Reading data (embedded plist) linked to executable through -sectcreate __TEXT

Question

I am linking a executable with a plist using -sectcreate __TEXT linker flags. Reason for this is mainly to use the SMJobBless() method. But I need to read plist lin

Answer 1

User's computer would not probably have otool installed, and I had the same problem. The solution was to use launchctl, which is guaranteed to be present at any modern Mac.

It has a plist subcommand which does the following:

Prints the the property list embedded in the __TEXT,__info_plist segment/section
of the target Mach-O or the specified segment/section.

If you do not specify the section, it prints __TEXT by default. The only argument to provide is the path to the executable:

launchctl plist /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.sparklabs.ViscosityHelper

If you have given path, output might be something like this:

{
    "CFBundleIdentifier" = "com.sparklabs.ViscosityHelper";
    "SMAuthorizedClients" = (
        "anchor apple generic and identifier "com.viscosityvpn.Viscosity" and (certificate leaf[field.1.2.840.113635.100.6.1.9] /* exists */ or certificate 1[field.1.2.840.113635.100.6.2.6] /* exists */ and certificate leaf[field.1.2.840.113635.100.6.1.13] /* exists */ and certificate leaf[subject.OU] = "34XR7GXFPX")";
    );
    "CFBundleName" = "ViscosityHelper";
    "CFBundleVersion" = "548";
    "CFBundleInfoDictionaryVersion" = "6.0";
};

It can be used in command-line as well as from code via NSTask (Process in swift) class.