Cytool for Mac ↗

Cytool is a command-line interface that is integrated into the Cortex XDR agent that enables you to query and manage both basic and advanced functions of the agent. Unless stated otherwise, changes you make using Cytool take effect when the agent receives the next heartbeat communication (every five minutes) from Cortex XDR.

On Mac endpoints, access Cytool as a super user using a terminal. Cytool is located in the /Library/Application Support/PaloAltoNetworks/Traps/bin directory on the endpoint.

The following table displays the Cytool options available on Mac endpoints. For the Cytool admin commands that require a password, the password is the same as is defined as the Uninstall password.

Note

Since Cortex XDR agent 7.6, the pmd process includes and replaces the trapsd process.

Command OptionDescription
cert_enforcement

Perform Certificate enforcement related operations.

Usage: cytool cert_enforcement <operation>

Where <operation> is one of the following:

  • query —Displays current enforcement status
  • disable —Forcibly disables enforcement
  • policy—Sets enforcement by policy
  • import <certificate file path>—Imports a proprietary certificate in PEM format as root CA
  • import clear—Clears all custom root CA certificates.
checkin

Initiate check-in to the server.

Usage: sudo ./cytool checkin

To verify the checkin, view the check-in time on the Cortex XDR agent console.

connectivity_test

Perform a connectivity test to Cortex XDR servers.

Usage: cytool connectivity_test [request_count]

dump

Enable or disable dump generation or restore policy settings.

Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool dump enable
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool dump disable
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool dump restore
endpoint_tags

Use Endpoint Tags to identify groups of endpoints.

Usage: sudo ./cytool endpoint_tags <action>

where <action> can be:

  • add—Adds tags to the endpoint tags.
  • remove—Removes the given tags from the list of endpoint tags.
  • list—Displays the available endpoint tags.

Note

Tags should be passed as one string separated by comas.

For example:

  • Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool endpoint_tags add "tag1[,tag2,...,tagN]"
  • Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool endpoint_tags remove "tag1[,tag2,...,tagN]"
  • Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool endpoint_tags list
enum

Enumerate protected processes.

Usage: sudo ./cytool enum

For example:

Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool enum
List of protected processes:
        Process name          Process ID             User
              Photos                2047            User1
                Mail                2099            User2

Note

If you change the action mode for protected processes in the Exploit Security Profile in Cortex XDR, you must restart the protected processes for the security policy to be enforced on the processes and its forked processes, and only then you will see them on this list.

-h --help
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool
Usage: cytool<options>
cytool - Support tool
Options:
-h --help                                           Display help information.
enum                                                List processes protected by Cortex XDR.
startup query                                       List startup status for Cortex XDR agent and daemons.
startup <enable | disable> <process_name | all>     Enable/Disable Cortex XDR agent and daemons after reboot.
runtime query                                       List runtime status for agent, daemons, and kernel extensions.
runtime <start | stop> <process_name | all>         Start/Stop Cortex XDR agent, daemons, and kernel extensions immediately.
persist list                                        Display persistent databases.
persist export <db_name | db_path>                  Export databases in JSON format.
persist import <db_name | db_path> <file_name>      Import data into the database from the given JSON file.
persist print <db_name | db_path> [csv]             Print database to the command prompt.
log <log_level> <process_name | all>                Set log level for the desired process.
log collect                                         Generate support file archive.
wakeup                                              Wake up from OS incompatibility state.
dump <enable | disable | restore>                   Enable/Disable dump generation or restore policy settings.
checkin                                             Update Cortex XDR from server.
opswat <installed | running | protected | version>  Check Cortex XDR Agent status and version.
import suexImport pre-downloaded content or local support exceptions. Used for solving specific problems with a support representative.
isolate

Usage: cytool isolate stop

Release endpoint from network isolation.

log

Log set_level - Set the log level for the desired process.

Usage: sudo ./cytool log set_level <log_level> <components>

where:

  • <log_level> is an integer value corresponding to the log level:

    • 0—Disable logging
    • 1—Fatal
    • 2—Critical
    • 3—Error
    • 4—Warning
    • 5—Notice
    • 6—Information
    • 7—Debug
    • 8—Trace
  • <components> is all or one or more of the following agent component: authorized, pmd, cortex xdr, kproc-ctrl.

For example:

Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool log set_level 2 all

log collect

Use the sudo ./cytool log collect command to generate a support file archive of all logs in a TGZ file. On Mac endpoints running OS X 10.10 and OSX 10.11, Cytool outputs the logs to the /var/log/traps directory. On Mac endpoints running macOS 10.12 and later, you can view logs from the Console application.

opswat

Check the Cortex XDR agent status and version.

Usage: sudo ./cytool opswat <parameter>

where <parameter> is:

  • version—Displays the version of the agent.

  • installed—Displays the agent installation status:

    • true if the com.paloaltonetworks.pkg.cortx xdr package is installed.

    • false if the package is not installed.

      You must also supply the agent supervisor password to view the status.

  • running—Displays the running status of agent daemons: true if running or false if not running.
  • protected—Displays the applied policy status: true if applied or false if not applied.
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool opswat version
8.1.0.1042
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool opswat installed
Password:
true
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool opswat running
true
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool opswat protected
true
persist

The Cortex XDR agent stores policy and security event information such as the list of trusted signers, local verdicts, and one-time actions in local databases on the endpoint. To troubleshoot policy issues and security events, you can use cytool persist operations to import, export, and view information stored in the local database.

Usage: sudo ./cytool persist <action>

where <action>:

  • list—List the local databases on the endpoint.
  • export [<database name> | <databasepath>]—Export database table to a file in the /Library/Application Support/PaloAltoNetworks/Traps/bin/ directory.
  • import [<database name> | <databasepath>] <file name>—Add records in a JSON file to the database.
  • print <database name> | <databasepath>—Print the database, in comma-separated values (CSV) format, to the command prompt.

To view a list of all local databases, use the cytool persist list command.

queryallThe cytool queryall command displays a list of imported certificates, for troubleshooting purposes.
reconnect

Try reconnecting to the server if communication has been disabled, or force registration with a new distribution_id.

Usage:

  • cytool reconnect—Reconnects the Cortex XDR agent to the management application on the server.
  • cytool reconnect [force <distribution_id>]

Note

The distribution_id must belong to an installation package for the same operating system, and for the same or an earlier agent version than the one currently installed.

runtime

Stop or start product components.

Usage: sudo ./cytool runtime <action> <component>

where:

  • <action>—Change startup runtime action for an agent component.

    Options are: start, stop, query. The query option displays the startup status for each component.

  • <component>—Target component for which to set the runtime action, or all components if no components are specified.

    To change the runtime action for multiple components, list them with spaces separating each component.

    Options are: cortex xdr, authorized, pmd, kproc-ctrl

For example:

Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool runtime query
         Name    PID         User              Status		Command
cortex xdr   1055        User1             Running		/Library/Application Support/PaloAltoNetworks/Traps/bin/cortex xdr.app/Contents/MacOS/cortex xdr
authorized    927  _traps_panw             Running		/Library/Application Support/PaloAltoNetworks/Traps/bin/authorized
pmd    909         root             Running		/Library/Application Support/PaloAltoNetworks/Traps/bin/pmd
kproc-ctrl    159         root              Loaded		com.paloaltonetworks.driver.kproc-ctrl
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool runtime stop all
         Name    PID         User              Status		Command
authorized    N/A          N/A             STOPPED		N/A
pmd    N/A          N/A             STOPPED		N/A
cortex xdr    N/A          N/A             STOPPED		N/A
kproc-ctrl    N/A          N/A            Unloaded		N/A
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool runtime start all
         Name    PID         User              Status		Command
system call failed for command='/usr/bin/su -l Traps -c "/bin/launchctl start cortex xdr.plist"', returned status code=768
authorized   1883  _traps_panw             Running		/Library/Application Support/PaloAltoNetworks/Traps/bin/authorized
pmd   1889         root             Running		/Library/Application Support/PaloAltoNetworks/Traps/bin/pmd
cortex xdr    N/A          N/A     FAILED TO START		N/A
kproc-ctrl    160         root              Loaded		com.paloaltonetworks.driver.kproc-ctrl
security_modules

Query, enable, disable or return to policy the Cortex XDR agent anti-tampering protection.

Usage: cytool security_modules operation module

Where:

  • Operation is one of the following:

    • query — Queries Security Module activity status
    • enable— Enables Security Module
    • disable— Disables Security Module
    • policy— Syncs the Security Module according to cloud-defined policy
  • Module options self_prot | proc_ctrl | event_collection | dlprot | kpep | dlp | all

Example: To disable the Cortex XDR agent anti-tampering protection:

cytool security_modules disable self_prot

startup

Enable, disable, or query the startup state of Cortex XDR agent components.

Usage: sudo ./cytool startup <action> <component>

where:

  • <action>—Change startup action for an agent component.

    Options are: enable, disable, query.

    The query option displays the startup status for each component.

  • <component>—Target component for which to set the startup action. To change the startup action for multiple components, list them with spaces separating each component. Options are: cortex xdr, authorized, pmd, kproc-ctrl

For example:

Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool startup disable cortex xdr pmd
                  Process name                Startup status
cortex xdr                      Disabled
authorized                      Enabled
pmd                      Disabled
kproc-ctrl                      Loaded
Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool startup enable all
                  Process name                Startup status
cortex xdr                      Enabled
authorized                      Enabled
pmd                      Enabled
kproc-ctrl                      Loaded
wakeup

Wake up the endpoint from an OS incompatibility state.

Traps-Mac:bin Traps$ sudo ./cytool wakeup SIGTERM caught