Tabs API is usable without tabs permission.

chrome/browser/extensions/extension_tab_util.h

 // Copyright (c) 2012 The Chromium Authors. All rights reserved.
 // Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
 #ifndef CHROME_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS_EXTENSION_TAB_UTIL_H__
 #define CHROME_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS_EXTENSION_TAB_UTIL_H__
 
 #include <string>
 
 #include "base/callback.h"
@@ skipping 24 matching lines @@
 }
 
 // Provides various utility functions that help manipulate tabs.
 class ExtensionTabUtil {
  public:
   static int GetWindowId(const Browser* browser);
   static int GetWindowIdOfTabStripModel(const TabStripModel* tab_strip_model);
   static int GetTabId(const content::WebContents* web_contents);
   static std::string GetTabStatusText(bool is_loading);
   static int GetWindowIdOfTab(const content::WebContents* web_contents);
-  static base::ListValue* CreateTabList(const Browser* browser);
+  static base::ListValue* CreateTabList(
+      const Browser* browser,
+      const extensions::Extension* extension);
   static base::DictionaryValue* CreateTabValue(
-      const content::WebContents* web_contents);
+      const content::WebContents* web_contents,
+      const extensions::Extension* extension);
   static base::DictionaryValue* CreateTabValue(
       const content::WebContents* web_contents,
       TabStripModel* tab_strip,
-      int tab_index);
+      int tab_index,
+      const extensions::Extension* extension);
   // Create a tab value, overriding its kSelectedKey to the provided boolean.
   static base::DictionaryValue* CreateTabValueActive(
       const content::WebContents* web_contents,
-      bool active);
+      bool active,
+      const extensions::Extension* extension);
 
   // Gets the |tab_strip_model| and |tab_index| for the given |web_contents|.
   static bool GetTabStripModel(const content::WebContents* web_contents,
                                TabStripModel** tab_strip_model,
                                int* tab_index);
   static bool GetDefaultTab(Browser* browser,
                             TabContents** contents,
                             int* tab_id);
   // Any out parameter (|browser|, |tab_strip|, |contents|, & |tab_index|) may
   // be NULL and will not be set within the function.
@@ skipping 26 matching lines @@
 
   // Executes the specified callback for all tabs in all browser windows.
   static void ForEachTab(
       const base::Callback<void(content::WebContents*)>& callback);
 
   static extensions::WindowController* GetWindowControllerOfTab(
       const content::WebContents* web_contents);
 };
 
 #endif  // CHROME_BROWSER_EXTENSIONS_EXTENSION_TAB_UTIL_H__