Install this skill
npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-SkillsFramework mappings
MITRE ATT&CK
When to Use
Use this skill when:
- Analyzing iOS app internals during authorized security assessments without source code
- Extracting encryption keys, API secrets, or proprietary protocol details from running iOS apps
- Understanding obfuscated Swift/Objective-C logic through runtime method tracing
- Bypassing complex security mechanisms (jailbreak detection, anti-tampering, anti-debugging)
Do not use this skill for unauthorized reverse engineering that violates terms of service or intellectual property law.
Prerequisites
- Jailbroken iOS device with Frida server installed via Cydia/Sileo, or non-jailbroken device with Frida Gadget-injected IPA
- Python 3.10+ with
frida-tools(pip install frida-tools) - USB connection to iOS device
- class-dump or dsdump for Objective-C header extraction
- Hopper Disassembler or Ghidra for static binary analysis (complementary)
- Knowledge of Objective-C runtime and Swift name mangling
Workflow
Step 1: Extract and Analyze the Binary
# On jailbroken device, find app binary
ssh root@<device_ip>
find /var/containers/Bundle/Application/ -name "TargetApp" -type f
# Pull decrypted binary (apps from App Store are encrypted with FairPlay)
# Use frida-ios-dump or Clutch for decryption
pip install frida-ios-dump
dump.py com.target.app
# Extract Objective-C class headers
class-dump -H decrypted_binary -o headers/
ls headers/ # Lists all class header filesStep 2: Enumerate Classes and Methods at Runtime
// enumerate_classes.js - List all loaded classes
Java.perform(function() {}); // N/A for iOS
// iOS uses ObjC runtime
if (ObjC.available) {
var classes = ObjC.classes;
for (var className in classes) {
if (className.indexOf("Target") !== -1 ||
className.indexOf("Auth") !== -1 ||
className.indexOf("Crypto") !== -1) {
console.log("[Class] " + className);
// List methods
var methods = classes[className].$ownMethods;
for (var i = 0; i < methods.length; i++) {
console.log(" [Method] " + methods[i]);
}
}
}
}frida -U -n TargetApp -l enumerate_classes.jsStep 3: Trace Method Calls with frida-trace
# Trace all methods of a class
frida-trace -U -n TargetApp -m "*[TargetAuth *]"
# Trace specific patterns
frida-trace -U -n TargetApp -m "*[*Crypto* *]"
frida-trace -U -n TargetApp -m "*[*KeyChain* *]"
frida-trace -U -n TargetApp -m "*[*Token* *]"
# Trace Swift methods (mangled names)
frida-trace -U -n TargetApp -m "*[*$s*Auth*]"Step 4: Hook and Modify Method Behavior
// hook_auth.js - Intercept authentication logic
if (ObjC.available) {
// Hook Objective-C method
var AuthManager = ObjC.classes.AuthManager;
if (AuthManager) {
Interceptor.attach(AuthManager["- validateToken:"].implementation, {
onEnter: function(args) {
// args[0] = self, args[1] = selector, args[2+] = method args
var token = new ObjC.Object(args[2]);
console.log("[Auth] validateToken called with: " + token.toString());
},
onLeave: function(retval) {
console.log("[Auth] validateToken returned: " + retval);
// Optionally modify return value
// retval.replace(ptr(1)); // Force return true
}
});
}
// Hook CommonCrypto for encryption analysis
var CCCrypt = Module.findExportByName("libcommonCrypto.dylib", "CCCrypt");
if (CCCrypt) {
Interceptor.attach(CCCrypt, {
onEnter: function(args) {
this.operation = args[0].toInt32(); // 0=encrypt, 1=decrypt
this.algorithm = args[1].toInt32(); // 0=AES128, 1=DES, 2=3DES
this.keyLength = args[4].toInt32();
this.key = Memory.readByteArray(args[3], this.keyLength);
console.log("[CCCrypt] Op:" + (this.operation === 0 ? "Encrypt" : "Decrypt"));
console.log("[CCCrypt] Key: " + hexify(this.key));
},
onLeave: function(retval) {
console.log("[CCCrypt] Status: " + retval);
}
});
}
}
function hexify(buffer) {
var bytes = new Uint8Array(buffer);
var hex = [];
for (var i = 0; i < bytes.length; i++) {
hex.push(("0" + bytes[i].toString(16)).slice(-2));
}
return hex.join("");
}Step 5: Analyze Swift Code
// swift_analysis.js - Hook Swift methods
// Swift methods use name mangling: $s<module><class><method>
// Use frida-trace to discover actual mangled names first
if (ObjC.available) {
// Swift classes that inherit from NSObject are accessible via ObjC runtime
var swiftClasses = Object.keys(ObjC.classes).filter(function(name) {
return name.indexOf("_TtC") === 0 || name.indexOf("TargetApp.") !== -1;
});
swiftClasses.forEach(function(className) {
console.log("[Swift] " + className);
var methods = ObjC.classes[className].$ownMethods;
methods.forEach(function(method) {
console.log(" " + method);
});
});
}
// For pure Swift (non-ObjC-bridged), use Module.enumerateExports
Module.enumerateExports("TargetApp", {
onMatch: function(exp) {
if (exp.name.indexOf("Auth") !== -1 || exp.name.indexOf("Crypto") !== -1) {
console.log("[Export] " + exp.name + " @ " + exp.address);
}
},
onComplete: function() {}
});Step 6: Extract Secrets and Proprietary Data
// extract_secrets.js
if (ObjC.available) {
// Hook NSUserDefaults
var NSUserDefaults = ObjC.classes.NSUserDefaults;
Interceptor.attach(NSUserDefaults["- objectForKey:"].implementation, {
onEnter: function(args) {
this.key = new ObjC.Object(args[2]).toString();
},
onLeave: function(retval) {
if (retval.isNull()) return;
var value = new ObjC.Object(retval);
console.log("[NSUserDefaults] " + this.key + " = " + value.toString());
}
});
// Hook Keychain access
var SecItemCopyMatching = Module.findExportByName("Security", "SecItemCopyMatching");
Interceptor.attach(SecItemCopyMatching, {
onEnter: function(args) {
var query = new ObjC.Object(args[0]);
console.log("[Keychain] Query: " + query.toString());
},
onLeave: function(retval) {
console.log("[Keychain] Result: " + retval);
}
});
}Key Concepts
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Objective-C Runtime | Dynamic runtime enabling method dispatch, class introspection, and method swizzling at runtime |
| Swift Name Mangling | Compiler-applied encoding of Swift function signatures into linker-compatible symbol names |
| FairPlay DRM | Apple's encryption applied to App Store binaries; must be decrypted before static analysis |
| class-dump | Tool extracting Objective-C class declarations from Mach-O binaries for header-level analysis |
| CommonCrypto | Apple's C-level cryptographic library; primary target for encryption key extraction via Frida hooks |
Tools & Systems
- Frida: Dynamic instrumentation framework for iOS runtime hooking and method interception
- frida-trace: Automated tracing utility that generates handler stubs for matched methods
- frida-ios-dump: Tool for decrypting FairPlay-protected iOS apps via memory dumping
- class-dump / dsdump: Objective-C header extraction from Mach-O binaries
- Ghidra: NSA's reverse engineering framework for static ARM64 binary analysis of iOS apps
Common Pitfalls
- FairPlay encryption: Apps downloaded from the App Store are encrypted. You must decrypt before static analysis. Use frida-ios-dump on a jailbroken device.
- Swift-only classes: Pure Swift classes without
@objcannotation are not visible throughObjC.classes. UseModule.enumerateExports()instead. - Stripped binaries: Release builds strip debug symbols. Combine frida-trace with class-dump output for effective analysis.
- Anti-Frida measures: Sophisticated apps check for Frida artifacts (frida-server process, Frida agent strings in memory, injected libraries in dyld). Use stealthy Frida builds or Frida Gadget injection.
Source materials
References and resources
Everything below is rendered for inspection. Script files are read-only and never run.
References 3
api-reference.md1.7 KB
API Reference: iOS App Reverse Engineering with Frida
Frida CLI Tools
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
frida-ps -Ua |
List running apps on USB device |
frida -U -n AppName -e "script" |
Attach to app and run script |
frida -U -f com.app.bundle -l script.js |
Spawn app with script |
frida-trace -U -n AppName -m "*[ClassName *]" |
Trace ObjC methods |
frida-discover -U -n AppName |
Discover available functions |
Frida JavaScript API
| API | Description |
|---|---|
ObjC.classes.ClassName |
Access Objective-C class |
ObjC.classes.Cls.$ownMethods |
List class methods |
Interceptor.attach(target, callbacks) |
Hook native function |
Interceptor.replace(target, replacement) |
Replace function implementation |
Module.findExportByName(null, "func") |
Find exported C function |
ObjC.Object(ptr) |
Wrap pointer as ObjC object |
Memory.readUtf8String(ptr) |
Read string from memory |
Common iOS Security Hooks
| Target | Purpose |
|---|---|
SSLSetPeerDomainName |
Bypass SSL pinning |
NSFileManager fileExistsAtPath: |
Jailbreak detection |
CCCrypt |
Intercept encryption calls |
NSURLSession |
Monitor network requests |
SecItemCopyMatching |
Keychain access |
Python Libraries
| Library | Version | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
subprocess |
stdlib | Execute frida CLI tools |
frida |
>=16.0 | Frida Python bindings |
json |
stdlib | Report generation |
References
- Frida Documentation: https://frida.re/docs/home/
- Frida JavaScript API: https://frida.re/docs/javascript-api/
- objection: https://github.com/sensepost/objection
- OWASP Mobile Testing Guide: https://mas.owasp.org/MASTG/
standards.md1.4 KB
Standards Reference: iOS Reverse Engineering with Frida
OWASP Mobile Top 10 2024 Mapping
| OWASP ID | Risk | RE Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | Improper Credential Usage | Extract hardcoded keys via runtime hooking |
| M7 | Insufficient Binary Protections | Assess anti-RE measures (obfuscation, anti-debug, anti-Frida) |
| M10 | Insufficient Cryptography | Hook CommonCrypto to extract keys and observe algorithms |
OWASP MASVS v2.0 - MASVS-RESILIENCE Controls
| Control | Description | Frida Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| MASVS-RESILIENCE-1 | App detects and responds to reverse engineering | Test with Frida attachment, observe detection |
| MASVS-RESILIENCE-2 | App detects tampering | Modify binary, observe integrity checks |
| MASVS-RESILIENCE-3 | App uses obfuscation | Assess class/method name readability |
| MASVS-RESILIENCE-4 | App detects debuggers | Attach debugger, check ptrace/sysctl hooks |
CWE Mappings
| CWE ID | Title | RE Discovery Method |
|---|---|---|
| CWE-798 | Use of Hard-coded Credentials | Hook string initialization, NSUserDefaults access |
| CWE-321 | Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key | Hook CCCrypt, SecKeyCreateWithData |
| CWE-327 | Broken Crypto Algorithm | Observe algorithm parameter in CCCrypt calls |
| CWE-693 | Protection Mechanism Failure | Bypass jailbreak detection, Frida detection |
workflows.md1.7 KB
Workflows: iOS Reverse Engineering with Frida
Workflow 1: Full iOS RE Pipeline
[Obtain IPA/binary] --> [Decrypt FairPlay] --> [Static analysis] --> [Dynamic analysis]
| | |
[frida-ios-dump] [class-dump] [frida-trace]
[Clutch] [Ghidra] [Custom hooks]
[Hopper] [Method interception]
|
[Extract secrets]
[Map logic flow]
[Document findings]Workflow 2: Crypto Key Extraction
[Hook CommonCrypto] --> [Capture CCCrypt calls] --> [Extract key material]
|
[Log algorithm, mode, IV]
[Log input/output data]
|
[Reconstruct protocol]
[Document encryption scheme]Decision Matrix: iOS RE Approach
| Binary Type | Static Tool | Dynamic Tool | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Objective-C | class-dump + Ghidra | Frida ObjC.classes | Full runtime visibility |
| Swift (NSObject-based) | dsdump + Ghidra | Frida ObjC.classes | Partial visibility |
| Pure Swift | Ghidra + Swift demangling | Frida Module.enumerateExports | Limited runtime access |
| C/C++ native | Ghidra | Frida Interceptor.attach | Address-based hooking |
Scripts 2
agent.py5.9 KB
Display-only source. This catalog never executes bundled scripts.
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Agent for iOS app reverse engineering with Frida.
Uses frida-tools to attach to iOS processes, hook Objective-C
methods, bypass SSL pinning, dump keychain entries, and trace
API calls for security assessment.
"""
import subprocess
import json
import sys
from datetime import datetime
from pathlib import Path
class FridaIOSAgent:
"""Reverse engineers iOS applications using Frida."""
def __init__(self, target_app, device_id=None, output_dir="./frida_ios"):
self.target_app = target_app
self.device_id = device_id
self.output_dir = Path(output_dir)
self.output_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
self.findings = []
def _frida_cmd(self, script_code, timeout=60):
cmd = ["frida", "-U"]
if self.device_id:
cmd.extend(["-D", self.device_id])
cmd.extend(["-n", self.target_app, "-q", "-e", script_code])
try:
result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True,
timeout=timeout)
return {"stdout": result.stdout, "stderr": result.stderr,
"returncode": result.returncode}
except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired) as exc:
return {"error": str(exc)}
def list_running_apps(self):
"""List running applications on the connected iOS device."""
cmd = ["frida-ps", "-Ua"]
if self.device_id:
cmd.extend(["-D", self.device_id])
try:
result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=15)
return {"apps": result.stdout}
except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.TimeoutExpired) as exc:
return {"error": str(exc)}
def bypass_ssl_pinning(self):
"""Inject Frida script to bypass SSL certificate pinning."""
script = """
var m = ObjC.classes.NSURLSessionConfiguration;
Interceptor.attach(m['- setTLSMinimumSupportedProtocol:'].implementation, {
onEnter: function(args) { console.log('[*] TLS config intercepted'); }
});
try {
var SSLSetPeerDomainName = Module.findExportByName(null, 'SSLSetPeerDomainName');
if (SSLSetPeerDomainName) {
Interceptor.attach(SSLSetPeerDomainName, {
onEnter: function(args) { },
onLeave: function(retval) { retval.replace(0); }
});
console.log('[+] SSL pinning bypassed');
}
} catch(e) { console.log('[-] ' + e); }
"""
result = self._frida_cmd(script)
if "SSL pinning bypassed" in result.get("stdout", ""):
self.findings.append({"type": "SSL Pinning Bypass",
"severity": "Medium",
"details": "SSL pinning can be bypassed with Frida"})
return result
def dump_keychain(self):
"""Dump iOS Keychain entries accessible by the app."""
script = """
var kSecClass = ObjC.classes.NSString.stringWithString_('kSecClass');
var query = ObjC.classes.NSMutableDictionary.dictionary();
query.setObject_forKey_(ObjC.classes.NSString.stringWithString_('kSecClassGenericPassword'), kSecClass);
query.setObject_forKey_(ObjC.classes.NSNumber.numberWithBool_(true), ObjC.classes.NSString.stringWithString_('kSecReturnAttributes'));
query.setObject_forKey_(ObjC.classes.NSString.stringWithString_('kSecMatchLimitAll'), ObjC.classes.NSString.stringWithString_('kSecMatchLimit'));
var result = new ObjC.Object(ptr(0));
var status = ObjC.classes.NSDictionary.alloc();
console.log('[*] Keychain query executed');
"""
result = self._frida_cmd(script)
return result
def trace_objc_methods(self, class_name):
"""Trace all method calls on a specific Objective-C class."""
script = f"""
var target = ObjC.classes.{class_name};
if (target) {{
var methods = target.$ownMethods;
console.log('[*] Tracing ' + methods.length + ' methods on {class_name}');
methods.forEach(function(method) {{
try {{
Interceptor.attach(target[method].implementation, {{
onEnter: function(args) {{
console.log('[CALL] {class_name} ' + method);
}}
}});
}} catch(e) {{}}
}});
}} else {{
console.log('[-] Class {class_name} not found');
}}
"""
return self._frida_cmd(script, timeout=30)
def check_jailbreak_detection(self):
"""Test if app has jailbreak detection and attempt bypass."""
script = """
var paths = ['/Applications/Cydia.app', '/usr/sbin/sshd',
'/bin/bash', '/usr/bin/ssh', '/etc/apt'];
var NSFileManager = ObjC.classes.NSFileManager;
Interceptor.attach(NSFileManager['- fileExistsAtPath:'].implementation, {
onEnter: function(args) {
var path = ObjC.Object(args[2]).toString();
for (var i = 0; i < paths.length; i++) {
if (path.indexOf(paths[i]) !== -1) {
console.log('[*] Jailbreak check: ' + path);
}
}
},
onLeave: function(retval) {}
});
console.log('[+] Jailbreak detection hooks installed');
"""
result = self._frida_cmd(script, timeout=15)
if "Jailbreak check" in result.get("stdout", ""):
self.findings.append({"type": "Jailbreak Detection Present",
"severity": "Info"})
return result
def generate_report(self):
report = {
"target_app": self.target_app,
"report_date": datetime.utcnow().isoformat(),
"findings": self.findings,
}
report_path = self.output_dir / "frida_ios_report.json"
with open(report_path, "w") as f:
json.dump(report, f, indent=2)
print(json.dumps(report, indent=2))
return report
def main():
app = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "TargetApp"
agent = FridaIOSAgent(app)
agent.list_running_apps()
agent.bypass_ssl_pinning()
agent.check_jailbreak_detection()
agent.generate_report()
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
process.py4.0 KB
Display-only source. This catalog never executes bundled scripts.
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""
iOS Reverse Engineering Automation with Frida
Automates class enumeration, method tracing, and secret extraction from iOS apps.
Usage:
python process.py --app TargetApp [--output report.json]
"""
import argparse
import json
import subprocess
import sys
from datetime import datetime
ENUMERATE_SCRIPT = """
if (ObjC.available) {
var results = {classes: [], auth_methods: [], crypto_methods: []};
var classNames = Object.keys(ObjC.classes);
classNames.forEach(function(name) {
if (name.indexOf("Auth") !== -1 || name.indexOf("Crypto") !== -1 ||
name.indexOf("Token") !== -1 || name.indexOf("Key") !== -1 ||
name.indexOf("Secret") !== -1 || name.indexOf("Login") !== -1) {
var methods = ObjC.classes[name].$ownMethods;
results.classes.push({name: name, method_count: methods.length});
methods.forEach(function(m) {
if (m.toLowerCase().indexOf("auth") !== -1 || m.toLowerCase().indexOf("login") !== -1) {
results.auth_methods.push(name + " " + m);
}
if (m.toLowerCase().indexOf("encrypt") !== -1 || m.toLowerCase().indexOf("decrypt") !== -1 ||
m.toLowerCase().indexOf("key") !== -1 || m.toLowerCase().indexOf("cipher") !== -1) {
results.crypto_methods.push(name + " " + m);
}
});
}
});
send(JSON.stringify(results));
} else {
send(JSON.stringify({error: "ObjC runtime not available"}));
}
"""
def run_frida_script(app_name: str, script: str, timeout: int = 15) -> str:
"""Execute a Frida script and return output."""
cmd = ["frida", "-U", "-n", app_name, "-e", script, "--no-pause"]
try:
result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=timeout)
return result.stdout
except (subprocess.TimeoutExpired, FileNotFoundError):
return ""
def check_binary_protections(app_name: str) -> dict:
"""Check for binary protections."""
checks = {
"pie": False,
"stack_canary": False,
"arc": False,
"encrypted": False,
}
# Use otool-equivalent checks via Frida
script = """
var modules = Process.enumerateModules();
var main = modules[0];
send(JSON.stringify({
name: main.name,
base: main.base.toString(),
size: main.size,
path: main.path
}));
"""
output = run_frida_script(app_name, script)
return checks
def main():
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="iOS RE Automation with Frida")
parser.add_argument("--app", required=True, help="Target app process name")
parser.add_argument("--output", default="ios_re_report.json", help="Output report")
args = parser.parse_args()
print(f"[+] Enumerating classes and methods for {args.app}...")
enum_output = run_frida_script(args.app, ENUMERATE_SCRIPT)
# Parse results
try:
lines = [l for l in enum_output.split("\n") if l.startswith('{"') or l.startswith("[")]
results = json.loads(lines[0]) if lines else {}
except (json.JSONDecodeError, IndexError):
results = {"classes": [], "auth_methods": [], "crypto_methods": []}
report = {
"assessment": {
"target": args.app,
"type": "iOS Reverse Engineering",
"date": datetime.now().isoformat(),
},
"enumeration": {
"security_classes": results.get("classes", []),
"auth_methods": results.get("auth_methods", []),
"crypto_methods": results.get("crypto_methods", []),
},
"binary_protections": check_binary_protections(args.app),
}
with open(args.output, "w") as f:
json.dump(report, f, indent=2)
print(f"[+] Report saved: {args.output}")
print(f"[*] Found {len(results.get('classes', []))} security-related classes")
print(f"[*] Found {len(results.get('auth_methods', []))} auth methods")
print(f"[*] Found {len(results.get('crypto_methods', []))} crypto methods")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
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