Frida iOS Mach-O Decryptor

A Python tool to decrypt and dump the executable code of iOS applications running on jailbroken devices.

I've been dissatisfied with existing iOS app decryption tools for a while. Many are outdated and don't handle rootless jailbreaks well, or don't work on newer iOS versions.

This tool automates the "clutching" process: it locates the encrypted __TEXT segment in memory, dumps the decrypted bytes using Frida, and surgically patches a local copy of the binary. It utilizes a hybrid approach (Raw I/O + LIEF) to ensure the binary is immediately ready for static analysis in tools like Binary Ninja, IDA Pro, or Ghidra.

Features

• Auto-Pull Binary: Automatically downloads the encrypted binary from the device - no manual SCP required.
• Full Automation: Dumps decrypted code and updates the Mach-O header (cryptid=0) in one pass.
• Module Targeting: Can decrypt the main app executable or specific encrypted frameworks/dylibs.
• Hybrid Patching:
  • Uses Raw I/O for precise, safe injection of code bytes.
  • Uses LIEF for safe parsing and modification of header metadata.
• Rootless Compatible: Works on both rootful and rootless jailbreaks (Palera1n, Dopamine, etc.) on iOS 15-18.
• Frida 17+ Compatible: Updated to use the latest Frida JavaScript API.
• Analysis Ready: The output file opens directly in disassemblers without encryption warnings.

Installation

Using pipx (Recommended)

Install the tool globally using pipx:

pipx install .

This makes the frida-decrypt command available from any directory.

To update after making changes:

pipx install --force .

To uninstall:

pipx uninstall frida-decrypt

Manual Installation

Alternatively, install with pip:

pip install .

Prerequisites

On the Host Machine

• Python 3.8 or later
• pipx (recommended) or pip

On the Jailbroken Device

• Frida Server must be running.
  • Rootless: Install frida-server via Sileo/Zebra.
  • Verification: Run frida-ps -U from your host machine to confirm connectivity.

Usage

1. Auto-Pull and Decrypt (Recommended)

The simplest method - automatically pulls the binary from the device and decrypts it:

frida-decrypt "<Process Name>"

Example:

frida-decrypt Instagram

Result: Downloads Instagram from device and creates Instagram_decrypted ready for analysis.

2. Using a Local Binary

If you already have the encrypted binary locally:

frida-decrypt "<Process Name>" -l "<Local Binary Path>"

Example:

frida-decrypt Instagram -l ./Instagram

3. Decrypting a Specific Dylib / Framework

Use this if the main logic is hidden inside an encrypted framework or dynamic library:

frida-decrypt "<Process Name>" -m "<Module Name>"

Example:

frida-decrypt Instagram -m SomeFramework

4. Custom Output Directory

Specify where to save the downloaded and decrypted binaries:

frida-decrypt Instagram -o ./output

Command Line Options

positional arguments:
  process               Name of the running process on the device

optional arguments:
  -l, --local-binary    Path to local encrypted binary (skip download)
  -m, --module          Specific module/dylib name to dump
  -o, --output-dir      Output directory (default: current directory)

How It Works

1. Attach: The script connects to the running app process on the device via USB.
2. Download (optional): Uses Frida to read the encrypted binary directly from the device filesystem.
3. Locate: Injects JavaScript to parse the Mach-O headers in memory, finding the LC_ENCRYPTION_INFO_64 command.
4. Dump: Reads the decrypted bytes from RAM.
5. Patch:
   • Uses standard file I/O to overwrite the encrypted bytes in the local file with the dumped data.
   • Uses LIEF to set cryptid to 0, marking the file as decrypted.

Troubleshooting

• Error attaching to process...

  • Ensure the app is running in the foreground.
  • Use frida-ps -U to verify the exact process name.

• LIEF Error: ...

  • The script will still inject the raw bytes. You may need to manually hex-edit the cryptid flag to 00.

• Binary download fails

  • Ensure Frida server is running on the device.
  • Try using -l with a manually transferred binary via SCP.

Requirements

• Frida 17.0.0 or later
• Python 3.8 or later
• LIEF library