CVE-2025-54644 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 an out-of-bounds (OOB) read in the kernel's ambient light sensor module, classified under CWE-125. This vulnerability arises due to insufficient validation of input data, allowing the kernel module to read memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries. Such OOB reads can lead to leakage of sensitive information residing in adjacent memory areas, potentially compromising service confidentiality. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges (AV:L, PR:L) and does not require user interaction (UI:N). The attack complexity is low (AC:L), meaning an attacker with limited privileges on the device can exploit this flaw without needing complex conditions. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.6, reflecting a medium severity level, with impacts on confidentiality (low), integrity (low), and availability (high). The high availability impact suggests that exploitation might cause system crashes or kernel panics, leading to denial of service. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. This vulnerability is significant because it affects the kernel space, which is critical for system stability and security. An attacker exploiting this flaw could read sensitive kernel memory, potentially exposing confidential data or causing system instability. Given the kernel-level nature, exploitation could also be a stepping stone for privilege escalation or further attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54644 depends largely on the deployment of Huawei HarmonyOS devices within their infrastructure or user base. HarmonyOS is primarily used in Huawei's IoT devices, smartphones, and embedded systems. Organizations relying on Huawei hardware running affected versions could face confidentiality breaches if attackers gain local access, potentially exposing sensitive operational or personal data. The high availability impact could disrupt critical services, especially in sectors using embedded Huawei devices for automation, monitoring, or communication. This could affect industries such as telecommunications, manufacturing, and smart city infrastructure. The medium severity and local access requirement limit the risk to internal threat actors or attackers who have already compromised a device. However, in environments where Huawei devices are prevalent, this vulnerability could be leveraged for lateral movement or denial of service attacks, impacting business continuity and data protection compliance under GDPR. Additionally, the lack of patches increases the window of exposure, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation. The confidentiality impact, while rated low, is still relevant for organizations handling sensitive data on affected devices. The potential for availability disruption could have operational consequences, especially in critical infrastructure or industrial control systems using HarmonyOS-based devices.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting local access to devices running affected HarmonyOS versions. Implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized local logins or suspicious activity. 2. Network segmentation should isolate Huawei HarmonyOS devices from critical infrastructure to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 3. Employ runtime protection and kernel integrity monitoring tools where possible to detect abnormal behavior or crashes related to the ambient light module. 4. Engage with Huawei support channels to obtain official patches or updates as soon as they become available and prioritize their deployment. 5. For organizations deploying HarmonyOS in IoT or embedded contexts, consider disabling or restricting the ambient light sensor module if feasible, reducing the attack surface. 6. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focusing on local privilege escalation and kernel vulnerabilities to identify exploitation attempts. 7. Maintain comprehensive logging and alerting on devices to detect potential exploitation attempts early. 8. Educate internal teams about the risks of local access vulnerabilities and enforce policies minimizing unnecessary physical or local device access.