This project provides a comprehensive command-line framework for researching and analyzing iOS and macOS firmware, targeting security researchers, reverse engineers, and developers. It offers extensive tools for downloading, parsing, and interacting with Apple firmware and devices, streamlining complex analysis tasks.

How It Works

The ipsw tool is built in Go and operates as a monolithic CLI application, with an optional ipswd REST API daemon for automation. It leverages Go's capabilities for efficient file parsing and network operations. Key features include deep Mach-O binary analysis with ARM disassembly, dyld shared cache parsing for Objective-C and Swift class dumping, and detailed analysis of Apple's proprietary firmware formats like IMG4 and iBoot.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Installation: macOS (brew install blacktop/tap/ipsw), Linux (snap install ipsw), Windows (scoop install blacktop/ipsw), or Go (go install github.com/blacktop/ipsw/cmd/ipsw@latest).
• Requirements: Go 1.24+ for building from source, libusb for device interaction. Optional AI API keys for decompiler features.
• Documentation: https://blacktop.github.io/ipsw

Highlighted Details

• Supports downloading firmware from various sources including Apple, Developer Portal, and GitHub.
• Features advanced Mach-O parsing with ARM disassembly and AI-assisted decompilation.
• Provides comprehensive iOS device interaction capabilities via idev (file system, app management, logging).
• Integrates with App Store Connect for certificate and device management.

Maintenance & Community

The project is actively maintained by "blacktop" and has a community presence on GitHub Discussions and Twitter/Mastodon.

Licensing & Compatibility

Licensed under the MIT License, permitting commercial use and integration with closed-source projects.

Limitations & Caveats

Some macOS firmware operations may have compatibility issues. Certain analysis tasks can be resource-intensive, requiring significant memory and processing power. Comprehensive testing across all firmware versions and device types is ongoing.