To elaborate on abx's comment: modding out by scalars, i.e., working in $PGL_3$ instead of $GL_3$, by definition the stabilizer of $p$ is the group of projective automorphisms of the curve $p=0$ which preserves the embedding of the curve. If we assume that the curve is smooth and that there is a rational point, for example, if the field is algebraically closed, then this is an elliptic curve embedded by a degree 3 line bundle. For simplicity, assume $3 \ne 0$ in the field. EDIT: (taking into account abx's comments) This stabilizer is the subgroup of automorphisms of the elliptic curve which preserves its 3-torsion. This includes translations by 3-torsion elements (which is a finite group abstractly isomorphic to $Z/3 \times Z/3$) but also automorphisms of the curve which preserve the identity This is generically $Z/2$ given by the inversion map but can be bigger for special elliptic curves. So we get a semidirect product of this automorphism group with the 3-torsion. If we do not assume there is a rational point (but still assume the curve $C$ is smooth), then we can say that $C$ is a torsor for an elliptic curve $E$ and identify the stabilizer with the semidirect product of the automorphism group of $E$ preserving the identity with the 3-torsion $E[3]$ of $E$. The latter is a group scheme which is isomorphic to $Z/3 \times Z/3$ after passing to an algebraically closed field. The extension of $E[3]$ by the scalars $G_m$ is an example of a Heisenberg group scheme, and one can use the Weil pairing to reconstruct it. I'm not exactly sure what to say when $p$ is not smooth -- in the case of mild singularities probably one gets a similar description.