CVE-2025-54641 is a vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS, specifically affecting versions 3.0.0, 3.1.0, and 4.0.0. The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation (CWE-20) within the kernel acceleration module, which leads to a buffer overflow condition. Buffer overflow vulnerabilities occur when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold, potentially overwriting adjacent memory. In this case, insufficient verification of input data allows malicious actors to craft inputs that overflow the buffer in the kernel acceleration module. The kernel acceleration module operates at a low level within the operating system, often handling performance-critical tasks and hardware interactions. Exploitation of this vulnerability could compromise the availability of the affected system, potentially causing system crashes or denial of service (DoS). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.7, indicating 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) reveals that the attack vector requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), and high privileges (PR:H) but 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). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability's presence in the kernel acceleration module makes it particularly sensitive, as kernel-level compromises can lead to full system control or severe disruption. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or cause system instability or crashes, severely affecting device reliability and security.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54641 could be significant, especially those using Huawei HarmonyOS devices in critical infrastructure, industrial control systems, or enterprise environments. The vulnerability's ability to affect availability means that systems could experience crashes or denial of service, disrupting business operations and potentially leading to data loss or downtime. The high impact on confidentiality and integrity suggests that sensitive data could be exposed or altered if attackers leverage this vulnerability in combination with other attack vectors. Given the requirement for high privileges and local access, the threat is more relevant in environments where attackers can gain physical or local network access to devices running HarmonyOS. This could include corporate environments with Huawei-based IoT devices, mobile devices, or embedded systems. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability details are public. The absence of patches also means organizations must rely on mitigation strategies until official fixes are released. The medium CVSS score reflects the balance between the high impact and the requirement for local high privileges, but the kernel-level nature of the flaw warrants close attention. Disruption to availability in critical systems could have cascading effects, including operational delays, financial losses, and reputational damage.

1. Restrict local access: Since exploitation requires local access with high privileges, organizations should enforce strict physical security controls and limit administrative access to HarmonyOS devices. 2. Network segmentation: Isolate devices running HarmonyOS in separate network segments to reduce the risk of lateral movement by attackers who gain initial access elsewhere. 3. Monitor for anomalous behavior: Implement advanced monitoring and logging on HarmonyOS devices to detect unusual kernel module activity or system crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Apply principle of least privilege: Limit user and process privileges on HarmonyOS devices to the minimum necessary to reduce the risk of privilege escalation. 5. Prepare for patch deployment: Establish a rapid patch management process to deploy updates as soon as Huawei releases a fix for this vulnerability. 6. Use endpoint protection: Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring kernel-level activities to detect and block exploitation attempts. 7. Conduct regular security audits: Periodically review device configurations and access controls to ensure compliance with security policies and identify potential weaknesses. 8. Vendor engagement: Maintain communication with Huawei for timely updates and guidance regarding this vulnerability and any forthcoming patches or mitigations.