We are using an app distributed via an iOS enterprise certificate. There is an exceptional user who could normally use the app signed with this certificate before upgrading to iOS 18. However, after updating to iOS 18 (currently on version 18.3), the app crashes immediately upon launch. Real-time logs indicate that the application fails to start. This issue is unique to this user, as other users on the same iOS 18.3 system do not experience the problem.
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This is a lengthy one. I have basically compiled a Rust binary into a dylib and packaged into a .xcframework that contains per arch .frameworks. This loads correctly when run from Xcode into a real iOS device. However, when deployed to TestFlight the app crashes.
Here is what is a bit different, the dylib is not fully self-contained. It tries to reach in an use C functions I have exposed in my library code. Calling functions that are just within the dylib and just return works fine, but the moment it tries to call one of the exposed functions it crashes.
A full in-depth step by step of how I packaged the binaries can be found in my website: https://ospfranco.com/complete-guide-to-dylibs-in-ios-and-android
When I look at the TestFlight crash report there are no symbols but the termination cause via WatchDog is:
Termination Reason: CODESIGNING 2 Invalid Page
I have declared my functions as such:
OBJC_EXTERN void ios_prepare_request(const char *url)
#define EXPORT __attribute__((visibility("default"), used, retain))
extern "C" {
EXPORT void ios_prepare_request(const char *url) {
NSString *urlString = [NSString stringWithUTF8String:url];
request =
[NSMutableURLRequest requestWithURL:[NSURL URLWithString:urlString]];
}
}
// Function used to prevent optimization
void force_symbol_registration() {
// Force these symbols to be included in the binary by referencing them
volatile void *ptrs[] = {(void *)ios_prepare_request,};
// Prevent compiler from optimizing away the array
(void)ptrs;
}
And I load my framework as:
opacity::force_symbol_registration();
// NSBundle *dylib_bundle =
// [NSBundle bundleWithIdentifier:@"com.opacitylabs.sdk"];
// NSString *dylib_path = [dylib_bundle pathForResource:@"sdk" ofType:@""];
// // Load the dynamic library
// void *handle = dlopen([dylib_path UTF8String], RTLD_NOW | RTLD_GLOBAL);
// if (!handle) {
// NSString *errorMessage = [NSString stringWithUTF8String:dlerror()];
// *error =
// [NSError errorWithDomain:@"OpacitySDKDylibError"
// code:1002
// userInfo:@{NSLocalizedDescriptionKey :
// errorMessage}];
// return -1; // or appropriate error code
// }
// Make sure the main executable's symbols are available
dlopen(NULL, RTLD_NOW | RTLD_GLOBAL);
NSBundle *frameworkBundle =
[NSBundle bundleWithIdentifier:@"com.opacitylabs.sdk"];
if (![frameworkBundle isLoaded]) {
BOOL success = [frameworkBundle load];
if (!success) {
NSString *errorMessage = @"Failed to load framework";
*error =
[NSError errorWithDomain:@"OpacitySDKDylibError"
code:1002
userInfo:@{NSLocalizedDescriptionKey : errorMessage}];
return -1;
}
}
As you can see, I have also tried dlopen both work when run from Xcode but crash when deployed on testflight.
I have tried re-signing the xcframework/frameworks on a pre build step but it doesn't work
As stated, I can call the functions inside the dylib, but once they try to call my exposed code it crashes
Is this achievable at all or just a limitation of the iOS sandbox?
I'm into packaging up my Mac game and want to submit it to the Mac App Store via XCode -> Product -> Archive -> Distribute App.
I'm getting the following error:
Validation failed
The installer package includes files that are only readable by the root user. This will prevent verification of the application's code signature when your app is run. Ensure that non-root users can read the files in your app.
I've created post build and post package hooks in xcode that list out the files do a debug log file, but there is no single file that is root only or having not 755 as rights.
Any idea what I can change to fix this? Is this even something I can influence? Or is this a App Store connect issue?
Thanks
Martin
We have an application which keeps throwing the error "application is damaged and cannot be opened. You should move it to Trash"
I have already referred to the documentation: https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/706379 and https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/706442
I have checked the following possible root causes:
Codesign of the application using the codesign command
Notarization of the application using the spctl command
Executable permissions
Checked for the presence of "com.apple.quarantine" flag for the application using xattr -l <path to executables"
Checked the bundle structure
None of the above listed items seemed to be a problem and are as expected.
Can you please help us understand what could cause this issue and how to resolve this without recommending an uninstall/reinstall of the application?
Background
I've repeatedly run into codesigning (and missing provisioning profile) issues for my Ruby/Glimmer app and am looking for ways to troubleshoot this outside of Xcode. The app structure is as follows:
PATHmanager.app
└── Contents
├── Info.plist
├── MacOS
│ └── PATHmanager
├── PkgInfo
├── Resources
│ └── AppIcon.icns
├── _CodeSignature
│ └── CodeResources
└── embedded.provisionprofile
Architecture
I have a Mac mini Apple M2 Pro with macOS Ventura 13.4. Xcode is not used directly, but the underlying command line tools (e.g., codesign, productbuild, pkgutil, xcrun) are run from a custom Ruby script.
xcodebuild -version
Xcode 14.3.1
Build version 14E300c
Questions
Is the .app directory and file structure/naming sufficient? If not, can you point me in the direction of a minimal example that does not use Xcode?
Info.plist is an XML text document (not binary), which I believe is in an acceptable format, but how do I lint this file and determine if it contains all of the necessary key/value pairs?
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>CFBundleDevelopmentRegion</key>
<string>en</string>
<key>CFBundleDisplayName</key>
<string>PATH manager</string>
<key>CFBundleExecutable</key>
<string>PATHmanager</string>
<key>CFBundleIconFile</key>
<string>AppIcon.icns</string>
<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
<string>com.chipcastle.pathmanager</string>
<key>CFBundleInfoDictionaryVersion</key>
<string>6.0</string>
<key>CFBundleName</key>
<string>PATHmanager</string>
<key>CFBundlePackageType</key>
<string>APPL</string>
<key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
<string>1.15</string>
<key>CFBundleSupportedPlatforms</key>
<array>
<string>MacOSX</string>
</array>
<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
<string>1.15</string>
<key>ITSAppUsesNonExemptEncryption</key>
<false/>
<key>LSApplicationCategoryType</key>
<string>public.app-category.developer-tools</string>
<key>LSMinimumSystemVersion</key>
<string>12.0</string>
<key>LSUIElement</key>
<false/>
<key>NSAppTransportSecurity</key>
<dict>
<key>NSAllowsArbitraryLoads</key>
<true/>
</dict>
<key>NSHumanReadableCopyright</key>
<string>© 2025 Chip Castle Dot Com, Inc.</string>
<key>NSMainNibFile</key>
<string>MainMenu</string>
<key>NSPrincipalClass</key>
<string>NSApplication</string>
</dict>
</plist>
PATHmanager is a Mach-O 64-bit executable arm64 file created by using Tebako. Does this executable need to be codesigned, or is codesigning the .app folder sufficient?
Does the .app directory need an entitlements file? Here's how I codesign it:
codesign --deep --force --verify --verbose=4 --options runtime --timestamp --sign 'Apple Distribution: Chip Castle Dot Com, Inc. (BXN9N7MNU3)' '/Users/chip/Desktop/distribution/PATHmanager.app'
Does the PATHmanager binary need an entitlements file? Here's how I codesign it:
codesign --deep --force --verify --verbose=4 --options runtime --timestamp --entitlements '/Users/chip/Desktop/PATHmanager.entitlements' --sign 'Apple Distribution: Chip Castle Dot Com, Inc. (BXN9N7MNU3)' '/Users/chip/Desktop/distribution/PATHmanager.app/Contents/MacOS/PATHmanager'
How can I verify what entitlements, if any, are required for codesigning the binary? The PATHmanager.entitlements file is an XML text file containing only the following:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>com.apple.security.app-sandbox</key>
<true/>
</dict>
</plist>
Is the embedded.provisionprofile necessary, and if so, how do I know determine if it matches the certificate or entitlements that I'm using? Additionally, is it named and located properly?
I submitted this to the AppStore several weeks ago and the reviewer reported that the executable would not load on their machine (even though it worked on mine.) Is it better for me to release via TestFlight for testing, and if so, do I need to following a separate process for codesigning (i.e., using different entitlements, profiles, certs, etc) when doing so?
I've been playing whack-a-mole with this for too long to mention and am hoping to nail down a better deployment flow, so any suggestions for improvement will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Topic:
Code Signing
SubTopic:
General