How to auto save a Cisco VPN connection password on Mac OS X?

I have set up a Cisco IPSec VPN connection instead of using the Cisco client on Mac OS X. I like it fairly well, it just sits in the tray next to the clock and allows me to easily connect and disconnect.

However, the one disadvantage to this is that Apple's network preference pane really enforces the remote server's policy of not storing user passwords, so it will let me store it once when I first create the connection, and it will let me connect with it that way, but after I disconnect it removes the password and won't let me type in that field anymore.

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What I end up with is a box prompting me for login credentials each time I connect. Is there a way to bypass / auto fill this?

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cwd

Posted 2011-10-04T01:47:00.990

Reputation: 13 508

Answers

In the bad old days of using Cisco's client, it was easy to edit the .pcf file to work around the remote server policy. Using the alternative client Shimo has worked for me as of a couple of years ago (it's now closed-source, but you can get the old version from Google Code). Here's another workaround I haven't tried that uses the Keychain.

David

Posted 2011-10-04T01:47:00.990

Reputation: 574

@cwd Why did you accept this answer if it doesn't answer your question? Or am I parsing your comment wrong? – unomi – 2015-04-11T13:31:09.857

1Thank you. Cisco can be buggy on OS X though and so I much prefer the built in IPSec functionality. Yes with the pcf file you could store the password and make the file effectively "read only" so the client couldn't erase the password even if the remote server's policy said to do so. Also, Shimo might work but really my question is about how to do it on the built-in client. Have tried the workaround - it allows you to store the password initially but after you disconnect the password is erased. – cwd – 2012-03-05T01:38:13.063

There is a workaround with AppleScript that works for me.

Synox

Posted 2011-10-04T01:47:00.990

Reputation: 220

Can anyone confirm if this AppleScript still works in 10.9.4? I get my password pasted in the terminal if I run the script via osascript or pasted at the cursor if I run it from AppleScript Editor. – cclark – 2014-07-30T06:41:39.343

Yes it works on 10.9.4. You can also test my fork: https://gist.github.com/synox/c597321d6d007f812f45

– Synox – 2014-09-12T19:15:59.423

We ended up having it changed on the router to allow it to be saved so unfortunately I no longer have an environment where it is easy to test the fork. Thanks for following up and sharing. – cclark – 2014-09-16T04:25:19.880

Can confirm this works on Yosemite. But it does not seem to automatically enter my password in when I open my VPN connector. It requires me to manually click the "run" button for the script to enter the password in - was this an intended functionality? – theGreenCabbage – 2014-12-08T03:12:20.860

This is not intended, it does all automatically for me. Let me check again with the latest updates. – Synox – 2014-12-08T07:28:13.720

I can confirm that this script still works on osx 10.10.1 with AnyConnect 3.1.04074. But the other solution from twksos works even better. – Synox – 2014-12-09T23:08:51.847

I got another script on github.

Instead of simulating click and input, this script access the process and simply triggers the actions.

While the first time the script runs, OSX may ask for accessibility.

twksos

Posted 2011-10-04T01:47:00.990

Reputation: 21

Sorry total Mac newb here. Does this fire off automatically when I try to connect to my VPN in the top bar or is this called manually sort of like a script to connect to the VPN? – anon58192932 – 2015-05-22T00:18:36.303

This is giving me 'vpn is now allowed assistive access'. The solution is to go to security settings and add the name of the script to allow access. – anon58192932 – 2015-05-22T18:47:51.793

-1

Explanation:

This is caused by a problem with the Keychain Access item for the VPN IPSec connection. A two minute fix will sort it out for you.

Solution:

Launch Keychain Access by clicking Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access
On the left upper pane, under Keychains select System
On the left lower, under Category select All Items
On the right side of the screen scroll to the bottom and locate the two items called VPN(IPSec)
Double-click the VPN(IPSec) whos kind is IPSec XAuth Password
Click the Access Control button/tab. The applications permitted to use this keychain item will be displayed below. If you’re prompted for your password, enter it.
Click the plus (+) sign
When the Finder window appears, press Cmd + Shift + G on your keyboard
When the Go To Folder dialog appears, enter /usr/libexec/configd and click Go
Select it and click Add
Click Save Changes
Close Keychain Access and try connecting to your VPN again

http://www.proposedsolution.com/solutions/vpn-ipsec-prompting-saved-password/

skywinder

Posted 2011-10-04T01:47:00.990

Reputation: 193

2doesn't work on high sierra – gabin – 2018-01-11T18:19:06.840

@Gabin you are right, doesn't work on macOS 10.13.3, perhaps you found a working solution? – Darrarski – 2018-03-02T13:43:19.027

@Darrarski unfortunately not. I enter password manually – gabin – 2018-03-02T15:16:41.640

@gabin there is no one "right" answer for this question. As for me - nothing else doesn't work. – skywinder – 2019-08-18T09:18:42.797