CVE-2025-58280 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS versions 5.1.0 and 5.0.1, specifically within the Ark eTS module. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-1321, which pertains to improperly controlled modification of object prototype attributes, commonly known as 'Prototype Pollution.' Prototype pollution occurs when an attacker is able to manipulate the prototype of a base object, thereby influencing all objects that inherit from it. In this case, the vulnerability allows exposure of object heap addresses, which can lead to unauthorized modification of object prototypes. This can result in severe consequences including corruption of program logic, unauthorized code execution, or denial of service. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.4 reflects a high severity level, with a vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality (C:H), integrity (I:H), and availability (A:H). The vulnerability does not require user interaction or privileges, but exploitation requires local access, which limits remote exploitation but still poses a significant risk especially in multi-user or shared device environments. Successful exploitation primarily impacts system availability, potentially causing crashes or denial of service, but also compromises confidentiality and integrity due to the nature of prototype pollution. No known exploits are reported in the wild yet, and no patches have been linked at the time of publication, indicating that affected organizations should prioritize mitigation and monitoring. HarmonyOS is Huawei's proprietary operating system used primarily in IoT devices, smartphones, and other smart devices, meaning this vulnerability could affect a broad range of consumer and industrial devices running these versions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-58280 can be significant, especially for those deploying Huawei HarmonyOS-based devices in their infrastructure or consumer-facing products. The vulnerability could lead to denial of service conditions, disrupting business operations and availability of critical services. Confidentiality and integrity impacts mean sensitive data could be exposed or altered, which is particularly concerning for sectors handling personal data under GDPR regulations. Industrial IoT deployments using HarmonyOS could face operational disruptions, impacting manufacturing, utilities, or smart city applications. The local attack vector implies that attackers would need some level of access to the device or network, which could be achieved through insider threats, compromised local networks, or physical access. This risk is heightened in environments with less stringent access controls or where Huawei devices are widely used. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, as attackers may develop exploits following public disclosure. The lack of available patches means organizations must rely on compensating controls until updates are released. Overall, the vulnerability poses a high risk to availability and data security, necessitating urgent attention in affected environments.

Given the lack of available patches, European organizations should implement several specific mitigation strategies: 1) Restrict local access to HarmonyOS devices by enforcing strict physical security and network segmentation to limit potential attackers' ability to reach vulnerable components. 2) Monitor device behavior and logs for unusual activity indicative of prototype pollution exploitation attempts, such as unexpected crashes or anomalous object behavior in the Ark eTS module. 3) Employ application whitelisting and integrity verification mechanisms to detect unauthorized modifications to system components or object prototypes. 4) Coordinate with Huawei for timely updates and patches, and plan for rapid deployment once available. 5) For critical environments, consider isolating or temporarily replacing vulnerable devices until patches are released. 6) Conduct security awareness training for personnel to recognize and report suspicious activity related to local device access. 7) Implement network-level controls such as zero trust principles to minimize lateral movement opportunities for attackers who gain local access. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific attack vector (local access) and the nature of prototype pollution in HarmonyOS.