How does an app reads an OTP SMS without SMS permission?

Question

I have recently installed an Android app from the Play Store.
While registering in it, I realized that it was able to read my message of OTP without even asking for my permission to read the message.



I have AOSP Extended 5.8 with the August security patch.
It's an Android Oreo 8.1 based custom rom.


— Ankk98 | Sources

Answer

Verification by OTP uses a different API which doesn't need read SMS permission. You can read more here Perform SMS Verification on a Server



Hence, the app isn't reading your SMS but using a separate channel to read specially formatted text messages



I learnt of this when an Xposed module to block permissions did not work as I expected (similar case) and the developer explained the reason


— beeshyams | Sources

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