Codesign gdb on OSX · GitHub

Codesign gdb on OSX · GitHub

Note: these instructions are for pre-Sierra MacOS. Sierra (10.12) and newer users see https://gist.github.com/gravitylow/fb595186ce6068537a6e9da6d8b5b96d by @gravitylow

If you are getting this in gdb on OSX while trying to run a program:

Unable to find Mach task port for process-id 57573: (os/kern) failure (0x5).
 (please check gdb is codesigned - see taskgated(8))

1. Open Keychain Access
2. In the menu, open Keychain Access > Certificate Assistant > Create a certificate
3. Give it a name (e.g. gdbc)
   • Identity type: Self Signed Root
   • Certificate type: Code Signing
   • Check: let me override defaults
4. Continue until it prompts you for: "specify a location for..."
5. Set Keychain location to System
6. Create a certificate and close assistant.
7. Find the certificate in System keychains, right click it > get info (or just double click it)
8. Expand Trust, set Code signing to always trust
9. Restart taskgated in terminal: killall taskgated
10. Enable root account:
    1. Open System Preferences
    2. Go to User & Groups > Unlock
    3. Login Options > "Join" (next to Network Account Server)
    4. Click "Open Directory Utility"
    5. Go up to Edit > Enable Root User
11. Run codesign -fs gdbc /usr/local/bin/gdb in terminal: this asks for the root password
12. Disable root account (see #10)

Done!