O365 Mailbox Read Access Granted to Application
The following analytic identifies instances where the Mail.Read Graph API permissions are granted to an application registration within an Office 365 tenant. It leverages O365 audit logs, specifically events related…
Description
The following analytic identifies instances where the Mail.Read Graph API permissions are granted to an application registration within an Office 365 tenant. It leverages O365 audit logs, specifically events related to changes in application permissions within the AzureActiveDirectory workload. This activity is significant because the Mail.Read permission allows applications to access and read all emails within a user's mailbox, which often contain sensitive or confidential information. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to data exfiltration, spear-phishing attacks, or further compromise based on the information gathered from the emails.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- IaaSIdentity ProviderOffice SuiteSaaSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- o365_update_application
Known benign triggers
- There are legitimate scenarios in wich an Application registrations requires Mailbox read access. Filter as needed.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/003/ | 11 |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1114/002/ | 8 |
| graphpermissions.merill.net/permission/Mail.Read | Only this detection cites it |
| learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/permissions-reference | 5 |
| www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Supply_Chain_Compromise_Detecting_APT_Activity_from_known_TTPs.pdf | Only this detection cites it |
| www.mandiant.com/sites/default/files/2022-08/remediation-hardening-strategies-for-m365-defend-against-apt29-white-paper.pdf | 3 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 27ab61c5-f08a-438a-b4d3-325e666490b3
- Tagged by the source as
- Office 365 Persistence MechanismsO365 TenantcloudSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityaccess
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1