MacOS Gatekeeper Bypass
Detects known MacOS security bypass techniques that may be used to enable malicious code execution. Specifically monitors for attempts to remove the com.apple.quarantine attribute using xattr, or to disable…
Description
Detects known MacOS security bypass techniques that may be used to enable malicious code execution. Specifically monitors for attempts to remove the com.apple.quarantine attribute using xattr, or to disable Gatekeeper protections via spctl --master-disable, both of which can allow untrusted or malicious applications to execute without standard system safeguards.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- macOS
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- osquery_results
Known benign triggers
- Administrators or power users may need to disable Gatekeeper to install unsigned tools.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1553.001/T1553.001.yaml#L5 | Only this detection cites it |
| osquery.readthedocs.io/en/stable/deployment/process-auditing/ | 12 |
| ss64.com/mac/spctl.html | Only this detection cites it |
| ss64.com/mac/xattr.html | 2 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 2c9346f3-bbeb-48ce-8411-fc13d09d83a5
- Tagged by the source as
- MacOS Persistence TechniquesMacOS Post-ExploitationMacOS Privilege EscalationEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
- Version
- 2