CVE-2025-54627 is a high-severity out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) identified in the skia module of Huawei's HarmonyOS versions 5.1.0 and 5.0.1. The skia module is a graphics library component responsible for rendering operations. An out-of-bounds write occurs when a program writes data outside the boundaries of allocated memory, which can corrupt memory, cause crashes, or enable arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to remotely exploit the flaw over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L) and no privileges required (PR:N). However, user interaction is required (UI:R), indicating that the victim must perform some action, such as opening a malicious file or visiting a crafted webpage. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning a successful exploit could lead to full system compromise, data leakage, or denial of service. The scope is unchanged (S:U), so the impact is limited to the vulnerable component within the same security scope. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the high CVSS score of 8.8 reflects the critical nature of this vulnerability. The absence of published patches at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for mitigation. Given the centrality of the skia module in graphics rendering, exploitation could be triggered through common user interactions involving graphical content, making it a significant threat vector.

For European organizations, the exploitation of CVE-2025-54627 could have severe consequences. HarmonyOS is increasingly used in Huawei's ecosystem of devices, including smartphones, IoT devices, and smart home appliances. Organizations relying on these devices for communication, operational technology, or consumer-facing services could face confidentiality breaches, data integrity violations, and service disruptions. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely could allow attackers to implant persistent malware, exfiltrate sensitive corporate or personal data, or disrupt critical services. This is particularly concerning for sectors with high reliance on Huawei devices, such as telecommunications, manufacturing, and smart city infrastructure. Additionally, the requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to trigger the exploit, increasing the attack surface. The lack of patches at present means organizations must rely on interim mitigations to reduce risk. Overall, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to data privacy, operational continuity, and trust in affected devices within European enterprises and consumers.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on reducing exposure to untrusted graphical content that could trigger the vulnerability, such as avoiding opening unknown files or links on HarmonyOS devices. 2. Implement network-level protections like intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to monitor and block suspicious traffic targeting HarmonyOS devices, especially those involving graphics rendering services. 3. Enforce strict user awareness training to recognize and avoid social engineering attempts that could lead to user interaction with malicious content. 4. Segment networks to isolate HarmonyOS devices from critical infrastructure and sensitive data environments to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 5. Monitor Huawei's official channels closely for patches or security advisories and prioritize timely deployment once available. 6. Employ application whitelisting and runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions on endpoints to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. 7. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments on devices running HarmonyOS to identify and remediate potential exposure. These measures, combined, provide a layered defense to mitigate the risk until a vendor patch is released.