Fix bugs related to strict privacy settings in browsers by zner0L · Pull Request #1166 · datenanfragen/website

zner0L · 2024-11-06T20:55:03Z

This should also fix the Error: No available storage method found. that was reported via email several times.

cypress · 2024-11-06T21:06:14Z

datenanfragen/website Run #8314

Run Properties: Passed #8314 • 29b24bded4: Fixed #1014, #1089: Skip errors we can not control

Project	`datenanfragen/website`
Branch Review	`z_indexeddb_bug`
Run status	`Passed #8314`
Run duration	`03m 41s`
Commit	`29b24bded4: Fixed #1014, #1089: Skip errors we can not control`
Committer	`Lorenz Sieben`
View all properties for this run ↗︎

Test results
Failures	`0`
Flaky	`1`
Pending	`8`
Skipped	`0`
Passing	`80`
View all changes introduced in this branch ↗︎

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T13:45:26Z

+};
+
 export class SavedIdData {
+    // Get rid of localforage at some point.


Should this be a TODO comment?

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T13:50:42Z

 type KeyValueDatabase = IDBPDatabase<{ [key: string]: string }>;

+const errorFilter = (e: Error) =>
+    // These migh be caused if IndexedDB is disabled in Firefox


Suggested change

// These migh be caused if IndexedDB is disabled in Firefox

// These might be caused if IndexedDB is disabled in Firefox

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T13:52:30Z

+    // These migh be caused if IndexedDB is disabled in Firefox
+    e.name === 'InvalidStateError' ||
+    e.name === 'SecurityError' ||
+    // We couldn’t identify the cause for this error, but it seems to be caused by problem in the browser, so there is


Suggested change

// We couldn’t identify the cause for this error, but it seems to be caused by problem in the browser, so there is

// We couldn’t identify the cause for this error, but it seems to be caused by a problem in the browser, so there is

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T13:59:46Z

+            }
+        } catch (e) {
+            if (e instanceof Error && errorFilter(e)) {
                return;


Is there a reason we're returning undefined instead of false here?

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T14:00:47Z

+            {!navigator.cookieEnabled ? (
+                <div className="box box-info">
+                    <Text id="explanation-cookies-disabled" />
+                </div>
+            ) : (
+                <></>
+            )}


Suggested change

{!navigator.cookieEnabled ? (

<div className="box box-info">

<Text id="explanation-cookies-disabled" />

</div>

) : (

<></>

)}

{!navigator.cookieEnabled && (

<div className="box box-info">

<Text id="explanation-cookies-disabled" />

</div>

)}

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T15:47:32Z

I've been trying really hard to trigger the errors this PR guards against (by using a build without this changes, of course) but just have not been successful.

I've tried (unsuccessfully) to hit the Uncaught UnknownError: Internal error. (#1014 (comment)).

I've also tried to trigger the other errors related to IDB being disabled. Here's what I tried:

In Firefox 144.0:

Use in private window (works without issues)
Tools -> Page Info -> Permissions -> Store data in persistent storage: Block (doesn't seem to have any effect, neither in normal nor private window)
In about:config, disable dom.indexedDB.privateBrowsing.enabled (in private window, storage correctly falls back to local storage, I didn't notice any issues)
Disabling IDB specifically isn't possible anymore since Firefox 72 (https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1488583)
In about:preferences#privacy, set "Enhanced Tracking Protection" to custom and the maximum: especially "Block all cookies (will cause websites to break)", disable "fix major site issues" (the privacy controls for "My requests" and "Saved ID data" are automatically disabled correctly, if I try to enable them, they are reset on the next load)
- Trying to reproduce the DNT bug also isn't possible anymore since Firefox has removed DNT support (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-turn-do-not-track-feature)
In about:preferences#privacy, set History -> "Firefox will" to "Use custom settings for history" and enable "Always use private browsing mode", via (works without issues)

In Tor Browser 14.5.8 (based on Mozilla Firefox 128.14.0esr), using the hosted site:

Use regularly (works without issues)
In about:preferences#privacy, under "Cookies and Site Data", click "Manage exceptions" and block https://www.datarequests.org (has no effect, we do still data in IDB without issues, lol)
Tools -> Page Info -> Permissions -> Store data in persistent storage: Block (doesn't seem to have any effect, either)

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T15:54:10Z

I've finally been able to trigger an error in Chromium 141.0.7390.54 (Official Build) snap (64-bit)!

In chrome://settings/content/siteData, enable "Don't allow sites to save data on your device (not recommended)".

This causes a lot of errors to be thrown when visiting any page:

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught UnknownError: The user denied permission to access the database.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "code": 0,
        "message": "The user denied permission to access the database.",
        "description": "Unexpected error while opening IndexedDB in PrivacyAsyncStorage.getDb",
        "name": "UnknownError",
        "enduser_message": "An unexpected error occured while trying to access the database in your browser.",
        "context": {
            "options": {
                "storeName": "proceedings",
                "name": "Datenanfragen.de"
            }
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught UnknownError: The user denied permission to access the database.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "code": 0,
        "message": "The user denied permission to access the database.",
        "description": "Unexpected error while opening IndexedDB in PrivacyAsyncStorage.getDb",
        "name": "UnknownError",
        "enduser_message": "An unexpected error occured while trying to access the database in your browser.",
        "context": {
            "options": {
                "storeName": "proceedings",
                "name": "Datenanfragen.de"
            }
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught Error: No available storage method found.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "message": "No available storage method found.",
        "description": "Could not retrieve all fixed id_data",
        "name": "Error",
        "stack": "Error: No available storage method found.\n    at driverPromiseLoop (webpack-internal:///./node_modules/localforage/dist/localforage.js:2718:33)",
        "context": {
            "desc": "Email address"
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught Error: No available storage method found.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "message": "No available storage method found.",
        "description": "Could not retrieve all fixed id_data",
        "name": "Error",
        "stack": "Error: No available storage method found.\n    at driverPromiseLoop (webpack-internal:///./node_modules/localforage/dist/localforage.js:2718:33)",
        "context": {
            "desc": "Email address"
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught Error: No available storage method found.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "message": "No available storage method found.",
        "description": "Could not retrieve all fixed id_data",
        "name": "Error",
        "stack": "Error: No available storage method found.\n    at driverPromiseLoop (webpack-internal:///./node_modules/localforage/dist/localforage.js:2718:33)",
        "context": {
            "desc": "Email address"
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught Error: No available storage method found.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "message": "No available storage method found.",
        "description": "Could not retrieve all fixed id_data",
        "name": "Error",
        "stack": "Error: No available storage method found.\n    at driverPromiseLoop (webpack-internal:///./node_modules/localforage/dist/localforage.js:2718:33)",
        "context": {
            "desc": "Email address"
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught Error: No available storage method found.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "message": "No available storage method found.",
        "description": "Could not retrieve all fixed id_data",
        "name": "Error",
        "stack": "Error: No available storage method found.\n    at driverPromiseLoop (webpack-internal:///./node_modules/localforage/dist/localforage.js:2718:33)",
        "context": {
            "desc": "Email address"
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught Error: No available storage method found.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "message": "No available storage method found.",
        "description": "Could not retrieve all fixed id_data",
        "name": "Error",
        "stack": "Error: No available storage method found.\n    at driverPromiseLoop (webpack-internal:///./node_modules/localforage/dist/localforage.js:2718:33)",
        "context": {
            "desc": "Email address"
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught Error: No available storage method found.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "message": "No available storage method found.",
        "description": "Could not retrieve all fixed id_data",
        "name": "Error",
        "stack": "Error: No available storage method found.\n    at driverPromiseLoop (webpack-internal:///./node_modules/localforage/dist/localforage.js:2718:33)",
        "context": {
            "desc": "Email address"
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught UnknownError: The user denied permission to access the database.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "code": 0,
        "message": "The user denied permission to access the database.",
        "description": "Unexpected error while opening IndexedDB in PrivacyAsyncStorage.getDb",
        "name": "UnknownError",
        "enduser_message": "An unexpected error occured while trying to access the database in your browser.",
        "context": {
            "options": {
                "storeName": "proceedings",
                "name": "Datenanfragen.de"
            }
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught UnknownError: The user denied permission to access the database.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "code": 0,
        "message": "The user denied permission to access the database.",
        "description": "Unexpected error while opening IndexedDB in PrivacyAsyncStorage.getDb",
        "name": "UnknownError",
        "enduser_message": "An unexpected error occured while trying to access the database in your browser.",
        "context": {
            "options": {
                "storeName": "proceedings",
                "name": "Datenanfragen.de"
            }
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

Debug information:

{
    "message": "Uncaught UnknownError: The user denied permission to access the database.",
    "type": "error",
    "colno": 5,
    "filename": "webpack-internal:///./src/Utility/errors.ts",
    "lineno": 47,
    "error": {
        "code": 0,
        "message": "The user denied permission to access the database.",
        "description": "Error in doesStoreExist",
        "name": "UnknownError",
        "enduser_message": "An unexpected error occured while trying to access the database in your browser.",
        "context": {
            "name": "Datenanfragen.de",
            "storeName": "my-requests"
        }
    },
    "defaultPrevented": false,
    "eventPhase": 2,
    "isTrusted": true,
    "returnValue": true,
    "code_version": "1.0.0",
    "user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/141.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
    "url": {
        "ancestorOrigins": {},
        "href": "http://localhost:1314/id-data-controls/",
        "origin": "http://localhost:1314",
        "protocol": "http:",
        "host": "localhost:1314",
        "hostname": "localhost",
        "port": "1314",
        "pathname": "/id-data-controls/",
        "search": "",
        "hash": ""
    }
}

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T15:56:03Z

The Chromium "Don't allow sites to save data on your device (not recommended)" problem is not fixed by this PR.

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T16:07:39Z

With this setting, there is also another error that isn't fixed by this PR, either:

For some reason, the error handler doesn't include that error and trying to copy it from the dev tools produces useless output, so here's a screenshot of the error object:

This is fact happens whenever you try to access window.localStorage:

And, for some reason, navigator.cookieEnabled is true:

baltpeter · 2025-10-14T16:14:48Z

Alright, to summarize:

I'm almost convinced that (currently, who knows what will happen in the future), it isn't possible to reproduce the problems wrt disabling site storage in Firefox anymore. But I don't mind us guarding against them just in case.
The Internal error. problem is probably still possible but you need to hit some really unusual edge cases, which from my research, no-one else has been able to do deliberately, either. But I am confident that the changes in this PR handle this case as well as we can.
If the Chromium problem is fixed and my minor nits above are addressed, I am happy to merge this (finally, sorry :|).

zner0L requested a review from baltpeter November 6, 2024 20:55

zner0L changed the title ~~Properly handle disabled cookies in the privacy controls~~ Fix bugs related to strict privacy settings in browsers Nov 6, 2024

zner0L mentioned this pull request Nov 6, 2024

Investigate "Uncaught UnknownError: Internal error." #1014

Open

zner0L added 3 commits October 14, 2025 15:43

Properly handle disabled cookies in the privacy controls

0b09a58

Bugfix: Do not throw on No available storage method found

a0e12da

Fixed #1014, #1089: Skip errors we can not control

29b24bd

baltpeter force-pushed the z_indexeddb_bug branch from b26df09 to 29b24bd Compare October 14, 2025 13:43

baltpeter reviewed Oct 14, 2025

View reviewed changes

baltpeter mentioned this pull request Oct 22, 2025

Don't error if user has disabled all site storage in their browser #924

Merged

baltpeter linked an issue Oct 22, 2025 that may be closed by this pull request

JS error (Uncaught UnknownError: The user denied permission to access the database.) #1169

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Fix bugs related to strict privacy settings in browsers#1166

Fix bugs related to strict privacy settings in browsers#1166
zner0L wants to merge 3 commits intomasterfrom
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	// These migh be caused if IndexedDB is disabled in Firefox
	// These might be caused if IndexedDB is disabled in Firefox

	// We couldn’t identify the cause for this error, but it seems to be caused by problem in the browser, so there is
	// We couldn’t identify the cause for this error, but it seems to be caused by a problem in the browser, so there is

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datenanfragen/website Run #8314

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cypress bot commented Nov 6, 2024 •

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baltpeter commented Oct 14, 2025 •

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