CVE-2025-54642 is a medium severity vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS, specifically affecting versions 3.0.0, 3.1.0, and 4.0.0. The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-20) within the kernel's gyroscope module, leading to a buffer overflow condition. This occurs because the module does not sufficiently verify the size or integrity of incoming data before processing it, allowing an attacker with high privileges to supply crafted input that overflows the buffer. The overflow can corrupt memory, potentially leading to system instability or crashes, thereby impacting system availability. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.7, reflecting a medium severity with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating that exploitation requires local access with high privileges, no user interaction, and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is significant because it resides in the kernel space, which is critical for system operation and security. Exploitation could allow attackers to cause denial of service or potentially escalate privileges further if combined with other vulnerabilities. Given the kernel-level impact, the threat demands attention from organizations using HarmonyOS devices, especially those relying on the affected versions in sensitive environments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54642 could be substantial in environments where HarmonyOS devices are deployed, particularly in sectors using Huawei hardware or software for mobile or IoT solutions. The vulnerability primarily threatens system availability due to potential crashes or denial of service caused by buffer overflow in the kernel gyroscope module. This could disrupt business operations, especially in critical infrastructure, manufacturing, or telecommunications sectors where device reliability is paramount. Additionally, the vulnerability’s ability to compromise confidentiality and integrity (as indicated by the CVSS vector) raises concerns about data protection and system trustworthiness. Although exploitation requires local high privileges, insider threats or attackers who have already gained elevated access could leverage this flaw to further destabilize systems or disrupt services. European organizations with Huawei-based ecosystems should be vigilant, as disruption could affect supply chains, customer services, and regulatory compliance related to data protection and operational continuity.

To mitigate CVE-2025-54642, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Monitor Huawei’s official security advisories closely for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 2) Restrict local access to HarmonyOS devices, enforcing strict access controls and privilege management to minimize the risk of attackers obtaining the high-level privileges required for exploitation. 3) Implement runtime protection mechanisms such as kernel integrity monitoring and anomaly detection to identify unusual behavior indicative of buffer overflow exploitation attempts. 4) Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments on devices running HarmonyOS to detect potential exploitation or misconfigurations. 5) Employ network segmentation to isolate critical HarmonyOS devices, limiting the potential spread or impact of an attack. 6) Educate internal staff about the risks of privilege escalation and the importance of safeguarding credentials and access to devices. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and rapid patch management specific to the nature of this kernel-level vulnerability.