Detection of Access Notifications

Technique Detected:  Access Notifications | T1517

ID: DET0611
Domains: Mobile
Analytics: AN1665
Version: 1.0
Created: 21 October 2025
Last Modified: 21 October 2025

Analytics

AN1665

An application is granted or maintains notification listener access, observes notification content from other applications (including sensitive sources such as SMS/email/2FA apps), processes or stores notification payloads, and optionally suppresses or programmatically interacts with notifications (dismiss/action triggers) without corresponding foreground user interaction. Detection correlates special access permission state + notification event interception + application background state + downstream data use (local write or network transmission).

Log Sources
Data Component Name Channel
Application Permission (DC0114) android:MDMLog NotificationListenerService enabled OR notification access granted to app not in enterprise-approved list
OS API Execution (DC0021) MobileEDR:telemetry App intercepts notification content from external package (e.g., messaging/auth apps) while in background OR without recent user interaction
Application State (DC0123) MobileEDR:telemetry Notification access event occurs while app_state=background AND device_state=locked OR no recent user interaction
Mutable Elements
Field Description
TimeWindow Correlation window between notification interception and subsequent data write or network transmission varies by app behavior
AllowedAppList Enterprise-approved apps with legitimate notification access (e.g., accessibility tools, wearables)
ForegroundStateRequired Whether notification access is expected only when the app is foregrounded
UplinkBytesThreshold Threshold for small outbound payloads indicative of notification content exfiltration
SensitiveSourceApps Apps whose notifications are considered sensitive (SMS, email, authenticator apps)