CVE-2022-44553 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS versions 2.0 and 2.1, specifically within the HiView module. The vulnerability arises due to a design weakness where the HiView module fails to properly filter out third-party applications when it traverses to invoke the system provider. This flaw allows third-party apps to be inadvertently or maliciously triggered to start periodically without user consent or interaction. Technically, this is a CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) issue, where the system does not adequately validate or restrict which applications can be invoked during the HiView module's operation. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3, reflecting a medium severity level, with an attack vector of network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The impact is limited to integrity, as unauthorized third-party apps can be started, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or resource consumption, but it does not directly affect confidentiality or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked or published yet. The vulnerability is rooted in the design phase, indicating that it may require architectural changes or updates to the HiView module to fully remediate.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends largely on the extent of HarmonyOS adoption within their operational environments. HarmonyOS is primarily deployed on Huawei devices, including smartphones, IoT devices, and smart home appliances. Organizations utilizing Huawei hardware running affected versions may face risks of unauthorized third-party applications being started periodically, which could lead to unauthorized data manipulation, increased resource consumption, or potential footholds for further attacks. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or availability, the integrity impact could facilitate indirect attacks such as persistent malware execution or unauthorized process initiation. This could be particularly concerning for sectors relying on Huawei IoT devices or integrated smart systems, such as manufacturing, logistics, or smart building management. Additionally, the lack of required privileges or user interaction for exploitation increases the risk of automated or remote exploitation attempts, potentially affecting large device fleets. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild and the medium severity rating suggest that immediate widespread impact is limited but should not be ignored.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Inventory and identify all Huawei devices running HarmonyOS versions 2.0 or 2.1 within their infrastructure, including IoT and mobile devices. 2) Engage with Huawei support channels to obtain official patches or firmware updates addressing CVE-2022-44553 as they become available, and prioritize timely deployment. 3) Implement application whitelisting or strict app permission controls on affected devices to restrict unauthorized third-party applications from executing or being installed. 4) Monitor device behavior for unusual or periodic app startups that could indicate exploitation attempts, using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools compatible with HarmonyOS or network traffic analysis to detect anomalous patterns. 5) Where possible, segment Huawei devices on separate network zones to limit lateral movement or impact if exploitation occurs. 6) For critical environments, consider alternative devices or OS platforms until the vulnerability is fully remediated. 7) Educate users and administrators about the potential risks and signs of exploitation related to this vulnerability to enhance detection and response capabilities.