CVE-2025-27248 is a vulnerability identified in OpenHarmony versions 5.0.3 and earlier, including version 4.1.0. The issue is classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476), which occurs when the software attempts to access or dereference a pointer that has a NULL value. This leads to a denial-of-service (DoS) condition by causing the affected process or system component to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability requires local attacker privileges (AV:L) with low attack complexity (AC:L) and low privileges (PR:L), but no user interaction (UI:N) is needed. The scope of the impact is unchanged (S:U), and the vulnerability affects availability only (A:L) without compromising confidentiality or integrity. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.3, indicating a low severity level. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes have been linked yet. The vulnerability could be triggered by a local attacker exploiting the NULL pointer dereference to cause a denial of service, potentially disrupting the normal operation of devices or systems running OpenHarmony. OpenHarmony is an open-source operating system designed primarily for IoT devices and smart terminals, which means this vulnerability could affect embedded systems and consumer electronics that rely on this OS version.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability is primarily related to availability disruption on devices running vulnerable OpenHarmony versions. Since OpenHarmony targets IoT and smart devices, organizations deploying such devices in industrial, commercial, or consumer environments could experience service interruptions or device crashes if exploited locally. Although the vulnerability requires local access and low privileges, it could be leveraged by insiders or attackers who gain limited access to the device. This could affect sectors relying on IoT infrastructure such as manufacturing, smart building management, healthcare devices, and consumer electronics. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is negligible, but availability disruptions could lead to operational downtime, reduced productivity, and potential safety concerns in critical environments. Given the low severity and lack of remote exploitation, the overall risk to large-scale enterprise networks is limited, but organizations with extensive IoT deployments should remain vigilant.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Identify and inventory all devices running OpenHarmony versions 5.0.3 or earlier, especially version 4.1.0. 2) Apply vendor-provided patches or updates as soon as they become available; in the absence of patches, consider upgrading to later OpenHarmony versions not affected by this issue. 3) Restrict local access to devices by enforcing strict physical security controls and limiting user privileges to prevent unauthorized local exploitation. 4) Implement monitoring and alerting for device crashes or abnormal behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) For critical IoT deployments, consider network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices and reduce the risk of lateral movement. 6) Engage with device manufacturers and vendors to confirm patch availability and coordinate timely remediation. 7) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on IoT devices to identify and address similar vulnerabilities proactively.