CVE-2025-54637 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS versions 3.0.0, 3.1.0, and 4.0.0. The root cause is an out-of-bounds read (CWE-125) in the kernel's ambient light sensor module, stemming from insufficient data validation. Specifically, the kernel module responsible for handling ambient light sensor data does not properly verify array bounds before accessing elements, which can lead to reading memory outside the intended buffer. This flaw could allow a local attacker with high privileges to read sensitive kernel memory, potentially exposing confidential information. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.4 (medium), with the vector indicating that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), high privileges (PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and impacts confidentiality (C:H) but not integrity or availability. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability does not allow remote exploitation or privilege escalation but could be leveraged by an attacker who already has elevated access to extract sensitive data from kernel memory, possibly including cryptographic keys or other protected information. This vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous input validation in kernel modules handling hardware sensor data.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54637 is primarily related to confidentiality breaches in devices running Huawei HarmonyOS, particularly those using affected versions. Since the vulnerability requires local access with high privileges, the risk is higher in environments where devices are shared, physically accessible, or where insider threats exist. Confidential data leakage from kernel memory could compromise sensitive corporate or personal information, potentially undermining trust and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR. In sectors relying on Huawei HarmonyOS devices for critical operations—such as telecommunications, manufacturing, or government agencies—the exposure of confidential data could lead to competitive disadvantage or regulatory penalties. However, the lack of integrity or availability impact limits the scope of disruption. The medium severity and requirement for high privileges reduce the likelihood of widespread exploitation but do not eliminate the risk in targeted attacks or insider threat scenarios.

To mitigate CVE-2025-54637, organizations should: 1) Monitor Huawei's official security advisories for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 2) Restrict local access to HarmonyOS devices, especially limiting administrative or root-level access to trusted personnel only. 3) Implement strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized device access. 4) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual kernel-level activities or attempts to access sensitive memory regions. 5) Conduct regular audits of user privileges and remove unnecessary high-level permissions. 6) For environments with high security requirements, consider isolating or segmenting HarmonyOS devices to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 7) Educate users and administrators about the risks of local privilege misuse and enforce strong authentication and access control policies. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access and monitoring kernel-level behavior, which are critical given the nature of this vulnerability.