macOS App Analysis

A comprehensive skill for inspecting, debugging, and fuzzing macOS applications and binaries.

Quick Start

# Analyze a binary
analyze-macos-binary.sh /path/to/binary

# Check code signature
check-signature.sh /path/to/binary

# Enumerate network processes
enumerate-network-procs.sh

# Set up fuzzing environment
setup-fuzzing.sh

Static Analysis

Binary Inspection Tools

otool - Native macOS binary analysis:

otool -L /path/to/binary          # List dynamically linked libraries
otool -tv /path/to/binary         # Disassemble application
otool -ov /path/to/binary         # Dump Objective-C metadata
otool -l /path/to/binary          # List load commands (sections)

objdump - GNU binary utilities:

objdump -m --dylibs-used /path/to/binary    # List dynamically linked libraries
objdump -m -h /path/to/binary               # Get headers information
objdump -m --syms /path/to/binary           # Check symbol table
objdump -m --full-contents /path/to/binary  # Dump every section
objdump -d /path/to/binary                  # Disassemble the binary
objdump --disassemble-symbols=_func --x86-asm-syntax=intel /path/to/binary

nm - Symbol listing:

nm -m /path/to/binary           # List of symbols
nm --dyldinfo-only /path/to/binary  # Dynamic linker info

Disarm (jtool2 successor)

Download from: https://newosxbook.com/tools/disarm.html

export JCOLOR=1
ARCH=arm64e disarm -c -i -I --signature /path/to/binary  # Get binary info and signature
ARCH=arm64e disarm -c -l /path/to/binary                 # Get binary sections
ARCH=arm64e disarm -c -L /path/to/binary                 # Get binary commands (dependencies)
ARCH=arm64e disarm -c -S /path/to/binary                 # Get symbols (func names, strings)
ARCH=arm64e disarm -c -d /path/to/binary                 # Get disassembled code

disarm -e filesets kernelcache.release.d23              # Extract filesets from kernelcache
JDEBUG=1 disarm -e filesets kernelcache.release.d23     # Extract with debug info
disarm -r "code signature" /path/to/binary              # Check code signature
disarm -e "code signature" /path/to/binary              # Extract code signature

Code Signing Analysis

codesign (macOS):

# Get signer information
codesign -vv -d /path/to/binary 2>&1 | grep -E "Authority|TeamIdentifier"

# Verify app contents haven't been modified
codesign --verify --verbose /path/to/app.app

# Get entitlements from binary
codesign -d --entitlements :- /path/to/binary

# Check if signature is valid
spctl --assess --verbose /path/to/app.app

# Sign a binary
codesign -s <cert-name-keychain> /path/to/binary

# Remove signature (for debugging)
codesign --remove-signature /path/to/binary

ldid (iOS/macOS):

ldid -h /path/to/binary          # Get signature info
ldid -e /path/to/binary          # Get entitlements
ldid -S /path/to/entitlements.xml /path/to/binary  # Change entitlements

Package and Disk Image Analysis

SuspiciousPackage - Inspect .pkg installers:

• Download: https://mothersruin.com/software/SuspiciousPackage/get.html
• Check preinstall/postinstall scripts for persistence mechanisms

hdiutil - Mount disk images:

hdiutil attach ~/Downloads/file.dmg
# Mounted in /Volumes/
hdiutil detach /Volumes/VolumeName

Detecting Packed Binaries

Look for these indicators:

• High entropy in binary sections
• Almost no readable strings
• UPX packer creates

  __XHDR

  section on macOS

# Check entropy
otool -l /path/to/binary | grep -A 5 "__XHDR"
strings /path/to/binary | wc -l  # Low string count suggests packing

Objective-C Analysis

Understanding objc_msgSend

When Objective-C methods are called, they use

objc_msgSend

Dumping Objective-C Metadata

Dynadump (recommended):

./dynadump dump /path/to/binary

class-dump (legacy):

class-dump /path/to/binary > output.h

iCDump (modern, cross-platform):

import icdump
metadata = icdump.objc.parse("/path/to/binary")
print(metadata.to_decl())

Native tools:

nm --dyldinfo-only /path/to/binary
otool -ov /path/to/binary
objdump --macho --objc-meta-data /path/to/binary

Swift Analysis

Finding Swift Metadata Sections

jtool2 -l /path/to/binary | grep "__swift5"
otool -l /path/to/binary | grep "__swift5"

Common Swift sections:

• __swift5_typeref

  - Type references

• __swift5_reflstr

  - Reflection strings

• __swift5_fieldmd

  - Field metadata

• __swift5_capture

  - Capture descriptors

Demangling Swift Symbols

# Using Swift CLI
swift demangle "__T10MyApp10MyClassC10myMethodyyF"

# Using Ghidra plugin
# https://github.com/ghidraninja/ghidra_scripts/blob/master/swift_demangler.py

Dynamic Analysis

Prerequisites

Disable SIP (System Integrity Protection):

# In Recovery Mode
csrutil disable
# Or partial disable for debugging
csrutil enable --without debug
# Or without DTrace
csrutil enable --without dtrace

Remove binary signature (for debugging):

codesign --remove-signature /path/to/binary

lldb - Primary Debugging Tool

# Launch debugger
lldb /path/to/binary
lldb -p <pid>                    # Attach to running process
lldb -n /path/to/binary --waitfor  # Wait for connection

# Configure Intel syntax (create ~/.lldbinit)
settings set target.x86-disassembly-flavor intel

Common lldb commands:

run

r

process launch --stop-at-entry

continue

c

nexti

ni

stepi

si

finish

f

control+c

breakpoint set -n main

breakpoint set -r '\[NSFileManager .*\]$'

breakpoint set -r . -s libobjc.A.dylib

breakpoint delete <num>

breakpoint list

br l

breakpoint enable/disable <num>

reg read

reg read $rax

reg write $rip 0x100035cc0

x/s <address>

x/i <address>

x/b <address>

print object

po

memory read <address>

memory write <address> -s 4 0x41414141

dis

dis -n <funcname>

dis -c 6

parray 3 (char **)$x1

image dump sections

image dump symtab <library>

process save-core

Printing Objective-C method names:

# When objc_msgSend is called, rsi holds the method name
(lldb) x/s $rsi
(lldb) print (char*)$rsi
(lldb) reg read $rsi

DTrace - Dynamic Tracing

# List available probes
dtrace -l | head

# Count syscalls per process
sudo dtrace -n 'syscall:::entry {@[execname] = count()}'

# Log syscalls for specific PID
sudo dtrace -s script.d <pid>

# Log file operations
sudo dtrace -s b.d -c "cat /etc/hosts"

# Trace with dtruss
sudo dtruss -c /path/to/binary
sudo dtruss -p <pid>              # Trace by PID
sudo dtruss -n /path/to/binary    # No argument values

DTrace script example (save as

syscalls.d

syscall::open:entry
{
    printf("%s(%s)", probefunc, copyinstr(arg0));
}
syscall::close:entry
{
    printf("%s(%d)\n", probefunc, arg0);
}

Kernel Tracing Tools

ktrace (works with SIP enabled):

ktrace trace -s -S -t c -c /path/to/binary | grep "binary("

fs_usage - File system monitoring:

fs_usage -w -f filesys ls        # Track filesystem actions
fs_usage -w -f network curl      # Track network actions

kdebug - Kernel tracing facility:

• Trace codes:

  /usr/share/misc/trace.codes

• Tools:

  latency

  ,

  sc_usage

  ,

  fs_usage

  ,

  trace

• Note: Only one kdebug client at a time

Process Monitoring Tools

ProcessMonitor (Objective-See):

• Monitor process creation, file access, network connections
• Download: https://objective-see.com/products/utilities.html#ProcessMonitor

TaskExplorer (Objective-See):

• View libraries, files, network connections used by binary
• VirusTotal integration
• Download: https://objective-see.com/products/taskexplorer.html

FileMonitor (Objective-See):

• Monitor file creation, modifications, deletions
• Download: https://objective-see.com/products/utilities.html#FileMonitor

SpriteTree - Process relationship visualization:

# Capture process events (requires FDA)
sudo eslogger fork exec rename create > cap.json
# Load cap.json in SpriteTree GUI

Crescendo - Sysinternals-style monitoring:

• GUI tool for event recording
• Filter by file, process, network events
• Export to JSON
• Download: https://github.com/SuprHackerSteve/Crescendo

System Diagnostics

sysdiagnose - Comprehensive system dump:

sudo /usr/bin/sysdiagnose
# Output in /tmp/

Stackshots - Process state capture:

sample <pid> <seconds> <outputfile>
spindump <pid>

Unified Logs:

log show --predicate 'process == "AppName"' --last 1h
log stream --predicate 'process == "AppName"'

To reveal

<private>

Anti-Debugging Detection

Common Techniques

VM Detection:

sysctl hw.model              # Returns "Mac" on physical, different on VM
sysctl hw.logicalcpu         # CPU count checks
sysctl hw.physicalcpu        # Physical CPU count
# VMware MAC addresses start with 00:50:56

Debugger Detection:

# Check for P_TRACED flag
# Check for ptrace/PT_DENY_ATTACH usage
# Status 45 (0x2d) indicates PT_DENY_ATTACH

Import Analysis:

# Check if sysctl or ptrace is imported
otool -L /path/to/binary | grep -E "sysctl|ptrace"
nm /path/to/binary | grep -E "sysctl|ptrace"

Core Dumps

Configuration

# Check core dump settings
sysctl kern.coredump           # Should be 1
sysctl kern.sugid_coredump     # Should be 1 for suid binaries
sysctl kern.corefile           # Core file path pattern

# Control core dump size
ulimit -c 0                    # Disable core dumps
ulimit -c unlimited            # Enable unlimited core dumps

Core Dump Locations

• User processes:

  /cores/core.%P

• Default pattern:

  kern.corefile

  sysctl
• Check:

  ls -la /cores/

Fuzzing

Crash Report Analysis

ReportCrash locations:

• User apps:

  ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/

• System daemons:

  /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/

Disable crash reporting:

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.ReportCrash.plist
sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.ReportCrash.Root.plist

Re-enable:

launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.ReportCrash.plist
sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.ReportCrash.Root.plist

Preventing Sleep During Fuzzing

# System setup
sudo systemsetup -setsleep Never

# pmset
pmset sleep 0

# Using KeepingYouAwake
# https://github.com/newmarcel/KeepingYouAwake

SSH Session Persistence

Edit

/etc/ssh/sshd_config

TCPKeepAlive yes
ClientAliveInterval 0
ClientAliveCountMax 0

sudo launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ssh.plist
sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ssh.plist

Fuzzing Tools

AFL++ - CLI tools:

# https://github.com/AFLplusplus/AFLplusplus
afl-fuzz -i input_dir -o output_dir -- /path/to/binary @@

Litefuzz - GUI apps (recommended for macOS):

# Basic usage
litefuzz -l -c "/path/to/app.app/Contents/MacOS/AppName FUZZ" \
         -i input_dir -o crashes_dir -n 100000 -ez

# Options:
# -l : Local mode
# -c : Command line with FUZZ placeholder
# -i : Input directory
# -o : Output directory for crashes
# -t : Runtime artifacts directory
# -x : Timeout (default 1s)
# -n : Iterations (default 1)
# -e : Enable second round (reuse crashes)
# -z : Enable malloc debug helpers
# -p : Use pcap replay
# -s : Sockets mode
# -a : Address for network mode

# Example: Fuzz iBooks
litefuzz -l -c "/System/Applications/Books.app/Contents/MacOS/Books FUZZ" \
         -i files/epub -o crashes/ibooks \
         -t ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iBooksX/Data/tmp \
         -x 10 -n 100000 -ez

# Example: Fuzz Font Book
litefuzz -l -c "/System/Applications/Font Book.app/Contents/MacOS/Font Book FUZZ" \
         -i input/fonts -o crashes/font-book -x 2 -n 500000 -ez

# Example: Network fuzzing with pcap
litefuzz -lk -c "smbutil view smb://localhost:4455" \
         -a tcp://localhost:4455 -i input/mac-smb-resp -p -n 100000 -z

Memory Error Detection

libgmalloc - Debug malloc:

lldb -o "target create \`which binary\"" \
     -o "settings set target.env-vars DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=/usr/lib/libgmalloc.dylib" \
     -o "run arg1 arg2" \
     -o "bt" \
     -o "reg read" \
     -o "dis -s \$pc-32 -c 24 -m -F intel" \
     -o "quit"

Network Process Enumeration

# Using dtrace
dtrace -n 'syscall::recv*:entry { printf("-> %s (pid=%d)", execname, pid); }' >> recv.log
sort -u recv.log > procs.txt

# Using netstat
netstat -an | grep LISTEN

# Using lsof
lsof -i -P
lsof -i :<port>

Hopper Disassembler

Interface Overview

Left Panel:

• Labels: Binary symbols
• Proc: Procedures and functions
• Str: Strings from binary sections

Middle Panel:

• Raw disassembly
• Control flow graph
• Decompiled pseudocode
• Binary view
• Python console (bottom)

Right Panel:

• Navigation history
• Call graph (callers/callees)
• Local variables

Useful Actions

• Right-click code object → References to/from
• Right-click → Rename symbol
• Use Python console for custom analysis

Best Practices

1. Always work on copies - Never modify original binaries
2. Document findings - Keep notes on analysis steps and discoveries
3. Use multiple tools - Cross-verify findings with different analyzers
4. Check entitlements - Review what permissions the binary requests
5. Monitor side effects - Watch file, network, and process activity
6. Preserve evidence - Save crash reports, logs, and core dumps
7. Test in isolated environment - Use VMs or sandboxed environments for suspicious binaries

Common Workflows

Quick Binary Analysis

# 1. Basic info
file /path/to/binary
otool -L /path/to/binary

# 2. Check signature
codesign -vv -d /path/to/binary

# 3. List symbols
nm /path/to/binary | head -50

# 4. Check for anti-debug
strings /path/to/binary | grep -iE "ptrace|debug|vmware|virtual"

# 5. Run with monitoring
sudo dtruss -c /path/to/binary

Malware Analysis

# 1. Isolate in VM with SIP disabled
# 2. Remove signature
codesign --remove-signature /path/to/malware

# 3. Static analysis
./analyze-macos-binary.sh /path/to/malware

# 4. Dynamic analysis with lldb
lldb /path/to/malware
(lldb) process launch --stop-at-entry
(lldb) breakpoint set -n main
(lldb) continue

# 5. Monitor activity
sudo ProcessMonitor
sudo FileMonitor

# 6. Capture network
sudo dtrace -n 'syscall::recv*:entry { printf("%s (pid=%d)\n", execname, pid); }'

Fuzzing Setup

# 1. Prepare environment
sudo systemsetup -setsleep Never
# Configure SSH persistence

# 2. Set up input corpus
mkdir -p fuzz_input
# Add sample files to fuzz_input/

# 3. Run fuzzer
litefuzz -l -c "/path/to/app FUZZ" -i fuzz_input -o crashes -n 1000000 -ez

# 4. Monitor crashes
watch -n 1 'ls -lt crashes/ | head -10'

References

• The Art of Mac Malware
• OS X Incident Response
• DTrace Documentation
• Swift Metadata Analysis
• Defeating Anti-Debug Techniques
• Debugging PT_DENY_ATTACH