Kernel extensions must be digitally signed using an Apple Developer ID for Signing Kexts certificate and installed into /Library/Extensions. However, signed kernel extensions must be installed into /Library/Extensions. Unsigned kernel extensions can still be installed into /System/Library/Extensions, which is where kernel extensions have been installed up until OS X Mavericks. Kernel extensions should be digitally signed using an Apple Developer ID for Signing Kexts certificate, but this code signing requirement is not enforced strictly. A memory error in a kernel extension can cause a kernel panic, which crashes the whole operating system.Īs a result, starting with OS X Mavericks, Apple has been making changes to how third party kernel extensions have been allowed to operate: However, if a kernel extension has a similar issue, the kernel doesn’t have similar memory protections. The rest of the OS is fine though, thanks to the OS’s memory protections. The issue for Apple is that, when kernel extensions aren’t working right, the whole OS has problems that wouldn’t otherwise happen.Īs an example of this, if an application which doesn’t use a kernel extension has a memory error, the worst consequence is that the affected application crashes. The reason for this has been that kernel extensions are able to plug into the macOS kernel’s space and access low-level resources, like hardware devices. What’s all this mean? For more details, see below the jump.Īpple has been trying to discourage third party software developers from using kernel extensions for the past few years. Any user can approve a kernel extension, even if they don’t have administrator privileges. This is known as User Approved Kernel Extension Loading. To improve security on the Mac, kernel extensions installed with or after the installation of macOS High Sierra require user consent in order to load. Prepare for changes to kernel extensions in macOS High Sierra:.That section in turn links to this KBase article, which describes the behavior in more detail: This feature will require changes to some apps and installers in order to preserve the desired user experience. MacOS High Sierra introduces a new feature that requires user approval before loading new third-party kernel extensions. Prepare your institution for iOS 11, macOS High Sierra, or macOS Server 5.4: Īs part of the KBase article, Apple included a Changes coming with macOS High Sierra section which featured this note:.As part of the pre-release announcements about macOS High Sierra, Apple released the following KBase article:
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