Re:Why HTTPS Everywhere isn't on addons.mozilla.org
by pserwylo on Wednesday November 26, 2014 @12:18AM
(#8661185)
> If the code was signed using a key that isn't kept on the server (normally a code signing key will be kept on a developer's computer, and often protected by a password so it rarely exists in memory unencrypted)
And to take this even further, you have the option of keeping the key on a machine that is completely disconnected from any network. In addition, this machine could use a Hardware Security Module to further increase the security of the signing key.
For a concrete example, consider the case where the server is compromised and an attacker wants to insert malware. HTTPS does nothing at all to help, here. The attacker has control over the server and can make it serve whatever it wants, and since the server still has its normal certificate and key, the attacker's malware-infested code will show up just like legitimate stuff would. If the code was signed using a key that isn't kept on the server (normally a code signing key will be kept on a developer's computer, and often protected by a password so it rarely exists in memory unencrypted) then the attacker can't force the server to serve malware that will be accepted by downloaders.