A dark web user going by the name “l33tfg” posted what they claim to be the decompiled source code of the Apple App Store on a popular underground forum. The actor shared links to the files, stating they had successfully reverse-engineered the app and uploaded the results for public access.
The files—hosted on Catbox—include:
- A
.bndbfile viewable in Binary Ninja, a reverse engineering tool - An
.mfile containing Objective-C code the poster claims to have copied manually
This raises serious concerns about the integrity and security of Apple’s closed ecosystem. If the code is indeed authentic, it could expose core components of the App Store, including the logic behind app distribution, verification, and possibly Apple’s DRM mechanisms.
What are the Implications?
- Exploitation of vulnerabilities: Attackers could analyze the code to discover flaws that can be weaponized.
- App impersonation or bypassing security: If internal processes are exposed, it could lead to cloned stores or manipulated app review processes.
- Intellectual property risk: Apple’s proprietary technology might now be in the hands of unauthorized third parties.
Although the legitimacy of the files hasn’t been confirmed, the claim alone is enough to warrant attention, especially considering Apple’s notoriously tight grip on its codebase.