Investigating a kernel panic, I discovered that Apple Silicon Panic traces are not working with how I know to symbolicate the panic information. I have not found proper documentation that corrects this situation.
Attached file is an indentity-removed panic, received from causing an intentional panic (dereferencing nullptr), so that I know what functions to expect in the call stack. This is cut-and-pasted from the "Report To Apple" dialog that appears after the reboot:
panic_1_4_21_b.txt
To start, I download and install the matching KDK (in this case KDK_14.6.1_23G93.kdk), identified from this line:
OS version: 23G93
Kernel version: Darwin Kernel Version 23.6.0: Mon Jul 29 21:14:04 PDT 2024; root:xnu-10063.141.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8122
Then start lldb from Terminal, using this command:
bash_prompt % lldb -arch arm64e /Library/Developer/KDKs/KDK_14.6.1_23G93.kdk/System/Library/Kernels/kernel.release.t8122
Next I load the remaining scripts per the instructions from lldb:
(lldb) settings set target.load-script-from-symbol-file true
I need to know what address to load my kext symbols to, which I read from this line of the panic log, after the @ symbol:
com.company.product(1.4.21d119)[92BABD94-80A4-3F6D-857A-3240E4DA8009]@0xfffffe001203bfd0->0xfffffe00120533ab
I am using a debug build of my kext, so the DWARF symbols are part of the binary. I use this line to load the symbols into the lldb session:
(lldb) addkext -F /Library/Extensions/KextName.kext/Contents/MacOS/KextName 0xfffffe001203bfd0
And now I should be able to use lldb image lookup to identify pointers on the stack that land within my kext. For example, the current PC at the moment of the crash lands within the kext (expected, because it was intentional):
(lldb) image lookup -a 0xfffffe001203fe10
Which gives the following incorrect result:
Address: KextName[0x0000000000003e40] (KextName.__TEXT.__cstring + 14456)
Summary: "ffer has %d retains\n"
That's not even a program instruction - that's within a cstring. No, that cstring isn't involved in anything pertaining to the intentional panic I am expecting to see.
Can someone please explain what I'm doing wrong and provide instructions that will give symbol information from a panic trace on an Apple Silicon Mac?
Disclaimers:
Yes I know IOPCIFamily is deprecated, I am in process of transitioning to DriverKit Dext from IOKit kext. Until then I must maintain the kext.
Terminal command "atos" provides similar incorrect results, and seems to not work with debug-built-binaries (only dSYM files)
Yes this is an intentional panic so that I can verify the symbolicate process before I move on to investigating an unexpected panic
I have set nvram boot-args to include keepsyms=1
I have tried (lldb) command script import lldb.macosx but get a result of error: no images in crash log (after the nvram settings)
Drivers
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We are looking for a solution (API, Frameworks) that would allow us to block any type of external device, including storage devices, HIDs, network adapters, and Bluetooth devices according with dynamic rules that comes from management server . This feature is important for endpoint security solutions vendors, and it can be implemented on other platforms and older versions of macOS using the IOKit framework and kexts.
I have found one solution that can control the usage only of "storage" devices with the EndpointSecurity framework in conjunction with the DiskArbitration framework. This involves monitoring the MOUNT and OPEN events for /dev/disk files, checking for devices as they appear, and ejecting them if they need to be blocked.. Also, I have found the ES_EVENT_TYPE_AUTH_IOKIT_OPEN event in EndpointSecurity.framework, but it doesn't seem to be useful, at least not for my purposes, because ES doesn't provide AUTH events for some system daemons, such as configd (it only provides NOTIFY events). Furthermore, there are other ways to communicate with devices and their drivers apart from IOKit.
DriverKit.framework does not provide the necessary functionality either, as it requires specific entitlements that are only available to certain vendors and devices. Therefore, it cannot be used to create universal drivers for all devices, which should be blocked.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Drivers
I've tried on multiple occasions to add a message on to the request form for a vendor ID, but it always comes back with just the one default.
I read in another post that they got it done through the Feedback Assistant, but that hasn't worked for me.
Does anyone have any other ideas?
Between us and our parent company, I need three vendor IDs.
=1) The situation:
1A) I make both a "DExt" and a "SDK" for still-imaging-USB-gadgets and MACOS>=14 ,iPADOS>=17
1B) One of the USB-gadgets needs warm_up after PlugIn (i.e End-User-App must know "now-TheMomentOfPlugIn" with precision ~1sec).
=2) The question is how to do "1B" rationally?
=3) My speculative guess: in BSD-descendant I expect existence (somewhere) of a "normal file" through "macports etc", which has normal "file creation time". Such a "file creation time" (accessible better via IORegistryEntry... at SDK-level; possibly via IOUSBHostInterface at DExt-level) is cognitive target of mine.
=4) Additional constraints: Technically absent. I freely modify code either DExt (descendant of IOUSBHostInterface) or SDK-level (IORegistryEntryGetRegistryEntryID, IORegistryEntry...)
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Drivers
Trying to use IOLog to print out a message from a dext. When I try to use IOLog, I get , though I did not or thought I did not tag it as private. I have tried to update the info.plist file for the dext according to https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/705810, but that has not helped, or perhaps I am not defining it correctly since it's a dext. Anyone else had this issue, and how did you fix it?
I have USB DriverKit driver. When I use the log command below to get log, there is logs from my driver on my own M-series MacBook where the driver is built using developer account.
log stream | grep CompanyName
But on other mac like (M-series) Mac Mini, there is no log captured from driver though the driver is communicating with the machine correctly. The only log captured are from MacOS regarding CompanyName driver status/unload/load. The MacOS is Sonoma 14.7.2 and 14.7.3.
Please advise on how to get log from driver since writing to files is not allowed in DriverKit. I need logs to troubleshoot on Mac Mini.
Thanks.
Hello every one good day :)
My project uses a mouse driver handling all events from the mouse produced by our company. In the past the driver is a kext, which implement acceleration by HIDPointerAccelerationTable, we prepare data in the driver's info.plist, while our app specifies a value to IOHIDSystem with key kIOHIDPointerAccelerationKey, the driver will call copyAccelerationTable() to lookup the HIDPointerAccelerationTable and return a value.
In current DriverKit area, the process above is deprecated. Now I don't know to do. I've read some document:
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/hiddriverkit/iohidpointereventoptions/kiohidpointereventoptionsnoacceleration?changes=__7_8
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/hiddriverkit/kiohidmouseaccelerationtypekey?changes=__7_8
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/hiddriverkit/kiohidpointeraccelerationkey?changes=__7_8
but no any description in those articles. Please help!
Hello Everyone,
I am trying to create a Fake SCSI target based on SCSIControllerDriverKit.framework and inherent from IOUserSCSIParallelInterfaceController, here is the code
kern_return_t IMPL(DRV_MAIN_CLASS_NAME, Start)
{
...
// Programmatically create a null SCSI Target
SCSIDeviceIdentifier nullTargetID = 0; // Example target ID, adjust as needed
ret = UserCreateTargetForID(nullTargetID, nullptr);
if (ret != kIOReturnSuccess) {
Log("Failed to create Null SCSI Target for ID %llu", nullTargetID);
return ret;
}
...
}
According the document UserCreateTargetForID, after creating a TargetID successfully, the framework will call the UserInitializeTargetForID()
The document said:
As part of the UserCreateTargetForID call, the kernel calls several APIs like UserInitializeTargetForID which run on the default dispatch queue of the dext.
But after UserCreateTargetForID created, why the UserInitializeTargetForID() not be invoked automatically?
Here is the part of log show
init() - Start
init() - End
Start() - Start
Start() - try 1 times
UserCreateTargetForID() - Start
Allocating resources for Target ID 0
UserCreateTargetForID() - End
Start() - Finished.
UserInitializeController() - Start
- PCI vendorID: 0x14d6, deviceID: 0x626f.
- BAR0: 0x1, BAR1: 0x200004.
- GetBARInfo() - BAR1 - MemoryIndex: 0, Size: 262144, Type: 0.
UserInitializeController() - End
UserStartController() - Start
- msiInterruptIndex : 0x00000000
- interruptType info is 0x00010000
- PCI Dext interrupt final value, return status info is 0x00000000
UserStartController() - End
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance for your support.
Best regards, Charles
Hello Everyone,
I have noticed an inconsistency in the KEXT status between the System Information Extensions section and the output of the kextstat command.
In System Information, the extension appears as loaded:
ACS6x:
Version: 3.8.3
Last Modified: 2025/3/10, 8:03 PM
Bundle ID: com.Accusys.driver.Acxxx
Loaded: Yes
Get Info String: ACS6x 3.8.4 Copyright (c) 2004-2020 Accusys, Ltd.
Architectures: arm64e
64-Bit (Intel): No
Location: /Library/Extensions/ACS6x.kext/
Kext Version: 3.8.3
Load Address: 0
Loadable: Yes
Dependencies: Satisfied
Signed by: Developer ID Application: Accusys, Inc (K3TDMD9Y6B)
Issuer: Developer ID Certification Authority
Signing time: 2025-03-10 12:03:20 +0000
Identifier: com.Accusys.driver.Acxxx
TeamID: K3TDMD9Y6B
However, when I check using kextstat, it does not appear as loaded:
$ kextstat | grep ACS6x
Executing: /usr/bin/kmutil showloaded
No variant specified, falling back to release
I use a script to do these jobs
echo " Change to build/Release"
echo " CodeSign ACS6x.kext"
echo " Compress to zip file"
echo " Notary & Staple"
echo " Unload the old Acxxx Driver"
echo " Copy ACS6x.kext driver to /Library/Extensions/"
echo " Change ACS6x.kext driver owner"
echo " Loaded ACS6x.kext driver"
sudo kextload ACS6x.kext
echo " Rebiuld system cache"
sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel
sudo kextcache -system-caches
sudo kextcache -i /
echo " Reboot"
sudo reboot
But it seems that the KEXT is not always loaded successfully.
What did I forget to do?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Charles
I have Windows drives on my Mac but I didn't get the Wellness boot Campdrivers how can I install them
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Drivers
Hello Everyone,
I am working on migrating a KEXT to DriverKit but am struggling to resolve a specific issue. The code in question is simple, but I haven't been able to find a solution.
void AME_IO_milliseconds_Delay(AME_U32 Delay)
{
Log("AME_IO_milliseconds_Delay()");
IOSleep(Delay);
return;
}
//delay for a number of microseconds
void AME_IO_microseconds_Delay(AME_U32 Delay)
{
Log("AME_IO_microseconds_Delay()");
IODelay(Delay);
return;
}
I've sought help from Copilot and ChatGPT, but their suggestions haven't worked. Any guidance on how to implement this functionality in DriverKit would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Best regards, Charles
When my virtual CoreAudio server plugins propagates a change to it´s device name the CoreAudio system does not seem to reflect the change.
My user mode application subscribes to the property change and receives the change though.
I also alternatively submitted a kAudioObjectPropertyName change with the same effect.
Is this possible at all and what needs to be done then?
Are there restrictions about which properties can be successfully changed and are reflected by the system?
Any hint is highly appreciated!
Thanks
Hello Everyone,
I'm encountering an issue while setting up a timer event in DriverKit and would appreciate any guidance.
Here's my current implementation:
void DRV_MAIN_CLASS_NAME::SetupEventTimer()
{
// 1. Create dispatch queue
kern_return_t ret = IODispatchQueue::Create("TimerQueue", 0, 0, &ivars->dispatchQueue);
if (ret != kIOReturnSuccess) {
LogErr("Failed to create dispatch queue: 0x%x", ret);
return;
}
// 2. Create timer source
ret = IOTimerDispatchSource::Create(ivars->dispatchQueue, &ivars->dispatchSource);
if (ret != kIOReturnSuccess) {
LogErr("Failed to create timer: 0x%x", ret);
OSSafeReleaseNULL(ivars->dispatchQueue);
return;
}
/*!
* @brief Create an instance of OSAction.
* @discussion Methods to allocate an OSAction instance are generated for each method defined in a class with
* a TYPE attribute, so there should not be any need to directly call OSAction::Create().
* @param target OSObject to receive the callback. This object will be retained until the OSAction is
* canceled or freed.
* @param targetmsgid Generated message ID for the target method.
* @param msgid Generated message ID for the method invoked by the receiver of the OSAction
* to generate the callback.
* @param referenceSize Size of additional state structure available to the creator of the OSAction
* with GetReference.
* @param action Created OSAction with +1 retain count to be released by the caller.
* @return kIOReturnSuccess on success. See IOReturn.h for error codes.
*/
// 3: Create an OSAction for the TimerOccurred method
// THIS IS WHERE I NEED HELP
OSAction* timerAction = nullptr;
ret = OSAction::Create(this, 0, 0, 0, &timerAction);
if (ret != kIOReturnSuccess) {
LogErr("Failed to create OSAction: 0x%x", ret);
goto cleanup;
}
// 4. Set handler
ret = ivars->dispatchSource->SetHandler(timerAction);
if (ret != kIOReturnSuccess) {
LogErr("Failed to set handler: 0x%x", ret);
goto cleanup;
}
// 5. Schedule timer (1 second)
uint64_t deadline = mach_absolute_time() + NSEC_PER_SEC;
ivars->dispatchSource->WakeAtTime(0, deadline, 0);
cleanup:
if (ret != kIOReturnSuccess) {
OSSafeReleaseNULL(timerAction);
OSSafeReleaseNULL(ivars->dispatchSource);
OSSafeReleaseNULL(ivars->dispatchQueue);
}
}
Problem:
The code runs but the OSAction callback binding seems incorrect (Step 3).
According to the OSAction documentation, I need to use the TYPE macro to properly bind the callback method. But I try to use
TYPE(DRV_MAIN_CLASS_NAME::TimerOccurred)
kern_return_t TimerOccurred() LOCALONLY;
TYPE(TimerOccurred)
kern_return_t TimerOccurred() LOCALONLY;
kern_return_t TimerOccurred() TYPE(DRV_MAIN_CLASS_NAME::TimerOccurred) LOCALONLY;
All results in Out-of-line definition of 'TimerOccurred' does not match any declaration in 'DRV_MAIN_CLASS_NAME'
Questions:
What is the correct way to declare a timer callback method using TYPE?
How to get the values targetmsgid & msgid generated by Xcode?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Best Regards, Charles
I have a custom USB Audio Class 2 (UAC2) compatible device. When I connect this custom device to a MacBook with a configuration of up to 10 channels (16-bit), everything seems to work fine.
However, when I increase the channel count to 12, the MacBook does not recognize the 12 channels. It only shows the channel count as 0.
TN2274 is the only source where I found some information about Apple's Audio Class Drivers, but it doesn't mention any limitations regarding channel counts.
Could you let me know the current limitations of the Audio Class Drivers on the latest macOS versions? What configuration should I use to get 12 channels working?
P.S. I also found that a 12-channel, 8-bit configuration is detected by the MacBook, bit I want it to work with 16bits.
For more detail please check FB17098863
When I develop the system extension tool, I need to subscribe to the remote thread creation event. When the remote thread injection is triggered, I want to get the id, module name and starting function name of the remote thread. How can I get this information from es_event_remote_thread_create_t? If I can't get this information from es_event_remote_thread_create_t, is there any other way to get it?
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Drivers
Hi Everyone!
I want to block the USB wired mouse from accessing my machine. Which framework is used to implement ?
PS: I have already tried DriverKit Framework but it requires Apple's paid developer account. What will be alternative ?
Hello,
I recently created an app with the Calldirectory Extension. It worked all good as long as I was on my development iphone. I tried to install the app on my privat iphone (same phone/same os version), but then I faced an issue. I couldn't enable the Calldirectory Extension with an error
(Error Enabling Extension
Failed to request data for APPNAME. You may try enabling the extension again, and if the problem persists, conatact the application developer.)
Hi,
our virtual CoreAudio server plugin creates and removes dynamically CoreAudio devices. Each time it does so it leaves traces in
/Library/Preferences/Audio
com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist
com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist
The files on the test machine now have become >1Mb and the system keeps recreating them.
How can I manually remove/cleanup these files? (This is for development only. It already became pretty tedious to evaluate current device settings for debugging purposes.)
How can the CoreAudio server plugin make sure once a device has been removed also its entries are removed from the .plist (It already removes it's storage, but the system still keeps other settings.)
Is there some documentation about what gets stored and how the settings are organized in these preferences? (This is also for development and debugging only. We are not intending to access these settings directly )
Thanks!
Hello everyone.
I have been developing PCIe device driver through Thunderbolt.
However, it was confirmed that up to three devices connected to the daisy chain worked normally,
but the fourth device failed to operate the _CopyDeviceMemoryWithIndex() function for connection with the BAR0 App and did not work properly.
The standard specification of Thunderbolt 3/4 is said to be supported by daisy chain connection up to 6-device,
but in reality, it is only 3 units,
so I ask the forum for technical confirmation.
Of course total 4 device by 2-port x 2-device daisy chain connecting has working well.
The PCI entry in System information indicates that all devices have normal load of the PCIe device driver.
Thank you.
We’re looking for a reliable way to determine whether an iPad device supports DriverKit. Since there doesn't appear to be a direct public API for this, our current approach is as follows:
Retrieve the device’s model identifier (e.g., "iPad14,8") and the iOS/iPadOS version.
Map the model identifier to a known iPad model and its associated chip. If the device has an M-series chip, we assume it supports DriverKit.
For future-proofing, we plan to assume that any future iPad with a model identifier of iPad15,* or higher will contain an M-series chip and therefore support DriverKit.
We have a couple of questions:
Is there a more reliable or official API to determine the chip version or DriverKit support?
Is it reasonable to rely on the assumptions outlined in steps 2 and 3 for determining DriverKit compatibility?
Topic:
App & System Services
SubTopic:
Drivers