CVE-2025-54625 is a race condition vulnerability identified in the kernel file system module of Huawei's HarmonyOS, specifically affecting versions 5.0.1 and 5.1.0. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-414, which refers to a missing lock check, indicating that the kernel module fails to properly enforce synchronization mechanisms when accessing shared resources. This race condition can lead to inconsistent or corrupted states within the kernel's file system operations. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.7, reflecting a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L) with low attack complexity (AC:L), but high privileges (PR:H) and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker with high privileges on the device to cause significant disruption, including potential denial of service or corruption of critical kernel data structures, thereby affecting system availability and stability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, suggesting that mitigation may rely on vendor updates or workarounds once available. The vulnerability's presence in the kernel file system module makes it a critical component to address to maintain system reliability and security.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54625 could be significant, particularly for those using Huawei HarmonyOS devices in operational environments. Given the vulnerability affects kernel-level file system operations, exploitation could lead to system crashes or denial of service, disrupting business-critical applications and services. This is especially relevant for sectors relying on embedded or IoT devices running HarmonyOS, such as telecommunications, manufacturing, and smart infrastructure. The requirement for high privileges to exploit the vulnerability limits the attack surface to insiders or attackers who have already gained elevated access, but once exploited, the damage to system integrity and availability could be severe. Additionally, the high impact on confidentiality and integrity suggests potential for data corruption or unauthorized data access, which could lead to compliance issues under European data protection regulations such as GDPR. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability details become widely known.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigation strategies: 1) Restrict and monitor administrative access to HarmonyOS devices to minimize the risk of privilege escalation and unauthorized high-privilege access. 2) Employ strict access control policies and audit logs to detect any unusual or unauthorized kernel-level operations. 3) Coordinate with Huawei for timely updates and patches addressing this vulnerability; prioritize patch deployment once available. 4) For critical systems, consider isolating HarmonyOS devices from sensitive network segments to limit potential impact. 5) Implement runtime integrity monitoring tools capable of detecting kernel anomalies or race condition exploitation attempts. 6) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on kernel and file system components to identify any exploitation attempts or weaknesses. 7) Educate system administrators about the risks associated with kernel-level vulnerabilities and the importance of maintaining strict privilege management. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on privilege restriction, monitoring, and proactive coordination with the vendor.