Macos Entitlements Analyzer

macOS Entitlements Analyzer

A skill for analyzing macOS application entitlements and their security implications.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Analyzing macOS binaries for dangerous entitlements
• Assessing security risks of code-signed applications
• Investigating privilege escalation paths through entitlements
• Understanding what specific entitlements allow an application to do
• Auditing applications for TCC (TCC database) access
• Checking for SIP (System Integrity Protection) bypass capabilities
• Reviewing entitlements in the context of macOS security research

Quick Reference: Entitlement Severity

🔴 High Severity (Critical Security Impact)

🟡 Medium Severity (Significant Security Impact)

How to Extract Entitlements

From a Code-Signed Binary

# Extract entitlements from a binary
codesign -d --entitlements :- /path/to/binary > entitlements.xml

# Or for an app bundle
codesign -d --entitlements :- /path/to/App.app/Contents/MacOS/Executable > entitlements.xml

Parse Entitlements Programmatically

Use the extract_entitlements.sh script (see scripts/) to:

• Extract entitlements from a binary
• Check against known dangerous entitlements
• Generate a risk assessment

Analysis Workflow

Step 1: Extract Entitlements

# Run the extraction script
./scripts/extract_entitlements.sh /path/to/binary

Step 2: Review High-Risk Entitlements

Check for these critical entitlements first:

1. SIP Bypass: com.apple.rootless.install*
2. Process Injection: com.apple.system-task-ports, com.apple.security.get-task-allow
3. TCC Manipulation: com.apple.private.tcc.manager, kTCCService*
4. Library Loading: com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation
5. Full Disk Access: kTCCServiceSystemPolicyAllFiles

Step 3: Assess Privilege Escalation Paths

Step 4: Check for Combined Risks

Some entitlement combinations are especially dangerous:

• com.apple.security.cs.debugger + com.apple.security.get-task-allow: Full code injection capability
• kTCCServiceAccessibility + kTCCServiceAppleEvents: Complete UI automation and app control
• com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation + com.apple.security.cs.allow-dyld-environment-variables: Multiple code injection vectors

Common Use Cases

Case 1: Auditing a Suspicious Application

# Extract and analyze
codesign -d --entitlements :- /Applications/SuspiciousApp.app/Contents/MacOS/SuspiciousApp > /tmp/entitlements.xml
./scripts/extract_entitlements.sh /Applications/SuspiciousApp.app/Contents/MacOS/SuspiciousApp

Case 2: Checking for iCloud Token Access

Look for com.apple.private.icloud-account-access - this allows communication with iCloudHelper XPC service to obtain iCloud tokens. Known to be present in iMovie and GarageBand.

Case 3: TCC Database Manipulation

Check for:

• com.apple.private.tcc.manager
• com.apple.rootless.storage.TCC
• kTCCServiceEndpointSecurityClient

These allow modification of the TCC database, which controls privacy permissions.

Important Notes

Apple-Only Entitlements

Entitlements starting with com.apple are typically reserved for Apple. However:

• Enterprise certificates can create custom com.apple.* entitlements
• This can bypass protections that check for Apple-signed binaries

TCC Services

TCC (Transparency, Consent, and Control) services control privacy permissions:

Trustcache/CDhash Bypass

Some entitlements can bypass Trustcache/CDhash protections that prevent execution of downgraded Apple binaries. Research ongoing.

Example Analysis Output

=== Entitlement Analysis ===
Binary: /Applications/Example.app/Contents/MacOS/Example

🔴 HIGH RISK ENTITLEMENTS FOUND:
- com.apple.security.get-task-allow: Allows code injection
- kTCCServiceAccessibility: Can control UI and approve dialogs

🟡 MEDIUM RISK ENTITLEMENTS:
- com.apple.security.cs.allow-jit: Writable+executable memory

✅ No critical SIP bypass entitlements
✅ No TCC database modification entitlements

RECOMMENDATION: Review code injection capabilities and accessibility permissions

Scripts Available

• scripts/extract_entitlements.sh - Extract and analyze entitlements from a binary
• scripts/check_dangerous_entitlements.sh - Check for known dangerous entitlements

References

• Apple Entitlements Documentation
• Objective-See TCC Research
• Wojciech Regula TCC Bypass
• The Evil Bit - clear-library-validation
• JHFTSS - APFS Snapshot Research