CVE-2025-53169 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS versions 5.0.1 and 5.1.0. The vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass the normal process required to start the Security Agent (SA) and access related functions on distributed cameras. Essentially, this flaw enables a peer device within the distributed system to activate and use the camera without the user's knowledge or consent. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable (Attack Vector: Adjacent Network), requires no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N), making it particularly dangerous. The impact on confidentiality is high since unauthorized camera access can lead to significant privacy breaches. Integrity and availability impacts are lower but still present, as the attacker can partially manipulate device functions and potentially degrade service. The vulnerability affects the distributed camera subsystem within HarmonyOS, which is designed to enable seamless device interconnectivity and resource sharing across multiple devices. Exploiting this flaw could allow attackers to covertly monitor users, capturing video or images without triggering user alerts or permissions. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the CVSS score of 7.6 reflects a high risk due to ease of exploitation and the sensitive nature of the camera access. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring. Given Huawei's significant market share in mobile devices and IoT products running HarmonyOS, this vulnerability poses a substantial threat to user privacy and organizational security where these devices are deployed.

For European organizations, the unauthorized use of distributed cameras via this vulnerability could lead to severe privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR breaches), and reputational damage. Organizations relying on Huawei devices with HarmonyOS for communication, surveillance, or IoT integration may face covert surveillance risks, potentially exposing sensitive corporate environments or personal data. The breach of confidentiality could facilitate corporate espionage or targeted attacks, especially in sectors such as government, telecommunications, critical infrastructure, and enterprises with high security requirements. Additionally, the ability to activate cameras without user awareness undermines trust in device security and could lead to increased scrutiny by regulators. The impact extends beyond individual privacy to organizational operational security, as attackers might leverage camera access to gather intelligence or facilitate further network intrusions.

1. Immediate inventory and identification of all Huawei devices running HarmonyOS versions 5.0.1 and 5.1.0 within the organization’s environment. 2. Monitor Huawei’s official security advisories for patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-53169 and apply them promptly once available. 3. Implement network segmentation and strict access controls to limit peer device communication, especially for distributed camera functions, reducing the attack surface. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual camera activation or access patterns on HarmonyOS devices. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of unauthorized camera access and encourage reporting of suspicious device behavior. 6. Where possible, disable distributed camera sharing features or restrict them to trusted devices only until patches are applied. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on IoT and distributed device functionalities to detect potential exploitation attempts. 8. Collaborate with Huawei support channels to obtain guidance and early access to security updates.