CVE-2022-41594 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, including heap overflow, out-of-bounds read, and null pointer dereference (CWE-476). These flaws arise from improper handling of memory operations in the fingerprint TA, which is responsible for managing biometric authentication services on affected devices. Exploiting these vulnerabilities could lead to corruption of memory, potentially causing the fingerprint service to malfunction or crash. Although the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality, it impacts the integrity and availability of the fingerprint service. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 3.4 (low severity), with an attack vector limited to local access (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L), high privileges (PR:H), and no user interaction (UI:N). This means that an attacker must already have high-level privileges on the device to exploit the vulnerability, and no additional user action is needed. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been linked or published at the time of this report. The vulnerability's impact is primarily on the availability and integrity of the fingerprint authentication service, which could disrupt user authentication and device access control mechanisms. Given the requirement for high privileges, exploitation is less likely from remote or unprivileged attackers but could be leveraged in scenarios where an attacker has gained elevated access, such as through other vulnerabilities or insider threats.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-41594 is primarily related to the disruption of biometric authentication services on devices running HarmonyOS 2.0. Organizations that deploy Huawei devices with HarmonyOS in their workforce or critical infrastructure may face temporary denial of fingerprint authentication, potentially forcing fallback to less secure authentication methods or causing operational delays. While the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data, the degradation or failure of fingerprint services could weaken device security posture and user convenience. In sectors where biometric authentication is integral to secure access—such as finance, healthcare, or government—this could increase the risk of unauthorized access if fallback mechanisms are weaker. However, the requirement for high privileges to exploit the vulnerability limits the risk of widespread exploitation. The absence of known exploits and patches suggests a low immediate threat, but organizations should remain vigilant, especially if devices are used in sensitive environments or if attackers gain elevated privileges through other means.

1. Monitor for official Huawei security advisories and apply patches promptly once available to address CVE-2022-41594. 2. Restrict and monitor administrative and privileged access on devices running HarmonyOS to prevent attackers from gaining the high privileges required for exploitation. 3. Employ robust endpoint security solutions that can detect abnormal behavior or attempts to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities locally. 4. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods that do not solely rely on fingerprint biometrics to ensure continued secure access if fingerprint services are disrupted. 5. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments on Huawei devices within the organization to identify and remediate privilege escalation paths that could facilitate exploitation. 6. Educate users and administrators about the risks of privilege misuse and enforce strict access control policies. 7. Consider device inventory management to identify and isolate or replace devices running vulnerable versions of HarmonyOS where feasible.