CVE-2025-54628 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS, specifically affecting versions 4.0.0 through 5.1.0. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-118, which pertains to incorrect access of indexable resources, commonly known as a 'Range Error.' This type of flaw arises when a program improperly verifies or handles indices used to access elements within arrays or similar data structures, potentially leading to out-of-bounds access or memory corruption. In this case, the vulnerability stems from incomplete verification of information within the communication module of HarmonyOS. The communication module is critical as it handles data exchange and network interactions. Due to improper validation, an attacker can craft malicious inputs that exploit this range error, causing the system to behave unexpectedly. The primary impact of this vulnerability is on system availability, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to denial-of-service (DoS) conditions, such as crashes or reboots of the affected device. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L) indicates that the attack can be performed remotely over the network without any privileges or user interaction, and it affects only availability without compromising confidentiality or integrity. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the publication date (August 6, 2025), and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability's root cause is the incomplete verification of index boundaries in the communication module, which could be exploited by sending specially crafted network packets or messages that trigger the range error, leading to resource exhaustion or system instability. Given the nature of the flaw, it is unlikely to result in code execution or data leakage but can disrupt device operations, impacting user experience and service continuity.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54628 primarily concerns the availability of devices running Huawei's HarmonyOS. This OS is used in a variety of Huawei products, including smartphones, IoT devices, and potentially embedded systems in enterprise environments. Disruption of availability can lead to denial-of-service scenarios, affecting business operations reliant on these devices. In sectors such as telecommunications, manufacturing, and smart infrastructure where HarmonyOS-powered devices may be integrated, service interruptions could result in operational delays, reduced productivity, and potential financial losses. Additionally, organizations using HarmonyOS devices for critical communication or control functions may face increased risk of downtime. Although the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact can indirectly affect compliance with service-level agreements (SLAs) and regulatory requirements related to operational resilience. The lack of required privileges or user interaction for exploitation increases the risk profile, as attackers can remotely target vulnerable devices without needing to compromise user credentials or trick users into action. However, the absence of known exploits in the wild and the medium severity rating suggest that the immediate threat level is moderate, but organizations should remain vigilant and prepare to apply mitigations promptly once patches become available.

Given the vulnerability arises from incomplete verification in the communication module, European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Inventory and identify all Huawei devices running affected versions of HarmonyOS (4.0.0 through 5.1.0) within their environment, including smartphones, IoT endpoints, and embedded systems. 2) Monitor Huawei's official security advisories and update channels closely for the release of patches addressing CVE-2025-54628, and plan for rapid deployment once available. 3) Employ network-level protections such as intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) configured to detect anomalous or malformed packets targeting HarmonyOS communication protocols, potentially blocking exploit attempts. 4) Segment networks to isolate critical HarmonyOS devices from untrusted or less secure network zones, reducing exposure to remote attacks. 5) Implement rate limiting and traffic filtering on communication interfaces to mitigate potential denial-of-service attempts exploiting the range error. 6) Conduct security awareness and training for IT staff to recognize symptoms of device instability or crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. 7) Engage with Huawei support for guidance on interim workarounds or configuration changes that may reduce attack surface until patches are released. 8) Consider deploying endpoint protection solutions capable of monitoring device health and alerting on abnormal behavior related to communication module failures. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on device identification, network controls specific to communication modules, and proactive monitoring tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.