App Store BTS update?

Question

Level 1

5 points

App Store BTS update?

Today at about 5:00pm EST all Mac users in my Call of Duty 4 clan could no longer open their App Store copy of CoD4. However, all of us have several apps that were purchased via the App Store that won't open and some that will. Console shows the following for CoD4 attempting to launch.

com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.aspyr.callofduty4_mp.88672[570]): Service exited with abnormal code: 3

So at first I assumed a possible BTS update to Gatekeeper. However, I have Gatekeeper disabled. And just in case I did a codesign verification on CoD4. And just to go 1 step further I even forced my own fully functional Mac developer code signature onto the app. However, none of that worked.

Anyone have any ideas as to why certain Mac App Store apps all of the sudden stopped working across several continents all at the same time?

Posted on Nov 11, 2015 9:57 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

PaulAvery Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 12, 2015 6:48 AM in response to maminjora

Aspyr can't do anything for this so a ticket to them won't help. It is affecting hundreds of developers and thousands of apps.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/12/apple-user-anger-mac-apps-brea k-security-certificate-lapse

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Answer 2

Zaroff

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2015 7:05 AM in response to Melaman

Progress:

This is what worked for me, as per Aspyr instructions, for KOTOR and Monkey Island both.

-Delete the app (Kotor, Monkey Island, CoD4, whichever). Empty trash. Make sure no remnants are still present (App Cleaner is your friend).

-Open the App Store and sign out from it.

-Reboot (mandatory).

-Open App Store, sign in.

-Re-download.

Should work...

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Answer 3

PaulAvery Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 13, 2015 8:01 AM in response to PaulAvery

The following worked for me...

1. Backup your support folder.

Open Finder
Select the "Go" menu and click "Go to Folder..." (Cmd+Shift+G)
Enter "~/Library/Application Support"
Copy the folder "Call of Duty 4" (contains config, maps, mods, etc.)

2. Delete the app using AppCleaner (check every file box)

3. Delete the receipt .plist and .bom files from the following folder (use "Go" method step 1)

/private/var/db/receipts

5. Open App Store and redownload

6. Copy back the folder from step 1

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Answer 4

Melaman

Level 1

4 points

Nov 12, 2015 7:57 AM in response to PaulAvery

Just received this reply from Aspyr:

ssanders, Nov 12, 9:53 AM:

Thank you for contacting Aspyr Technical Support!

We are aware that there are some recent problems popping up with some of our titles on the AppStore.

From what we can see now, it is affecting the following titles:

-KOTOR
-Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare
-Call of Duty 2
-Monkey Island
-Jedi Outcast, Jedi Knight 2
-Fahrenheit

Among other titles.

These problems are occurring on both new installs and previously installed games.

We have replicated these issues here and are working with Apple to find out what the issue is.

We are very sorry for the inconvenience and will post more information as it comes in here:

http://support.aspyr.com/hc/en-us/articles/206235646

Here is some information about the issue:

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/11/12/mac-app-store-apps-damaged-expired-receipts- issue/

This appears to be an expired receipt issue.

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/11/12/mac-app-store-apps-damaged-expired-receipts- issue/

If you are subscribed to our newsletter or like our FB page, you will be notified of any and all updates.

Please feel free to contact us with any further issues or questions.

Aspyr Support

namewithheld, Nov 12, 12:40 AM:

Game was working fine last night, November 11th...today, Nov 12th it won't even launch. Get this message: "The action "Run Shell Script" encountered an error"

Running El Capitan 10.11.1

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Answer 5

Melaman

Level 1

4 points

Nov 12, 2015 6:38 AM in response to Hulka

Okay, I've been beating my iMac and Macbook Air all day looking for some answers.

Turns out, Apple FORGOT to renew their Security Certificate on Wednesday at 8:15pm GMT.

This resulted in users not being able to get into their App store accounts; run certain apps; be denied access, etc. The list is long.

There is more on this story here: http://alturl.com/dx7qu

Way to go Apple - time and time again you prove you are the weakest link when it comes to keeping on top of everything and releasing updates without knowing what the feck you're doing!!

The installation of the new certificate does NOT rectify the problem for apps already installed. Some people are reporting that they uninstalled and reinstalled and still cannot get apps to run.

I'm going to Steam to download a new copy of CoD4 - App store can kiss my hairy peripheral!

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Answer 6

PaulAvery Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 12, 2015 8:25 PM in response to mikeinsd

I'm not talking about just a game either. I have way more than just 1 app affected. However, if you download anything from the App Store as of last night, each MAS receipt has the updated certificate. You can see that by printing the certificates of said app's receipt. So I'm not so sure Apple is as ready to admit wrong...although I want them too.

openssl pkcs7 -inform der -in /Applications/NameOfApp.app/Contents/_MASReceipt/receipt -print_certs -text

I'm in this as much as you guys. Hence why I started the thread. But rather than creating personal attacks against people trying to give solutions, why don't we all put our heads together. That's what forums are meant for.

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Answer 7

PaulAvery Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 12, 2015 6:29 AM in response to Zaroff

No. It goes way beyond Aspyr. In fact, it looks more like the digital receipt encryption is causing authentication failure. Many huge names are being affected. At least Apple knows due to big names complaining.

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Answer 8

Zaroff

Level 1

0 points

Nov 12, 2015 6:37 AM in response to Hulka

Same...

12/11/15 15:35:12,407 com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.aspyr.kotor.54752[913]) Service exited with abnormal code: 173

12/11/15 15:35:26,626 com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.aspyr.SecretMonkeyIslandSpecialEdition.351712[914]) Service exited with abnormal code: 173

Error 173 being the typical DRM rights error whenever the App Store throws a tantrum.

I'm relatively new to the Mac environment, and today discovered naively enough that, indeed, even on OS X via the App Store at least, you do not own your software, but actually rent it until something goes wrong.

GOG never felt so attractive.

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Answer 9

PaulAvery Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 12, 2015 8:37 PM in response to Melaman

By entering the line I posted earlier into Terminal. For CoD4 specifically it would be...

openssl pkcs7 -inform der -in /Applications/Call\ of\ Duty\ 4.app/Contents/_MASReceipt/receipt -print_certs -text

Near the bottom you will find

Validity

Not Before: Apr 25 21:40:36 2006 GMT

Not After : Feb 9 21:40:36 2035 GMT

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Answer 10

Nov 13, 2015 5:10 AM in response to Paul Ennis

I had only one app that would not launch, Newsfire (RSS Reader); originally Tapbots required the sign-in, but after the initial request and sign-in, there has been no problems launching. I finally got Newsfire re-installed and working this morning. I deleted the app, emptied the Trash, opened the App Store, logged in and logged out. Rebooted. Launched App Store, signed in and downloaded Newsfire from Purchases. And presto, it launched! Whether it was this exact sequence or something changed on Apple's end, remains to be seen.

pge

OS X.11.1, Late 2014 Retina iMac

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Answer 11

Melaman

Level 1

4 points

Nov 13, 2015 2:34 AM in response to Crap Apple

Unfortunately we are all still waiting on Aspyr to fix this issue. They are working with Apple to resolve it as soon as possible. Apparently.

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Answer 12

PaulAvery Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 13, 2015 8:57 AM in response to marielll

Try using just /var/db/receipts in the "Go to Folder..." input.

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Answer 13

mikeinsd

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2015 6:04 AM in response to PaulAvery

Found a solution!

1) Contact Apple and ask for a full refund on software purchased through app store that is not working (Apple refunded me the full cost this morning).

2) Purchase said software directly from software vendor.

3) Never purchase software from app store again and hope that the OS updates don't have the same issue moving forward because somebody at Apple forgets to do a rudimentary task.

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