CVE-2025-54621 is a medium severity vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS version 5.1.0, specifically within the WantAgent module. The underlying issue is classified under CWE-664, which pertains to improper control of a resource through its lifetime. Technically, this vulnerability manifests as an iterator failure that leads to memory release failures. When an iterator is improperly managed, it can cause resources such as memory to not be freed correctly, potentially resulting in memory leaks or corruption. This can degrade system performance, cause instability, or in some cases, be leveraged to execute further attacks such as denial of service or privilege escalation. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.3, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L) reveals that the attack requires local access with low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a limited extent. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability’s root cause is the improper handling of resource lifetimes, which is a common programming flaw that can lead to resource exhaustion or unexpected behavior if exploited. Given that HarmonyOS is Huawei’s proprietary operating system used primarily on IoT devices, smartphones, and embedded systems, this vulnerability could affect a broad range of devices running version 5.1.0. The WantAgent module likely handles inter-process communication or intent management, so failures here could disrupt normal device operations or be a stepping stone for more complex attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54621 depends largely on their use of Huawei devices running HarmonyOS 5.1.0. Enterprises and service providers that deploy Huawei smartphones, IoT devices, or embedded systems in their infrastructure could face risks of degraded device performance or stability issues due to memory release failures. This could lead to intermittent outages or reduced reliability of critical systems, especially in environments relying on Huawei hardware for communications or IoT management. Although the vulnerability does not currently have known exploits in the wild, the local access requirement means that attackers would need some level of access to the device, which could be achieved through insider threats or other local compromise vectors. The limited impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability suggests that while the vulnerability is not catastrophic, it could be leveraged as part of a multi-stage attack chain. In sectors such as telecommunications, manufacturing, or smart city infrastructure where Huawei devices are prevalent, this vulnerability could disrupt operations or provide footholds for attackers. Additionally, given the geopolitical sensitivity around Huawei products in Europe, organizations might face increased scrutiny or regulatory pressure to address such vulnerabilities promptly.

To mitigate CVE-2025-54621, European organizations should first inventory all Huawei devices running HarmonyOS 5.1.0 within their environment. Since no official patches are currently linked, organizations should monitor Huawei’s security advisories closely for updates or patches addressing this issue. In the interim, restricting local access to devices is critical; this includes enforcing strict physical security controls, limiting user privileges, and employing endpoint protection solutions that can detect anomalous local activities. Network segmentation should be applied to isolate Huawei devices from critical infrastructure to reduce the risk of lateral movement if a device is compromised. Additionally, organizations should implement runtime monitoring to detect unusual memory usage patterns or device instability that could indicate exploitation attempts. For developers or integrators using HarmonyOS in custom solutions, reviewing and hardening the management of resource lifetimes in the WantAgent module or related components is advisable. Finally, organizations should consider alternative devices or OS versions if the risk profile is unacceptable, especially in high-security environments.