MacOS Python / kernel flag inspection via sysctl

Code

import ctypes
import os
import sys
import platform

def is_debugger_attached():
    try:
        libc = ctypes.CDLL('/usr/lib/libc.dylib')
        
        # Define function prototype for sysctl
        libc.sysctl.argtypes = [
            ctypes.POINTER(ctypes.c_int),
            ctypes.c_uint,
            ctypes.c_void_p,
            ctypes.POINTER(ctypes.c_size_t),
            ctypes.c_void_p,
            ctypes.c_size_t
        ]
        
        # flags
        kinfo_proc = (ctypes.c_byte * 648)()  # Size for arm64
        size = ctypes.c_size_t(ctypes.sizeof(kinfo_proc))
        
        # MIB for sysctl
        CTL_KERN = 1
        KERN_PROC = 14
        KERN_PROC_PID = 1
        
        mib = (ctypes.c_int * 4)(CTL_KERN, KERN_PROC, KERN_PROC_PID, os.getpid())
        

        ret = libc.sysctl(mib, 4, kinfo_proc, ctypes.byref(size), None, 0)
        print(f"sysctl return: {ret}")
        
        if ret == 0:
            # The p_flag field is at offset 0x18 (24) in arm64
            p_flag = int.from_bytes(kinfo_proc[24:28], byteorder='little')
            print(f"Process flags: {p_flag:08x}")
            
            P_TRACED = 0x00000800    # Being traced (debugged)
            P_TRACED_SYS = 0x00000200  # System trace flag
            
            is_traced = bool(p_flag & (P_TRACED | P_TRACED_SYS))
            print(f"Trace flags check: {p_flag & (P_TRACED | P_TRACED_SYS):08x}")
            return is_traced
            
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {str(e)}")
        return False

# Alternative method using vmmap
def check_debugger_vmmap():
    try:
        import subprocess
        cmd = f"vmmap {os.getpid()}"
        result = subprocess.run(cmd.split(), capture_output=True, text=True)
        return "LLDB" in result.stdout or "debugserver" in result.stdout
    except:
        return False

print("Starting debugger check...")
print(f"Current PID: {os.getpid()}")
print(f"Platform: {platform.machine()}")

print("\nMethod 1: sysctl")
if is_debugger_attached():
    print("⚠️ Debugger detected!")
else:
    print("✅ No debugger attached")

print("\nMethod 2: vmmap")
if check_debugger_vmmap():
    print("⚠️ Debugger detected!")
else:
    print("✅ No debugger attached")