CVE-2023-33077 in 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2024
Memory corruption in HLOS while converting from authorization token to HIDL vector.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33077 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Hardware Layer Operating System HLOS component of Android devices. This issue manifests during the conversion process from an authorization token to a HIDL (Hardware Interface Definition Language) vector, indicating a fundamental problem in how the system handles security token processing within its hardware abstraction layer. The vulnerability resides in the low-level system components that manage hardware interfaces and security credentials, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially be exploited to gain unauthorized access to device functionalities.
The technical flaw stems from improper memory handling during the transformation of authorization tokens into HIDL vector structures. When the system processes these security credentials, it fails to properly validate or allocate memory resources, leading to potential buffer overflows, heap corruption, or other memory integrity issues. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when developers do not adequately check input boundaries or fail to implement proper memory management protocols during the token conversion process. The flaw specifically affects the HLOS environment which operates at a privileged level, making successful exploitation potentially catastrophic for device security and stability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it creates potential attack vectors for sophisticated adversaries seeking to compromise mobile devices. An attacker could potentially leverage this memory corruption to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, bypass security controls, or escalate their access within the device's security framework. The vulnerability affects devices running vulnerable versions of Android, particularly those utilizing hardware abstraction layers that depend on the problematic token conversion process. Given that HLOS components typically manage critical hardware functionalities and security mechanisms, successful exploitation could result in complete device compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-33077 should focus on immediate patch deployment from device manufacturers and system vendors, as this vulnerability represents a high-severity threat requiring urgent attention. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for exploitation attempts and ensure all affected devices receive security updates promptly. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and potentially CWE-122, improper restriction of operations within a restricted environment, highlighting the need for robust input validation and memory management practices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged for privilege escalation techniques under the T1068, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, and T1547, Boot or Logon Autostart Execution, tactics, making it particularly concerning for enterprise security teams managing mobile device environments.