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</details>
## **Basic Information**
**TCC (Transparency, Consent, and Control)** is a mechanism in macOS to **limit and control application access to certain features**, usually from a privacy perspective. This can include things such as location services, contacts, photos, microphone, camera, accessibility, full disk access, and a bunch more.
From a user’s perspective, they see TCC in action **when an application wants access to one of the features protected by TCC**. When this happens the **user is prompted** with a dialog asking them whether they want to allow access or not.
It's also possible to **grant apps access** to files by **explicit intents** from users for example when a user **drags\&drop a file into a program** (obviously the program should have access to it).
**TCC** is handled by the **daemon** located in `/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/TCC.framework/Resources/tccd`configured in `/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.tccd.system.plist` (registering the mach service `com.apple.tccd.system`).
There is a **user-mode tccd** running per logged in user defined in `/System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.tccd.plist` registering the mach services `com.apple.tccd` and `com.apple.usernotifications.delegate.com.apple.tccd`.
Permissions are **inherited from the parent** application and the **permissions** are **tracked** based on the **Bundle ID** and the **Developer ID**.
### TCC Database
The selections is then stored in the TCC system-wide database in **`/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db`** or in **`$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db`** for per-user preferences. The database is **protected from editing with SIP**(System Integrity Protection), but you can read them by granting **full disk access**.
{% hint style="info" %}
The **notification center UI** can make **changes in the system TCC database**:
sqlite> select * from access where client LIKE "%telegram%" and auth_value=2;
# Check user denied permissions for telegram
sqlite> select * from access where client LIKE "%telegram%" and auth_value=0;
```
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}
{% hint style="success" %}
Checking both databases you can check the permissions an app has allowed, has forbidden, or doesn't have (it will ask for it).
{% endhint %}
* The **`auth_value`** can have different values: denied(0), unknown(1), allowed(2), or limited(3).
* The **`auth_reason`** can take the following values: Error(1), User Consent(2), User Set(3), System Set(4), Service Policy(5), MDM Policy(6), Override Policy(7), Missing usage string(8), Prompt Timeout(9), Preflight Unknown(10), Entitled(11), App Type Policy(12)
* For more information about the **other fields** of the table [**check this blog post**](https://www.rainforestqa.com/blog/macos-tcc-db-deep-dive).
{% hint style="info" %}
Some TCC permissions are: kTCCServiceAppleEvents, kTCCServiceCalendar, kTCCServicePhotos... There is no public list that defines all of them but you can check this [**list of known ones**](https://www.rainforestqa.com/blog/macos-tcc-db-deep-dive#service).
{% endhint %}
You could also check **already given permissions** to apps in `System Preferences --> Security & Privacy --> Privacy --> Files and Folders`.
### TCC Signature Checks
The TCC **database** stores the **Bundle ID** of the application, but it also **stores****information** about the **signature** to **make sure** the App asking to use the a permission is the correct one.
{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
# From sqlite
sqlite> select hex(csreq) from access where client="ru.keepcoder.Telegram";
(anchor apple generic and certificate leaf[field.1.2.840.113635.100.6.1.9] /* exists */ or anchor apple generic and certificate 1[field.1.2.840.113635.100.6.2.6] /* exists */ and certificate leaf[field.1.2.840.113635.100.6.1.13] /* exists */ and certificate leaf[subject.OU] = "6N38VWS5BX") and identifier "ru.keepcoder.Telegram"
```
{% endcode %}
### Entitlements
Apps **don't only need** to **request** and have been **granted access** to some resources, they also need to **have the relevant entitlements**.\
For example **Telegram** has the entitlement `com.apple.security.device.camera` to request **access to the camera**. An **app** that **doesn't** have this **entitlement won't be able** to access the camera (and the user won't be be even asked for the permissions).
However, for apps to **access** to **certain user folders**, such as `~/Desktop`, `~/Downloads` and `~/Documents`, they **don't need** to have any specific **entitlements.** The system will transparently handle access and **prompt the user** as needed.
Apple's apps **won’t generate prompts**. They contain **pre-granted rights** in their **entitlements** list, meaning they will **never generate a popup**, **nor** they will show up in any of the **TCC databases.** For example:
This will avoid Calendar ask the user to access reminders, calendar and the address book.
### Sensitive unprotected places
* $HOME (itself)
* $HOME/.ssh, $HOME/.aws, etc
* /tmp
### User Intent / com.apple.macl
As mentioned previously, it possible to **grant access to an App to a file by drag\&dropping it to it**. This access won't be specified in any TCC database but as an **extended****attribute of the file**. This attribute will **store the UUID** of the allowed app:
## Script from https://gist.githubusercontent.com/brunerd/8bbf9ba66b2a7787e1a6658816f3ad3b/raw/34cabe2751fb487dc7c3de544d1eb4be04701ac5/maclTrack.command
It's curious that the **`com.apple.macl`** attribute is managed by the **Sandbox**, not tccd
{% endhint %}
The extended attribute `com.apple.macl`**can’t be cleared** like other extended attributes because it’s **protected by SIP**. However, as [**explained in this post**](https://www.brunerd.com/blog/2020/01/07/track-and-tackle-com-apple-macl/), it's possible to disable it **zipping** the file, **deleting** it and **unzipping** it.
* Do you work in a **cybersecurity company**? Do you want to see your **company advertised in HackTricks**? or do you want to have access to the **latest version of the PEASS or download HackTricks in PDF**? Check the [**SUBSCRIPTION PLANS**](https://github.com/sponsors/carlospolop)!
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* **Share your hacking tricks by submitting PRs to the** [**hacktricks repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks) **and** [**hacktricks-cloud repo**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks-cloud).
