error "unexpected type, use Uint8Array" occur

[martgil]

Description: A user reportedly receiving the following error message when decrypting an email:

Meanwhile, the same user is able to read the encrypted content through the FlowCrypt extension page (inbox.htm).

It's like an isolated case though.

---

Reference: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/human@flowcrypt.com/#inbox/FMfcgzQbfpFXXfGDrxXgzqwXhZslkFTg

[martgil]

The user added that he receives the exact decryption error message when opening all messages:

It happens with all encrypted mails, even with the ones I sent previously.

[sosnovsky]

Hi @martgil, it can be some key-specific issue, can you please ask user to go to FlowCrypt extension settings > Additional Settings > Experimental > Test OpenPGP Key Compatibility and check key compatibility there.
Maybe compatibility report will have some useful information.
By the way, does this error occur only when decrypting messages, but not when composing and sending new encrypted messages?

[martgil]

Thanks for reviewing this issue @sosnovsky. I can provide you the test result against his pubkey (reacted PII):

(1) Primary keys found: 1
(2) ----- Testing key 0 -----
(3) PK 0 > Key type: openpgp
(4) PK 0 > Is Private?: [-] false
(5) PK 0 > User id 0: [REDACTED NAME] <[REDACTED EMAIL]>
(6) PK 0 > Primary User: [REDACTED NAME] <[REDACTED EMAIL]>
(7) PK 0 > Fingerprint: [REDACTED FINGERPRINT]
(8) PK 0 > Subkeys: [-] 1
(9) PK 0 > Primary key algo: [-] eddsaLegacy
(10) PK 0 > Usage flags: [-] [sign_data, certify_keys]
(11) PK 0 > Primary key verify: [-] valid
(12) PK 0 > Primary key creation?: [-] 1725009295 or 2024-08-30T09:14:55.000Z
(13) PK 0 > Primary key expiration?: [-] -
(14) PK 0 > Primary key getBitSize?: [-] -
(15) PK 0 > Encrypt/Decrypt test: Encryption with key was successful:
(16) PK 0 > Encrypt/Decrypt test: Skipping decryption because isPrivate:false isFullyDecrypted:unknown:
(17) PK 0 > SK 0 > LongId: [-] [REDACTED LONGID]
(18) PK 0 > SK 0 > Created: [-] 1725009295 or 2024-08-30T09:14:55.000Z
(19) PK 0 > SK 0 > Algo: [-] ecdh
(20) PK 0 > SK 0 > Usage flags: [-] [encrypt_communication, encrypt_storage]
(21) PK 0 > SK 0 > Verify: [-] OK
(22) PK 0 > SK 0 > Subkey object type: [-] PublicSubkeyPacket
(23) PK 0 > SK 0 > Subkey getBitSize: [-] -
(24) PK 0 > SK 0 > Subkey decrypted: [-] null
(25) PK 0 > SK 0 > Binding signature length: [-] 1
(26) PK 0 > SK 0 > SIG 0 > Key flags: [-] 12
(27) PK 0 > SK 0 > SIG 0 > Version: [-] 4
(28) PK 0 > SK 0 > SIG 0 > Public key algorithm: [-] 22
(29) PK 0 > SK 0 > SIG 0 > Sig creation time: [-] 1725009295 or 2024-08-30T09:14:55.000Z
(30) PK 0 > SK 0 > SIG 0 > Sig expiration time: [-] -
(31) PK 0 > SK 0 > SIG 0 > Verify: [-] valid
(32) PK 0 > expiration: [-] -
(33) PK 0 > internal dateBeforeExpiration: [-] -
(34) PK 0 > internal usableForEncryption: [-] true
(35) PK 0 > internal usableForSigning: [-] true
(36) PK 0 > internal usableForEncryptionButExpired: [-] false
(37) PK 0 > internal usableForSigningButExpired: [-] false

By the way, does this error occur only when decrypting messages, but not when composing and sending new encrypted messages?

Based on our conversation, it seemed to be that it happened only when decrypting the message. But I've had asked him to confirm that.

[martgil]

The user confirmed that the issue occurred only when decrypting emails in Gmail. In the meantime, they used the extension page to read the encrypted email.

Yes, that is correct.

Kind regards,
Flo***

[sosnovsky]

Thanks for reviewing this issue @sosnovsky. I can provide you the test result against his pubkey

And what about his private key? Can you please ask user to check it's compatibility using Additional Settings > Experimental > Test OpenPGP Key Compatibility, as there can be some issues with it causing decryption fails.

[sosnovsky]

Hi @ioanmo226, user reported an issue that started occurring a couple of weeks ago (probably after user extension was updated to 8.5.11) - message decryption fails on Gmail page, but works well in FlowCrypt extension Secure Inbox page.
Can you please check it. Maybe there were some changes in message decryption code which affected only Gmail pages in the latest release?

[martgil]

I'll follow up with the user once more, though I'm not confident the key itself is the issue, since the decryption process works fine on the FlowCrypt extension page. Perhaps there's a discrepancy between the decryption process in the extension page and the Gmail content script?

[ioanatflowcrypt]

I still suspect this might be key related issue.
As other users including me can't reproduce this issue.
I've tried several keys (including legacy keys) but all succeed.

[martgil]

Thanks, @ioanatflowcrypt. It’s been a week since we sent our last follow-up. I’ll give it another try and reach out to him - hopefully, we’ll hear back soon.

[martgil]

Hello @ioanatflowcrypt, they just responded to your follow-up. I’ve forwarded you their key as well as the test results. However, I should mention that the test results are identical to what I previously shared in this repo.