This repo is a Swift port of some of the original PersistentJXA projects by D00MFist (https://github.com/D00MFist/PersistentJXA). I ported over some of the persistence methods from D00MFist's repo that do not require root.
In this repo, the code that executes the persistence is Swift and I kept the payloads themselves as JXA payloads.
- Ensure you have Xcode installed (which will also install Swift)
- If you want to make any changes to the code, open the .xcodeproj file of the desired persistence project (ex: AtomPersist) in XCode and edit the code in main.swift
- Once done with any edits or if you don't want to make any edits at all, you can cd into the project directory and then run swift build
- This will build the macho binary in the following directory structure of the project directory: .build/debug
- You can then cd into that directory and run the macho binary (or copy the macho elsewhere and run it)
- Alternatively, you can also build from XCode by clicking Product -> Build. This method will drop the macho at a directory structure similar to: ~/Library/Developer/Xcode/DerivedData/[ProjectName]-[random]/Build/Products/Debug/.
Additional details are below:
| Project | Description | Usage | Artifacts Created | Commandline Commands Executed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AtomPersist | Persistence using the Atom init script. Appends the Atom init script to execute our command. Persistence executes upon Atom opening. | ./AtomPersist [path_to_jxa_payload] | Modification to end of: /System/Volumes/Data/Users/{User}/.atom/init.coffee | Atom will run "osascript [payload] &" upon open |
| ZshProfilePersistence | Modifies user's zsh profile to execute the specified jxa js payload. Persistence executes on zsh terminal open. | ./ZshProfilePersistence [path_to_jxa_payload] [yes/no] | $HOME/.zshenv If you select "yes" for hidden file creation then: $HOME/.security/apple.sh and $HOME/.security/update.sh | If "no" for hidden file creation, then the on disk jxa js payload is run directly from .zshenv; If "yes" for hidden file creation then: $HOME/.security/apple.sh and sh $HOME/.security/update.sh are dropped and run; both options use "osascript [payload] &" during payload execution |
| CronJobPersistence | Persistence using CronJobs. This script will create a hidden file (share.sh) inside of .security in the user’s home directory. You can modify the default cron job time interval 15 mins by editing the main.swift code. | ./CronJobPersistence [path_to_jxa_payload] | $HOME/.security/.share.sh, crontab entry | sh -c echo "$(echo '*/15 * * * * cd $HOME/.security && ./.share.sh' ; crontab -l)" |
| iTermPersistence | Persistence using the iTerm2 application startup script. Adds to the end of the application script for iTerm2 to execute our command. If the folder does not exist then one will be created. Persistence executes upon iTerm2 opening. See https://theevilbit.github.io/beyond/beyond_0002/ for more details. | ./iTermAppScriptPersistence [path_to_js_jxa_payload] | creates a new file at /Library/Application Support/iTerm2/Scripts/AutoLaunch/iTerm.sh | osascript [path_to_app] & |
| LoginItemPersistence | Persistence by adding an app as a Login Item | ./LoginItemPersistence [app path] [true/false] | Will generate a pop-up if XPC access has not yet been granted from Terminal to System Events, since this implementation leverages System Events via NSAppleScript | N/A, as this uses the NSAppleScript API |
| SSHrcPersistence | Creates an SSH rc file to execute persistence when the user logs in with SSH and if the persistence process. This concept was shared by @dade on twitter: See https://twitter.com/0xdade/status/1373145566943711235?s=20 for more details. | ./SSHrcPersistence [path_to_jxa_payload] [yes/no]; note: if you select "yes", the callback will only live as long as the ssh session lasts. However, if you select "no", the callback will run independently of the ssh session and continue even after the session closes | ~/.ssh/rc created and if "yes" chosen, ~/.security/apple.sh and ~/.security/update.sh also created | osascript [payload] |
| SublimeTextAppScriptPersistence | Persistence using the Sublime Text application script. Appends to the end of the application script for Sublime to execute the jxa .js payload provided on the command line when running. Persistence executes upon Sublime opening. See @theevilbit's post: https://theevilbit.github.io/posts/macos_persisting_through-application_script_files/ | ./SublimeTextAppScriptPersistence [path_to_js_jxa_app] | modification to append to /Applications/Sublime Text.app/Contents/MacOS/sublime.py | python spawning -> osascript [payload] & |
| VimPluginPersistence | Persistence using Vim plugins. Creates a plugin file that is executed when vim is run. | ./VimPluginPersistence [path_to_js_jxa_app] | $HOME/.vim/plugin/d.vim created with a command to run the provided jxa js payload | osascript [payload] & |
| xbarPluginPersistence | Creates a plugin file that is executed when xbar is opened. Concept from @bradleyjkemp | ./xbarPluginPersistence [path_to_js_jxa_app] | $HOME/Library/Application Support/xbar/plugins/xbarUtil.py created | osascript [payload] & |