Possible macOS TCC Bypass via mdimport Loading Custom Spotlight Importer

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Collection

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
- T1005Data from Local System
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the macOS mdimport utility run with recursive or explicit importer flags against a user Spotlight directory or a custom mdimporter bundle. Microsoft described this as the Sploitlight technique that abuses Spotlight importers to read TCC-protected data. Loading an attacker-supplied importer lets code harvest private files that Spotlight can reach, so this invocation indicates exploitation.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1068 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious sqlcipher Decryption of Signal Database by WAVESIGN (via process_creation)

Suspicious Modification of CloudFiles BlockedApps Policy via registry_set

Suspicious Command Shell Spawned by lmadmin License Manager via process_creation

Suspicious Termination of Telegram Desktop Prior to Session Theft

Suspicious Named Pipe TyphoonPWN Local Privilege Escalation Marker (via pipe_created)

Suspicious Dell DBUtilDrv2 Vulnerable Driver Load via driver_load

Possible macOS TCC Bypass via mdimport Loading Custom Spotlight Importer

Pivot detection · T1068 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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