SageMath-9.0.app copied from mounted disk image file sage-9.0-OSX_10.15.2-x86_64.app.dmg
was refused by macOS Mojave on my machine.
I managed to bypass authentication for my machine in some way.
But, this experience might suggest a bigger trouble.
So, I would like to explain my workaround and then ask questions.
I also ask cooperation of the developers and the users.
Symptom
A possible reason is the signature of Info.plist
in SageMath-9.0.app
.
```Console myhome$ codesign --verify /Applications/SageMath-9.0.app/ /Applications/SageMath-9.0.app/: invalid Info.plist (plist or signature have been modified) In architecture: x86_64 ```
Bypassing Authentication
On macOS Mojave, it is hard to work around this error. Articles on internet say that GUI-interface for skipping authentication was removed from macOS Mojave. I cannot verify the precise meaning of this change because I moved from macOS Mavericks to macOS Mojave skipping several versions. I also hesitate to upgrade to macOS Catalina because I am using some old software I do not expect to work in macOS Catalina.
Anyway, I managed to find a workaround for my machine.
It was to use spctl
command from Terminal.app.
I describe it here.
First step is to disabling SecAssessment system
.
```Console myhome$ sudo spctl --master-disable ```
The second step is double clicking the Mac Application SageMath-9.0.app
. (Depending on the settings of Finder
, the file name may read SageMath-9.0
.)
- A dialogue window appears and asks if it is OK to open
SageMath-9.0.app
. ClickOpen
. - Then, click
Continue
for the dialogue ofRead-only Sage
. - If there is a
.sage
folder in the home folder, clickAsk me Lator
for the dialogue ofSage Notebook Upgrade
. - Web page
loading-page.html
and Jupyter's login page show-up. Close these two pages and quitSage
from menu of Icosahedron Icon.
The third step is to enable SecAssessment system
.
```Console myhome$ sudo spctl --master-enable ```
Analyzing the Trouble
I tested the situation in 2x2 = 4 combinations.
Each time, I deleted SageMath-9.0.app
and copied SageMath-9.0.app
from the disk image file.
- Double click
SageMath-9.0.app
before unix command/Applications/SageMath-9.0.app/sage
or in the reverse order. - Double click
SageMath-9.0.app
whileSecAssessment system
is enabled and double clickSageMath-9.0.app
afterSecAssessment system
is disabled.
Altering contents of SageMath-9.0.app
by relocate-once.py
of invocation of /Applications/SageMath-9.0.app/sage
earlier than the authentication does not change the situation.
I also applied codesign
command immediately after copying SageMath-9.0.app
from the disk image file.
The command detected error in signature of Info.plist
.
All these results suggest Info.plist
of SageMath-9.0.app
was altered after it was signed and before it was shipped out.
Or a more serious possibility is different versions of macOS have different behaviour of authentication, which cause SageMath-9.0.app
refused by different versions of macOS from the developer's environment.
I guess this should be solved in the next release.
Two Questions and Call for Cooperation
_The first question is if the developer' s environment accepts SageMath-9.0.app
?_
If the environment accepts the software it has once accepted,
test for this issue must include verfication of signature by codesign
command. (An example of such a verification is quoted at the beginning.)
Here, I expect different behaviour of authentication from the one I observed. This is because I expect the developer compiles the software into the same application bundle in the same location overwriting the software, which might influence different behaviour of authentication from the user's machine.
_The second question is if is it OK to run /Applications/SageMath-9.1.app/sage
from Terminal.app before authentication process (which is triggered by double clicking SageMath-9.1.app
)?_
This is about the situtation in which SageMath-9.1
would pass the authentication process of macOS if authentication is earlier than the command line invocation of SageMath-9.1.app
.
As what Apple does is mysterious, I feel we should check this issue.
(I have in mind: a unix user helps his fiend installing SageMath-9.1.app
knowing his fiend is scared of command line. However, for demonstration of how Sagemath works, he invokes the SageMath-9.1.app/sage
.
This can be at lunch time after sage is assinged in math class.
They seperate and after several classes, the friend tries to use SageMath-9.1.app
double clicking it.
Unfortunately, the friend does not understand command line.
The report on sage is impossible to be in time.)
Up to here, I was mainly writing to the developers. I also want to ask one thing to the users.
I heard authentication of macOS is getting stronger and stronger for these four years. I am afraid this means finalization of SageMath-9.1
requires testing authentication on macOS Sierra, macOS High Sierra, macOS Mojave and macOS Catalina.
I volunteer to be the tester of authentication for macOS Mojave.
_I ask the developers and the users to coopereate testing authentication of SageMath-9.1.app
._