Refers to an event where one process attempts to open another process, typically to inspect or manipulate its memory, access handles, or modify execution flow. Monitoring these access attempts can provide valuable insight into both benign and malicious behaviors, such as debugging, inter-process communication (IPC), or process injection.
Data Collection Measures:
ptrace, open, read, write).| Name | Channel |
|---|---|
| android:logcat | Runtime grant or manifest presence for MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE/READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE/READ_MEDIA_*; legacy external storage mode detection |
| android:logcat | Activity/Process state change (mFocusedApp, onResume/onPause) identifying |
| android:logcat | Grant/activation of BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE, BIND_INPUT_METHOD, SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW, POST_NOTIFICATIONS for |
| android:logcat | Grant/enablement for BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE or BIND_INPUT_METHOD for |
| android:logcat | Grant/enablement of SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW, BIND_ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE, POST_NOTIFICATIONS for |
| android:logcat | Reads/queries ops for PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS, QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES, BIND_DEVICE_ADMIN, BIND_VPN_SERVICE |
| Apple TCC Logs | Microphone Access Events |
| auditd:SYSCALL | ptrace attach |
| auditd:SYSCALL | High frequency of accept(), read(), or SSL_read() syscalls tied to nginx/apache processes |
| auditd:SYSCALL | ptrace |
| auditd:SYSCALL | ptrace syscall or access to /proc/*/mem |
| auditd:SYSCALL | ACCESS |
| auditd:SYSCALL | execve, fork, mmap, ptrace |
| auditd:SYSCALL | ptrace or process_vm_readv |
| EDR:telemetry | Sustained or high-frequency location sensor access, including background location usage |
| iOS:unifiedlog | Code signing validation events referencing newly written local Mach-O/bundle prior to exec or dlopen |
| iOS:unifiedlog | Privacy (TCC) prompts/grants for Photos/Files or access changes indicating new visibility into user/app data |
| iOS:unifiedlog | Foreground/background transition for |
| iOS:unifiedlog | Keyboard extension Full Access change; privacy grant touching input/keyboard categories for |
| iOS:unifiedlog | Keyboard extension Full Access change or related privacy grant for |
| iOS:unifiedlog | Scene/foreground transitions for |
| linux:osquery | Process State |
| linux:osquery | process_events |
| linux:syslog | syscalls (open, read, ioctl) on /dev/input or /proc/*/fd/* |
| macos:endpointsecurity | ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_OPEN |
| macos:osquery | process_open |
| macos:osquery | unexpected memory inspection |
| macos:unifiedlog | ptrace or task_for_pid |
| macos:unifiedlog | Unexpected NSXPCConnection calls by non-Apple-signed or abnormal binaries |
| macos:unifiedlog | Unusual Mach port registration or access attempts between unrelated processes |
| macos:unifiedlog | subsystem=com.apple.security, library=libsystem_kernel.dylib |
| macos:unifiedlog | vm_read, task_for_pid, or file open to cookie databases |
| WinEventLog:Security | EventCode=4663, 4670, 4656 |
| WinEventLog:Sysmon | EventCode=10 |
| WinEventLog:Sysmon | EventCode=25 |