Process Discovery

On Android versions prior to 5, applications can observe information about other processes that are running through methods in the ActivityManager class. On Android versions prior to 7, applications can obtain this information by executing the ps command, or by examining the /proc directory. Starting in Android version 7, use of the Linux kernel's hidepid feature prevents applications (without escalated privileges) from accessing this information [1].

ID: T1424
Sub-techniques:  No sub-techniques
Tactic Type: Post-Adversary Device Access
Tactic: Discovery
Platforms: Android
Version: 1.0
Created: 25 October 2017
Last Modified: 17 October 2018

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S0440 Agent Smith

Agent Smith checks if a targeted application is running in user-space prior to infection.[2]

S0422 Anubis

Anubis can collect a list of running processes.[3]

S0421 GolfSpy

GolfSpy can obtain a list of running processes.[4]

S0544 HenBox

HenBox can obtain a list of running processes.[5]

S0411 Rotexy

Rotexy collects information about running processes.[6]

S0489 WolfRAT

WolfRAT uses dumpsys to determine if certain applications are running.[7]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1005 Application Vetting

Application vetting techniques could be used to attempt to identify applications with this behavior.

M1006 Use Recent OS Version

As stated in the technical description, Android 7 and above prevent applications from accessing this information.

References