CVE-2022-41593 is a security vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS version 2.0, specifically within the fingerprint trusted application (TA). The vulnerability encompasses multiple memory safety issues: a heap overflow, out-of-bounds read, and null pointer dereference. These issues arise from improper handling of memory within the fingerprint TA, which is a critical component responsible for biometric authentication services on devices running HarmonyOS. Exploiting these vulnerabilities could lead to corruption of memory, potentially causing the fingerprint service to malfunction or crash. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality, it impacts the integrity and availability of the fingerprint service. The CVSS 3.1 score is 3.4 (low severity), reflecting that exploitation requires local access with high privileges (PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), and the attack vector is local (AV:L). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact affects integrity and availability but not confidentiality. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is associated with CWEs 476 (null pointer dereference), 125 (out-of-bounds read), and 787 (out-of-bounds write/heap overflow), indicating multiple memory corruption issues that could be leveraged for denial of service or potentially more severe attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities.

For European organizations using Huawei devices running HarmonyOS 2.0, this vulnerability primarily threatens the availability and integrity of the fingerprint authentication service. Disruption of biometric authentication could hinder secure access to devices, potentially forcing users to rely on less secure authentication methods or causing operational delays. Although the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or allow remote code execution, the requirement for high privileges and local access limits the attack surface. However, in environments where devices are shared or physically accessible, such as corporate settings with Huawei smartphones or IoT devices, an attacker with elevated privileges could exploit this vulnerability to disrupt authentication services, impacting user productivity and device security. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the lack of patches means the vulnerability remains a latent threat. Given the increasing adoption of Huawei devices in some European markets, particularly in Eastern Europe and parts of Southern Europe, organizations should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments.

1. Restrict physical and local access to Huawei devices running HarmonyOS 2.0 to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 2. Enforce strict privilege management to ensure that only authorized users have high-level access required to exploit this vulnerability. 3. Monitor Huawei's security advisories closely for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2022-41593 and apply them promptly once available. 4. Implement device usage policies that limit the installation of untrusted applications or modifications that could elevate privileges. 5. Consider disabling fingerprint authentication temporarily on vulnerable devices in high-security environments until patches are applied, using alternative authentication methods. 6. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts targeting the fingerprint TA. 7. Conduct regular security training to raise awareness about the risks of local privilege escalation and memory corruption vulnerabilities.