CVE-2025-22886 is a vulnerability identified in OpenHarmony versions up to and including v5.0.3, specifically noted in v4.1.0. The issue is classified under CWE-401, which pertains to 'Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime,' commonly known as a memory leak. This vulnerability arises when the OpenHarmony operating system fails to properly release allocated memory after it is no longer needed. The consequence of this flaw is that a local attacker with limited privileges (requiring local access and low privileges) can exploit the memory leak to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) condition. This occurs because the unreleased memory accumulates over time, potentially exhausting system resources and leading to degraded performance or system crashes. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.3, indicating a low severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L) confirms that the attack requires local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and impacts only availability without affecting confidentiality or integrity. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is specific to OpenHarmony, an open-source operating system designed for IoT and smart devices, which may be deployed in various embedded systems and consumer electronics. The technical details confirm the vulnerability was reserved in early March 2025 and published in May 2025, with enrichment from CISA, indicating recognition by cybersecurity authorities.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-22886 is primarily related to availability disruptions in devices running vulnerable versions of OpenHarmony. Since OpenHarmony is targeted at IoT and embedded devices, organizations utilizing such devices in critical infrastructure, manufacturing, smart building management, or consumer electronics could experience service interruptions. The local nature of the attack limits remote exploitation, reducing the risk of widespread network-based attacks. However, insider threats or attackers with physical or local network access could exploit this vulnerability to degrade device performance or cause crashes, potentially disrupting operational technology (OT) environments or IoT ecosystems. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is negligible, but availability degradation could affect business continuity, especially in environments relying heavily on IoT devices for automation and monitoring. Given the low CVSS score and lack of known exploits, the immediate risk is low, but organizations should remain vigilant, especially those with large IoT deployments or critical infrastructure components using OpenHarmony.

To mitigate CVE-2025-22886, European organizations should first identify all devices running OpenHarmony, particularly versions v4.1.0 through v5.0.3. Since no patches are currently linked, organizations should monitor vendor advisories for updates or patches addressing this memory leak. In the interim, limiting local access to devices is critical; enforce strict physical security controls and network segmentation to prevent unauthorized local access. Implement monitoring to detect abnormal memory usage or device performance degradation that could indicate exploitation attempts. Where possible, update devices to newer versions of OpenHarmony once patches are released. Additionally, consider deploying endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior on IoT devices. For critical systems, plan for device replacement or firmware upgrades that address this vulnerability. Finally, incorporate this vulnerability into vulnerability management and incident response plans to ensure timely detection and remediation.