CVE-2025-54652 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS, specifically within the virtualization base module. This vulnerability arises from improper limitation of pathname inputs, allowing an attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) and local access (AV:L) to manipulate file paths to access restricted directories or files outside the intended scope. The vulnerability does not require user interaction (UI:N) but does require some level of privilege on the device. Exploitation can lead to a confidentiality breach of the virtualization module, potentially exposing sensitive data or configuration files. The vulnerability also impacts availability (A:H), indicating that successful exploitation could disrupt the virtualization services, possibly causing denial of service or system instability. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially impacting other system components or processes. The affected versions are HarmonyOS 5.0.1 and 5.0.2, which are relatively recent releases. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, suggesting that mitigation may rely on vendor updates or workarounds once available. The vulnerability's technical root cause is the failure to properly sanitize or restrict file path inputs, allowing traversal sequences (e.g., '../') to escape restricted directories, a classic vector for unauthorized file access or manipulation within the virtualization environment.

For European organizations using Huawei HarmonyOS devices, particularly those leveraging virtualization features, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Confidentiality breaches in the virtualization module could expose sensitive virtual machine data, credentials, or system configurations, undermining trust in the platform's security. The high impact on availability could disrupt critical services relying on virtualization, affecting business continuity. Given the virtualization module's role in isolating workloads, a compromise here could facilitate lateral movement or privilege escalation within affected devices. Industries with stringent data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government sectors, could face compliance risks if sensitive data is exposed. Additionally, organizations using Huawei devices in operational technology or IoT contexts may experience broader operational disruptions. The local attack vector and requirement for limited privileges mean that insider threats or attackers with some device access could exploit this vulnerability, emphasizing the need for strict access controls and monitoring.

Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting local access to devices running affected HarmonyOS versions, enforcing strict user privilege management to minimize the risk of exploitation. Organizations should monitor for unusual file access patterns or virtualization module anomalies indicative of path traversal attempts. Employing application whitelisting and integrity monitoring on virtualization-related files can help detect unauthorized changes. Network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices and limit lateral movement is advisable. Since no patches are currently linked, organizations should maintain close communication with Huawei for timely updates and apply patches as soon as they become available. Additionally, conducting thorough security audits of virtualization configurations and applying principle of least privilege to virtualization management interfaces can reduce exposure. For critical environments, consider temporary disabling or limiting virtualization features until a fix is deployed. Finally, educating users and administrators about the risks of local privilege misuse and enforcing strong endpoint security controls will help mitigate exploitation likelihood.