CVE-2023-41827 in Phones
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2024
An improper export vulnerability was reported in the Motorola OTA update application, that could allow a malicious, local application to inject an HTML-based message on screen UI.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-41827 represents a critical security flaw in Motorola's Over-The-Air update application that enables local privilege escalation through improper export of system components. This vulnerability resides within the mobile device's operating system framework where the OTA update application fails to properly validate or restrict access to its exported interfaces, creating a pathway for malicious local applications to exploit the system's user interface components. The flaw specifically manifests in how the application exports its HTML rendering capabilities to the system's user interface layer, allowing unauthorized code execution within the context of the update application's privileged environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and improper security boundaries within the Motorola OTA update framework. When a malicious application attempts to inject HTML content into the update interface, the system's permission model fails to adequately verify the authenticity and integrity of the content source. This improper export mechanism creates an attack surface where local applications can manipulate the update process by injecting malicious HTML messages that appear on screen UI, potentially deceiving users or executing unauthorized operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing improper export of system resources that should remain restricted to authorized components only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple user interface manipulation to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure risks. Attackers leveraging this flaw could craft deceptive update notifications that appear legitimate to end users, potentially leading to social engineering attacks or unauthorized system modifications. The malicious HTML injection capability could enable attackers to harvest sensitive information from the device, manipulate system settings, or even install unauthorized applications through the trusted update interface. This vulnerability particularly affects devices running vulnerable versions of Motorola's Android-based operating system where the OTA update application lacks proper sandboxing and access control mechanisms.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the broader ATT&CK framework, specifically examining techniques related to privilege escalation and user interface manipulation. The attack vector demonstrates characteristics of T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1546 Event Triggering, where local applications can exploit system interfaces to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling unnecessary HTML rendering capabilities in OTA applications, enforcing stricter access controls on exported system components, and monitoring for unauthorized UI modifications. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security testing for system-level applications and the need for comprehensive threat modeling that considers local privilege escalation vectors. Device manufacturers should prioritize patching this vulnerability through firmware updates and consider implementing additional security controls such as digital signatures for UI components and runtime integrity checks to prevent unauthorized modifications to system interfaces.