Detection of Application Layer Protocol

ID: DET0685
Domains: Mobile
Analytics: AN1793, AN1794
Version: 1.0
Created: 21 October 2025
Last Modified: 12 May 2026

Analytics

AN1793

For Android, detect Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol by correlating analyst-visible device/network evidence and management state; use streaming or batched telemetry only where the documented collector is deployed. Correlate Application Permission via Android Enterprise DPC / Application Vetting [DevicePolicyManager.getPermissionGrantState(); PackageManager manifest/requested-permission review]; Application State via Android Enterprise / EMM [Managed package inventory/status and package metadata]; Network Connection Creation via Android Enterprise Network Logging / Enterprise VPN [DevicePolicyManager.retrieveNetworkLogs(): DnsEvent / ConnectEvent; VPN flow metadata]. Alert on a sequence or state change inconsistent with the device/app baseline, approved management policy, or expected user workflow; do not infer unobserved API calls, file/process activity, or payload content from management state alone.

Log Sources
Data Component Name Channel
Application Permission (DC0114) android:DevicePolicyManager DevicePolicyManager.getPermissionGrantState(); PackageManager manifest/requested-permission review
Application State (DC0123) android:EMM Managed package inventory/status and package metadata
Network Connection Creation (DC0082) android:EnterpriseNetworkLog DevicePolicyManager.retrieveNetworkLogs(): DnsEvent / ConnectEvent; VPN flow metadata
Network Traffic Content (DC0085) webproxy:applog DNS/HTTP(S) inspection or proxy transaction metadata where enterprise decryption/inspection is deployed
Network Traffic Flow (DC0078) android:EnterpriseNetworkLog DevicePolicyManager.retrieveNetworkLogs(): DnsEvent / ConnectEvent; VPN flow metadata
Mutable Elements
Field Description
BeaconVarianceThreshold Default 15% interval variance — human-driven traffic varies more. Derive from baseline traffic analysis.
PayloadVarianceThreshold Default 100 bytes stdev — beacon payloads are uniform; human traffic varies.
AppBaselineDomains Per-app known CDN/update domains from 30-day baseline. Derive by measurement.
BeaconMinCount Default 10 connections — single or few connections are not beacon patterns.

AN1794

For iOS, detect Application Layer Protocol by correlating analyst-visible device/network evidence and management state; use streaming or batched telemetry only where the documented collector is deployed. Correlate Application Permission via Application Vetting [Code-signing entitlements and Info.plist privacy usage-description keys]; Application State via Apple MDM [InstalledApplicationList / ManagedApplicationList]; Network Connection Creation via Apple Network Extension / Enterprise VPN [NEFilterFlow / per-app VPN / secure-web-gateway flow metadata]. Alert on a sequence or state change inconsistent with the device/app baseline, approved management policy, or expected user workflow; do not infer unobserved API calls, file/process activity, or payload content from management state alone.

Log Sources
Data Component Name Channel
Application Permission (DC0114) mobile:ApplicationVetting Code-signing entitlements and Info.plist privacy usage-description keys
Application State (DC0123) iOS:MDM InstalledApplicationList / ManagedApplicationList
Network Connection Creation (DC0082) iOS:NetworkExtension NEFilterFlow / per-app VPN / secure-web-gateway flow metadata
Network Traffic Content (DC0085) webproxy:applog DNS/HTTP(S) inspection or proxy transaction metadata where enterprise decryption/inspection is deployed
Network Traffic Flow (DC0078) iOS:NetworkExtension NEFilterFlow / per-app VPN / secure-web-gateway flow metadata
Mutable Elements
Field Description
MDMApprovedCatalog MDM-managed app list.
AppBaselineDomains Per-app CDN/update domains, 30-day baseline.
BeaconVarianceThreshold Default 15% interval variance. Derive from baseline traffic analysis.
PayloadVarianceThreshold Default 100 bytes stdev.
BeaconMinCount Default 10 connections.