Simple Utility Script for allowing debug of hardened macOS apps.

add_debug_entitlement.sh

#! /bin/bash
# Simple Utility Script for allowing debug of hardened macOS apps.
# This is useful mostly for plug-in developer that would like keep developing without turning SIP off.
# Credit for idea goes to (McMartin): https://forum.juce.com/t/apple-gatekeeper-notarised-distributables/29952/57?u=ttg
# Update 2022-03-10: Based on Fabian's feedback, add capability to inject DYLD for sanitizers.
#
# Please note:
# - Modern Logic (on M1s) uses `AUHostingService` which resides within the system thus not patchable and REQUIRES to turn-off SIP.
# - Some hosts uses separate plug-in scanning or sandboxing. 
#     if that's the case, it's required to patch those (if needed) and attach debugger to them instead.
#
# If you see `operation not permitted`, make sure the calling process has Full Disk Access.
# For example Terminal.app is showing and has Full Disk Access under System Preferences -> Privacy & Security
#
app_path=$1

if [ -z "$app_path" ];
then
    echo "You need to specify app to re-codesign!"
    exit 0
fi

# This uses local codesign. so it'll be valid ONLY on the machine you've re-signed with.
entitlements_plist=/tmp/debug_entitlements.plist
echo "Grabbing entitlements from app..."
codesign -d --entitlements - "$app_path" --xml >> $entitlements_plist || { exit 1; }
echo "Patch entitlements (if missing)..."
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation bool true" $entitlements_plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :com.apple.security.cs.allow-unsigned-executable-memory bool true" $entitlements_plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :com.apple.security.get-task-allow bool true" $entitlements_plist
# allow custom dyld for sanitizers...
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :com.apple.security.cs.allow-dyld-environment-variables bool true" $entitlements_plist
echo "Re-applying entitlements (if missing)..."
codesign --force --options runtime --sign - --entitlements $entitlements_plist "$app_path" || { echo "codesign failed!"; }
echo "Removing temporary plist..."
rm $entitlements_plist

@mpielikis - I suspect your issue isn't related to script. Maybe release builds universal but debug only arm64? S1 v4 was never released as Apple silicon.
Also the script allow debug but isn't related to host scanning.

Thanks! This worked nicely for me with the Steinberg VST3PluginTestHost, using my arm64 MacBook Pro on Monterey👌🏻

Does anyone know if this works for auval?

I copied auval to a user dir and applied the script to it but running it just reports instantly it has been killed.

Does anyone know if this works for auval?

Sadly, auval archs are x86_64 and arm64e. The e in the arm64e is the tricky part... it means there is pointer authentication so re-applying codesign won't work.
So you can use auval but only under Rosetta. (or.. disable SIP sigh)

Oof.... !
Thanks for the info.

Apple really don't want us to develop solid plugins do they?!

Signing fails on Ventura. /Applications/Ableton Live 11 Suite.app: resource fork, Finder information, or similar detritus not allowed codesign failed!

Signing fails on Ventura. /Applications/Ableton Live 11 Suite.app: resource fork, Finder information, or similar detritus not allowed codesign failed!

Please see:
https://gist.github.com/talaviram/1f21e141a137744c89e81b58f73e23c3?permalink_comment_id=3222379#gistcomment-3222379
TL;DR - xattr -rc

totally missed that. It worked. Thanks!

Worked beautifully for me on an M1 mac. Thanks!

It doesn't seem to work anymore with Ableton Live 12 (release version) :'(

It doesn't seem to work anymore with Ableton Live 12 (release version) :'(

It'll be helpful to have more details.
Anyway, I don't have Live 12 but the trial version allows re-signing just fine...

Grabbing entitlements from app...
Executable=/Users/talaviram/Downloads/Ableton Live 12 Trial.app/Contents/MacOS/Live
Patch entitlements (if missing)...
Add: ":com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation" Entry Already Exists
Add: ":com.apple.security.cs.allow-unsigned-executable-memory" Entry Already Exists
Re-applying entitlements (if missing)...
/Users/talaviram/Downloads/Ableton Live 12 Trial.app: replacing existing signature
Removing temporary plist...

Ah sorry, I forgot.
sudo xattr -rc Ableton\ Live\ 12\ Suite.app did the trick :)

Having trouble with Mac OS Sequoia and Ableton Live 12 Suite. Live 11 worked just fine, but with LIve 12 I get:

resource fork, Finder information, or similar detritus not allowed codesign failed!

I tried:
sudo chmod 777 /Applications/Ableton\ Live\ 12\ Suite.app/ Operation Not Permitted, with and without sudo
sudo xattr -rc /Applications/Ableton\ Live\ 12\ Suite.app/ Operation Not Permitted, with and without sudo

Anyone else find a way around this?

Did you look at the comment above you? (https://gist.github.com/talaviram/1f21e141a137744c89e81b58f73e23c3?permalink_comment_id=4982316#gistcomment-4982316)

EDIT: Ahh! Do you have enough permissions in Terminal? Full Disk Access and Developer Tools?

The command fails on macOS 15.3:

Cannot parse a NULL or zero-length data
Error Reading File: /private/tmp/debug_entitlements.plist
/tmp/debug_entitlements.plist: unrecognized blob type (accepting blindly)

---

To fix the issue, add an -x flag to the PlistBuddy commands:

#! /bin/bash
app_path=$1
entitlements_plist=/tmp/debug_entitlements.plist

if [ -z "$app_path" ];
then
    echo "You need to specify app to re-codesign!"
    exit 0
fi

echo "Grabbing entitlements from app..."
codesign -d --entitlements - "$app_path" --xml >> $entitlements_plist || { exit 1; }

echo "Patch entitlements (if missing)..."
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation bool true" -x $entitlements_plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :com.apple.security.cs.allow-unsigned-executable-memory bool true" -x $entitlements_plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :com.apple.security.get-task-allow bool true" -x $entitlements_plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :com.apple.security.cs.allow-dyld-environment-variables bool true" -x $entitlements_plist

echo "Re-applying entitlements (if missing)..."
codesign --force --options runtime --sign - --entitlements $entitlements_plist "$app_path" || { echo "codesign failed!"; }

echo "Removing temporary plist..."
rm $entitlements_plist