Bug#654781: iceweasel: Certain plugins (e.g. Flash) fail to work when Iceweasel is started from within Icedove

[Mike Hommey]

On Thu, Jan 05, 2012 at 12:46:48PM -0500, Richard Fuchs wrote:
> Package: iceweasel
> Version: 10.0~b2-1
> Severity: important
> Tags: patch
> 
> Dear Maintainer,
> 
> When I follow a web link in Icedove and Iceweasel isn't running yet, Iceweasel
> will start and load the requested page. However, this instance of Iceweasel
> will then have a non-functional Flash plugin. Loading a page with an embedded
> Flash element (in any window, any tab) will cause Iceweasel to freeze up for
> >30 seconds and finally proceed loading the page without showing the Flash
> element. This also happens after closing Icedove.
> 
> Closing Iceweasel, restarting it manually (e.g. from the menu) and reloading
> the same page (then, even if it's loaded by following the link in Icedove, just
> like before) results in a working Flash once again.
> 
> My version of Icedove is 3.1.16-1. This bug is a result of library interference
> between Icedove and Iceweasel, so I'm not sure if it should be reported for
> Icedove instead. However, since I'm seeing the effect in Iceweasel, I'm
> reporting it here for now. Also, this isn't specific to Flash, other plugins
> are likely to be affected as well.
> 
> It's caused by Icedove setting LD_LIBRARY_PATH to its own directory in
> /usr/lib/icedove/run-mozilla.sh and not clearing the variable when launching
> external programs. Since Iceweasel partially uses libraries with the same
> names, it ends up loading the wrong ones (the ones from the Icedove directory)
> which causes the symptoms.
> 
> Workaround for me is to edit /usr/lib/iceweasel/iceweasel and add "export
> LD_LIBRARY_PATH=" as first executed line. Alternatively, Icedove could clear
> this variable before launching other programs.

Icedove should stop setting LD_LIBRARY_PATH.

Mike