CVE-2025-54606 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS version 5.0.1, specifically within the lock screen module. The root cause is classified as a CWE-840 business logic error, which typically involves flaws in the design or implementation of application logic that can be exploited to bypass intended security controls. In this case, the vulnerability relates to improper status verification in the lock screen functionality. Successful exploitation does not require user interaction or privileges and can be performed locally (AV:L), indicating an attacker with local access can trigger the flaw. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.3, reflecting high severity with a vector indicating low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), low integrity impact (I:L), and low availability impact (A:L). The vulnerability allows an attacker to compromise confidentiality and availability by bypassing or manipulating the lock screen status verification, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information or disrupting device availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. Given the critical role of the lock screen in device security, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to device users and any systems integrated with HarmonyOS devices, especially in environments where local access to devices is feasible.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54606 could be substantial, particularly for enterprises and government agencies that deploy Huawei HarmonyOS devices within their infrastructure or employee mobile device fleets. The vulnerability could allow attackers with physical or local access to bypass lock screen protections, leading to unauthorized disclosure of confidential data stored on the device or disruption of device availability. This is especially critical in sectors handling sensitive personal data (e.g., healthcare, finance) or critical infrastructure where device compromise could cascade into broader operational disruptions. Additionally, organizations relying on HarmonyOS for IoT or embedded systems may face risks of service interruptions or data leaks. The lack of required privileges or user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the threat surface. Although no exploits are currently known, the high confidentiality impact and ease of exploitation suggest that threat actors could develop effective attack methods rapidly once details become public. This vulnerability also raises compliance concerns under GDPR if personal data confidentiality is compromised.

Given the absence of an official patch, European organizations should implement several targeted mitigations: 1) Restrict physical and local access to HarmonyOS devices by enforcing strict device control policies and secure storage environments. 2) Employ mobile device management (MDM) solutions to monitor device status and enforce security configurations, including disabling unnecessary local interfaces that could be exploited. 3) Educate users on the risks of leaving devices unattended or accessible to unauthorized personnel. 4) Where feasible, isolate HarmonyOS devices from critical networks or sensitive data repositories until a patch is available. 5) Monitor for unusual device behavior or access attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6) Engage with Huawei support channels to obtain timely updates or patches and apply them promptly once released. 7) Consider alternative device platforms for highly sensitive use cases until the vulnerability is resolved. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and risk reduction specific to the local access vector and lock screen context of the vulnerability.