Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-23771

Exposed Creds in Motorola Mbts Base Radio Firmware r05.x2.57

Published
29 August 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
CVSS Score v3.1 8.4
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0019 8th percentile
Risk Priority 59 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-23771 is a high-severity Use of Hard-coded Password (CWE-259) vulnerability in Motorola Mbts Base Radio Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 8.4 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Unsecured Credentials (T1552); ranked at the 8th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Motorola MBTS Base Radio accepts hard-coded backdoor password. The Motorola MBTS Base Radio Man Machine Interface (MMI), allowing for service technicians to diagnose and configure the device, accepts a hard-coded backdoor password that cannot be changed or disabled.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
T1078 Valid Accounts Stealth
Adversaries may obtain and abuse credentials of existing accounts as a means of gaining Initial Access, Persistence, Privilege Escalation, or Defense Evasion.
T1078.001 Default Accounts Stealth
Adversaries may obtain and abuse credentials of a default account as a means of gaining Initial Access, Persistence, Privilege Escalation, or Defense Evasion.
T1552.004 Private Keys Credential Access
Adversaries may search for private key certificate files on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
T1133 External Remote Services Persistence
Adversaries may leverage external-facing remote services to initially access and/or persist within a network.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-23770Same vendor: Motorola
CVE-2024-38281Same vendor: Motorola
CVE-2023-23773Same product: Motorola Mbts Base Radio
CVE-2025-13252Shared CWE-259, CWE-798
CVE-2024-39585Shared CWE-259, CWE-798
CVE-2025-5379Shared CWE-259, CWE-798
CVE-2025-2343Shared CWE-259, CWE-798
CVE-2024-1228Shared CWE-259, CWE-798
CVE-2025-9778Shared CWE-259, CWE-798
CVE-2025-7564Shared CWE-259, CWE-798

Affected Assets

motorola
mbts base radio firmware
r05.x2.57

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-259 CWE-798

Changing default authenticators prior to first use directly prevents use of hard-coded passwords.

addresses: CWE-798 CWE-259

Intelligence programs surface reports of campaigns that abuse hard-coded credentials in products, prompting removal or replacement and thereby reducing successful exploitation.

addresses: CWE-798 CWE-259

Vetting reduces the chance a developer will deliberately insert hard-coded credentials as a backdoor or unauthorized access mechanism.

addresses: CWE-798 CWE-259

Supplier risk reviews identify and discourage hard-coded credentials in delivered products or services.

addresses: CWE-798

Enables users to notice when hard-coded credentials have been exploited for unauthorized access.

addresses: CWE-798

Security training explicitly warns against hard-coded credentials, lowering their use in systems.

addresses: CWE-798

Policy and procedures prohibit hard-coded credentials in favor of managed authentication.

addresses: CWE-798

External identity providers eliminate the need for hard-coded credentials in applications.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly prohibit embedding credentials in source code or binaries.

PR.AA-01 partial match
prevents

PR.AA-01's credential/key-management processes can reduce the incentive to embed secrets but do not address or detect hard-coded values in source code, so the weakness remains fully possible.

PR.AA-02 none match
prevents

PR.AA-02 addresses human identity proofing and per-person credential issuance at enrollment; it has no bearing on whether developers embed static credentials in software.

PR.DS-01 none match
prevents

PR.DS-01 addresses encryption and integrity of stored data but never touches credential or key management practices, so it neither prevents hard-coded credentials nor removes any of their risk.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Education on secure configuration practices discourages technical staff from embedding or relying on hard-coded credentials in systems and applications.

mitigates

Secure key-generation, distribution and storage procedures reduce the likelihood that hard-coded or default cryptographic keys will be introduced or left unprotected.

prevents

Explicit prohibition of hard-coded passwords and unauthenticated external services stops credentials from being embedded directly in source code.

prevents

Contractual requirements for secure coding practices and evidence of testing make it less likely that hard-coded credentials will be introduced or remain undetected in delivered code.

none

Requiring independent oversight and timely disabling of non-human identities makes it harder for hard-coded or long-lived credentials to remain exploitable.

prevents

Requiring users to change temporary or default passwords at first use stops the continued existence of hard-coded or guessable passwords that are shipped with the product.

References