IOS Entitlements Extractor

iOS Entitlements Extractor

Extract entitlements and mobile provision files from compiled iOS application binaries, even when direct file access isn't available.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• You need to extract .entitlements files from an iOS app binary
• You're analyzing an IPA file or installed app on a jailbroken device
• You're performing iOS security testing (MASVS-PLATFORM compliance)
• You need to review embedded permissions in a compiled app
• The entitlements file isn't directly accessible and must be extracted from the binary

Prerequisites

• Access to the app binary (from IPA, jailbroken device, or decrypted binary)
• One of the following tools installed:
  • binwalk (recommended for XML extraction)
  • radare2 (for string searching)
  • grep (for quick searches on jailbroken devices)
• For encrypted binaries: Clutch, frida-ios-dump, or similar decryption tools

Extraction Methods

Method 1: Using Binwalk (Recommended for XML Extraction)

Binwalk can extract all embedded XML files from the binary:

binwalk -e -y=xml <path-to-binary>

Example:

$ binwalk -e -y=xml ./Telegram\ X

DECIMAL       HEXADECIMAL     DESCRIPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1430180       0x15D2A4        XML document, version: "1.0"
1458814       0x16427E        XML document, version: "1.0"

What to do next:

1. Note the hex addresses where XML documents are found
2. Extract the plist at those offsets using a hex editor or dd command
3. Look for entitlements-related content (keys like application-identifier, keychain-access-groups, etc.)

Method 2: Using Radare2 (String Search)

Radare2 can search for PropertyList strings in the binary:

r2 -qc 'izz~PropertyList' <path-to-binary>

Example:

$ r2 -qc 'izz~PropertyList' ./Telegram\ X

0x0015d2a4 ascii <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>...
0x0016427d ascii H<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>...

What to do next:

1. Use the hex addresses to extract the full plist content
2. The first occurrence is typically the entitlements file
3. Parse the XML to review embedded permissions

Method 3: Using Grep (Jailbroken Devices)

On jailbroken devices accessed via SSH, use grep with the -a flag to treat binaries as text:

grep -a -A 5 'PropertyList' /var/containers/Bundle/Application/<app-path>/<binary-name>

Adjusting output:

• Use -A <num> to show more or fewer lines after the match
• Example: grep -a -A 20 'PropertyList' <binary> for more context

Why this works:

• The -a flag treats all files as ASCII text
• Works even on encrypted app binaries
• Verified against multiple App Store apps

Important Notes

Don't Use strings Directly

Avoid using the strings command for this task. It has limitations in finding relevant entitlements information. Instead:

• Use grep -a on the binary
• Use radare2's izz command
• Use rabin2's -zz flag

Handling Encrypted Binaries

If the above methods fail on encrypted binaries:

1. Use Clutch (if compatible with the iOS version)
2. Use frida-ios-dump to decrypt and extract the app
3. Then apply the extraction methods above

Expected Entitlements Content

Look for these common entitlements keys:

• application-identifier - App's bundle identifier
• keychain-access-groups - Keychain sharing groups
• com.apple.developer.team-identifier - Developer team ID
• com.apple.security.app-sandbox - Sandbox status
• com.apple.security.files.user-selected.read-only - File access permissions
• com.apple.security.network.client - Network access

Quick Reference Script

For automated extraction, use the bundled script:

./scripts/extract-entitlements.sh <path-to-binary>

This script:

1. Checks for available tools (binwalk, radare2, grep)
2. Attempts extraction using the best available method
3. Outputs the extracted entitlements to a readable format

Security Testing Context

This extraction technique is part of the OWASP MASVS-PLATFORM security testing guidelines, specifically MASTG-TEST-0069 for reviewing entitlements embedded in compiled app binaries.

Troubleshooting

No XML found with binwalk:

• Try radare2 method instead
• The binary may be heavily obfuscated
• Consider decrypting first if encrypted

Grep returns nothing:

• Verify the binary path is correct
• Try grep -a -i 'entitlement' as an alternative search
• Check if the app is encrypted and needs decryption first

Extracted content is garbled:

• The binary may be encrypted
• Use Clutch or frida-ios-dump to decrypt first
• Verify you're extracting from the correct offset