macOS Enumeration & System Information

A comprehensive guide to macOS system commands for enumeration, troubleshooting, and administration.

Quick Start

For rapid system overview, run these core commands:

# Basic system info
uname -a
system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType
launchctl list

# Network status
networksetup -listallnetworkservices
lsof -i -P -n | grep LISTEN

# Installed applications
system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType

System Information

Core System Details

# Time and uptime
date
cal
uptime

# User information
w                    # List logged-in users
whoami               # Current user
finger username      # User details

# Hardware info
uname -a             # System info
cat /proc/cpuinfo    # Processor (if available)
cat /proc/meminfo    # Memory (if available)
free                 # Memory usage
df                   # Disk space

System Profiler (Comprehensive)

The

system_profiler

command is the most powerful tool for macOS enumeration:

# Get all available data types
system_profiler -listDataTypes

# Common data types
system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType        # OS version, build
system_profiler SPHardwareDataType        # Hardware overview
system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType    # Installed applications
system_profiler SPFrameworksDataType      # Installed frameworks
system_profiler SPDeveloperToolsDataType  # Xcode, command line tools
system_profiler SPStartupItemDataType     # Startup items
system_profiler SPNetworkDataType         # Network configuration
system_profiler SPFirewallDataType        # Firewall status
system_profiler SPBluetoothDataType       # Bluetooth devices
system_profiler SPEthernetDataType        # Ethernet info
system_profiler SPUSBDataType             # USB devices
system_profiler SPAirPortDataType         # Wi-Fi adapter info
system_profiler SPPrintersDataType        # Connected printers
system_profiler SPDisplaysDataType        # Display information

Tip: You can combine multiple data types:

system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType SPNetworkDataType SPHardwareDataType

User & Process Management

Launch Services (macOS equivalent to systemd)

# List all running services
launchctl list

# Print services for a specific user (replace UID)
launchctl print gui/<UID>

# Print system-level services
launchctl print system

# Print specific launch agent details
launchctl print gui/<UID>/com.company.launchagent.label

# List scheduled "at" tasks
atq

Find User UID

# Get current user's UID
id -u

# Get specific user's UID
id -u username

Network Analysis

Network Configuration

# List all network services
networksetup -listallnetworkservices

# List hardware ports
networksetup -listallhardwareports

# Get Wi-Fi information
networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi

# Proxy settings
networksetup -getautoproxyurl Wi-Fi
networksetup -getwebproxy Wi-Fi
networksetup -getftpproxy Wi-Fi

Active Connections & Listening Ports

# List all listening ports (most useful)
lsof -i -P -n | grep LISTEN

# ARP table
arp -i en0 -l -a

# Network monitoring (top-style)
nettop

# SMB shares
smbutil statshares -a

Application & Package Management

Homebrew

# List installed packages
brew list

# Search for packages
brew search <text>

# Get package info
brew info <formula>

# Install/uninstall
brew install <formula>
brew uninstall <formula>

# Cleanup
brew cleanup                    # Remove old versions of all formulae
brew cleanup <formula>          # Remove old versions of specific formula

Application Discovery

# List installed applications
system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType
lsappinfo list

# Open applications
open -a <Application Name>              # Open app
open -a <Application Name> --hide       # Open app hidden
open some.doc -a TextEdit               # Open file with specific app

File & Data Search

Spotlight Search (mdfind)

# Search files by content
mdfind password

# Search files by name
mdfind -name password

# Common search patterns
mdfind "kext"
mdfind "config"
mdfind "password"
mdfind "credential"

Administrative Tasks

Service Management

# Enable SSH
sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ssh.plist

# Disable SSH
sudo launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ssh.plist

# Apache control
sudo apachectl start
sudo apachectl stop
sudo apachectl restart
sudo apachectl status

# Web folder location
# /Library/WebServer/Documents/

System Maintenance

# Purge RAM (requires sudo)
sudo purge

# Flush DNS cache
dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

# Prevent sleep
caffeinate &

# Screenshot (requires permission)
screencapture -x /tmp/ss.jpg

# Clipboard
pbpaste              # Get clipboard contents

Security & Anti-Analysis Detection

VM/Sandbox Detection

Some macOS malware checks for virtualization to avoid analysis:

# Check for VM indicators
system_profiler SPHardwareDataType SPDisplaysDataType | grep -Eiq 'qemu|kvm|vmware|virtualbox'

# Common anti-analysis pattern
if system_profiler SPHardwareDataType SPDisplaysDataType | grep -Eiq 'qemu|kvm|vmware|virtualbox'; then
  exit 100
fi

Suspicious Activity Indicators

# Check for suspicious applications
system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType

# Check for suspicious frameworks
system_profiler SPFrameworksDataType

# Check running services
launchctl list

# Check for suspicious launch agents
launchctl print gui/<UID>

Quick Reference by Use Case

"I need to understand this macOS system"

system_profiler SPSoftwareDataType SPHardwareDataType SPNetworkDataType

"What's running on this system?"

launchctl list
lsof -i -P -n | grep LISTEN

"What applications are installed?"

system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType
brew list

"How is the network configured?"

networksetup -listallnetworkservices
networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi
arp -i en0 -l -a

"Who is on this system?"

w
whoami
id

Notes

• system_profiler

  without arguments can consume significant memory and time
• Many commands require

  sudo

  for full information
• Network interface names vary (en0, en1, Wi-Fi, etc.)
• Some commands may not be available on all macOS versions
• For automated enumeration, consider using tools like MacPEAS or SwiftBelt

External Tools

• MacPEAS: https://github.com/carlospolop/PEASS-ng/tree/master/macOS/PEAS
• SwiftBelt: https://github.com/cedowens/SwiftBelt
• Metasploit OSX Enumeration: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/post/osx/gather/enum_osx.rb