On Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon Firefox how to force bypass the HSTS attached warning?

> cdn.redhat.com has a security policy called HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS), which means that Firefox can only connect to it securely. You can’t add an exception to visit this site.
Jun 9, 7:29pm

On Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon, bypassing the HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) warning in Firefox is not recommended due to security risks. HSTS is designed to protect you from man-in-the-middle attacks, and bypassing it could expose you to serious security threats, such as data theft or phishing.

However, if you absolutely must access the site for testing or troubleshooting purposes, here are the steps to temporarily bypass the HSTS warning in Firefox:

Method 1: Clear HSTS Data for the Site

  1. Open Firefox and type about:config in the address bar, then press Enter.
  2. Accept the warning if prompted.
  3. In the search bar, type: 
    text
    security.cert_pinning.enforcement_level
    Set this value to 0 (this disables certificate pinning enforcement temporarily).
  4. Next, search for: 
    text
    security.cert_pinning.hsts_priming
    Set this to false.
  5. Clear HSTS data for the specific site:
    • Type about:preferences#privacy in the address bar.
    • Scroll down to Certificates and click View Certificates.
    • Go to the Servers tab, find cdn.redhat.com, and delete it.
  6. Restart Firefox and try accessing the site again.

Method 2: Use a Private Window with HSTS Disabled

  1. Close all Firefox windows.
  2. Open a terminal and run: 
    bash
    firefox --private-window --no-remote --new-instance about:config
  3. In the about:config page, search for: 
    text
    security.cert_pinning.enforcement_level
    Set it to 0.
  4. Now, open a new private window and try accessing the site.

Method 3: Use a Different Browser or Profile

  • Use a browser like Chromium or Chrome (if installed) to access the site, as they may handle HSTS differently.
  • Alternatively, create a new Firefox profile and try accessing the site there.

Method 4: Temporarily Disable HSTS (Advanced)

  1. Open a terminal and navigate to your Firefox profile directory (usually ~/.mozilla/firefox/).
  2. Locate the SiteSecurityServiceState.txt file in your profile folder.
  3. Back up this file, then delete it.
  4. Restart Firefox. This will reset all HSTS settings, but they will be re-learned as you browse.

Important Notes

  • Security Risk: Bypassing HSTS exposes you to potential attacks. Only do this if you fully trust the site and understand the risks.
  • Temporary Fix: These methods are not permanent. Firefox will re-enforce HSTS policies after a while.
  • Error Code: The error SEC_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ISSUER suggests the site's certificate is not trusted by Firefox. This could be due to a misconfiguration on the server side.

Recommended Action

If you are trying to access cdn.redhat.com, check if:

  • The site is actually down or misconfigured (you can test with SSL Labs).
  • You are on a corporate network that may be intercepting traffic. If so, contact your IT team.
Jun 9, 7:29pm

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