Plist File Modification

Adversaries may modify property list files (plist files) to enable other malicious activity, while also potentially evading and bypassing system defenses. macOS applications use plist files, such as the info.plist file, to store properties and configuration settings that inform the operating system how to handle the application at runtime. Plist files are structured metadata in key-value pairs formatted in XML based on Apple's Core Foundation DTD. Plist files can be saved in text or binary format.[1]

Adversaries can modify key-value pairs in plist files to influence system behaviors, such as hiding the execution of an application (i.e. Hidden Window) or running additional commands for persistence (ex: Launch Agent/Launch Daemon or Re-opened Applications).

For example, adversaries can add a malicious application path to the ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist file, which controls apps that appear in the Dock. Adversaries can also modify the LSUIElement key in an application’s info.plist file to run the app in the background. Adversaries can also insert key-value pairs to insert environment variables, such as LSEnvironment, to enable persistence via Dynamic Linker Hijacking.[2][3]

ID: T1647
Sub-techniques:  No sub-techniques
Tactic: Defense Evasion
Platforms: macOS
Version: 1.0
Created: 09 April 2022
Last Modified: 20 April 2022

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S0658 XCSSET

XCSSET uses the plutil command to modify the LSUIElement, DFBundleDisplayName, and CFBundleIdentifier keys in the /Contents/Info.plist file to change how XCSSET is visible on the system.[4]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1013 Application Developer Guidance

Ensure applications are using Apple's developer guidance which enables hardened runtime.[5]

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component Detects
DS0017 Command Command Execution

Monitor for commands with arguments (such as opening common command-line editors) used to modify plist files, especially commonly abused files such as those in \~/LaunchAgents, \~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagementagent/backgrounditems.btm, and an application's Info.plist.

DS0022 File File Modification

Monitor for plist file modification, especially if immediately followed by other suspicious events such as code execution from \~/Library/Scripts or \~/Library/Preferences. Also, monitor for significant changes to any path pointers in a modified plist.

DS0009 Process Process Creation

Monitor for newly executed processes with arguments that can modify property list (plist) files.

References