that if any browsers that have been installed via Microsoft Store that it might not work as expected and that the user will/may need to use the direct install apps instead.....just an idea :-)

[psiinon]

I'm always in favour for improving the docs :)
The existing help is https://www.zaproxy.org/docs/desktop/addons/selenium/options/
How do you think we could improve it?

[njmulsqb]

I am facing this error with my Ubuntu 22.04, it throws this error straightaway when opening firefox via manual explore whereas chrome opens but it also closes after few minutes itself stating "provided browser not found"

OS: Ubuntu 22.04
Version: 2.11.1

[thc202]

Tweaked the issue title to make it more generic. This is not an issue in ZAP but the WebDrivers which should cope with the browsers installed differently.

For geckodriver with snap that's mozilla/geckodriver#2010.

[njmulsqb]

I am facing this error with my Ubuntu 22.04, it throws this error straightaway when opening firefox via manual explore whereas chrome opens but it also closes after few minutes itself stating "provided browser not found"

OS: Ubuntu 22.04 Version: 2.11.1

The issue is, Ubuntu now by default is using snap to install packages, even if you run sudo apt install chromium-browser it instead of fetching from apt repository, runs snap process in the backend.
Firefox is also installed via Snap, so ZAP is unable to run both of these on Ubuntu 22.04

[kingthorin]

I was finally able to test this on a Win 11 VM.

I was able to work around the issue by setting the path to the Firefox binary in ZAP's options:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Mozilla.Firefox_100.0.1.0_x64__n80bbvh6b1yt2\VFS\ProgramFiles\Firefox Package Root\Firefox.exe it would be my guess that the middle part is not static/stable due to inclusion of version # and what I'm guessing is a profile ID or something 🤷 You can get the appropriate path by launching firefox and getting properties on one of it's threads.

Highlight and copy the whole "Location:" value. (You can set the insertion point somewhere on the line then use the home button then shift + end to highlight the whole thing, ctrl+c/ctrl+v to deal with it.)

[njmulsqb]

I have provided locations for both chromium and firefox browser in selenium section but still its not working, currently I am unable to use both browsers in Zap on ubuntu. Any other workaround?

[thc202]

You might need to use other paths when using snap, for Firefox it seems to be /snap/firefox/current/firefox.launcher (from geckodriver code).

[thc202]

For the record, the referenced geckodriver issue was already addressed but not yet released.