Skip to Content

macOS Gatekeeper bypass

By: Author Alex Lim

Posted on Last updated:

Home > macOS Gatekeeper bypass

Updated on 2022-12-22: macOS Gatekeeper bypass

Microsoft has published a write-up on another macOS Gatekeeper bypass found by its MSTIC team. I don’t know how I feel about Microsoft’s security teams sifting through Apple’s products when their Exchange servers keep getting ransomed left and right. Read more: Gatekeeper’s Achilles heel: Unearthing a macOS vulnerability

Overview: macOS Archive Utility Vulnerability

Researchers at Jamf Threat Labs have discovered a remote code execution vulnerability in macOS Archive Utility. Jamf notified Apple about the issue on May 31, 2022; the flaw was fixed in July. Jamf found the Archive Utility vulnerability after detecting a flaw in Safari that could circumvent Gatekeeper checks earlier this year and decided to “research other archiving features that might suffer from similar issues.”

Note

  • The flaw was fixed in macOS 12.5, released July 2022. Essentially, you leverage a flaw in the Safari browser to get it to unload a crafted archive file causing the quarantine bit to _NOT_ be set, which then bypasses the gatekeeper functions which prompt for permission prior to allowing execution of such a file. The fix is simple – apply the latest updates from Apple.

Read more in

Alex Lim is a certified IT Technical Support Architect with over 15 years of experience in designing, implementing, and troubleshooting complex IT systems and networks. He has worked for leading IT companies, such as Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco, providing technical support and solutions to clients across various industries and sectors. Alex has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and a master’s degree in information security from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also the author of several best-selling books on IT technical support, such as The IT Technical Support Handbook and Troubleshooting IT Systems and Networks. Alex lives in Bandar, Johore, Malaysia with his wife and two chilrdren. You can reach him at [email protected] or follow him on Website | Twitter | Facebook

    Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

    Your Support Matters...

    We run an independent site that is committed to delivering valuable content, but it comes with its challenges. Many of our readers use ad blockers, causing our advertising revenue to decline. Unlike some websites, we have not implemented paywalls to restrict access. Your support can make a significant difference. If you find this website useful and choose to support us, it would greatly secure our future. We appreciate your help. If you are currently using an ad blocker, please consider disabling it for our site. Thank you for your understanding and support.