CVE-2025-58280 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Huawei's HarmonyOS versions 5.1.0 and 5.0.1. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-1321, which pertains to improperly controlled modification of object prototype attributes, commonly known as 'Prototype Pollution.' Specifically, this flaw exists in the Ark eTS module of HarmonyOS, where it allows exposure of object heap addresses. Prototype pollution vulnerabilities occur when an attacker can manipulate the prototype of a base object, potentially altering the behavior of all objects inheriting from that prototype. In this case, the exposure of heap addresses can facilitate further exploitation such as arbitrary code execution or denial of service by corrupting memory structures. The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.4, indicating a high severity with impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and impact suggest it could be leveraged for significant disruption or data compromise if exploited. The lack of patch links indicates that a fix may not yet be publicly available, increasing the urgency for mitigation. Given that HarmonyOS is Huawei's proprietary operating system used primarily in IoT devices, smartphones, and other embedded systems, this vulnerability could affect a broad range of devices running the affected versions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-58280 could be substantial, particularly for those using Huawei devices running HarmonyOS in their infrastructure or consumer-facing products. The exposure of heap addresses and prototype pollution can lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or denial of service conditions, affecting system availability and data integrity. This is especially critical for sectors relying on IoT devices for operational technology, smart city infrastructure, or telecommunications, where Huawei hardware and software have significant market penetration. Disruption or compromise of these systems could lead to operational downtime, loss of sensitive data, and reputational damage. Furthermore, the local attack vector suggests that attackers would need some form of access to the device or network, which could be achieved through physical access or lateral movement after initial compromise. This elevates the risk in environments with less stringent internal network segmentation or where devices are exposed to untrusted users. The high confidentiality impact also raises concerns about potential data leakage from compromised devices. Given the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding Huawei products in Europe, exploitation of this vulnerability could also have broader implications for supply chain security and trust in critical infrastructure components.

To mitigate CVE-2025-58280 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately inventory all Huawei devices running HarmonyOS versions 5.0.1 and 5.1.0 within their environment to identify potentially affected systems. 2) Restrict local access to these devices by enforcing strict physical security controls and network segmentation to limit the attack surface, as the vulnerability requires local access. 3) Monitor device logs and network traffic for unusual activity that could indicate attempts to exploit prototype pollution or heap address exposure. 4) Engage with Huawei support channels to obtain any available patches or security advisories and apply updates promptly once released. 5) Implement application whitelisting and runtime protection mechanisms on devices where feasible to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. 6) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on IoT and embedded devices to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities proactively. 7) Educate IT and security personnel about the specific risks associated with prototype pollution vulnerabilities to improve detection and response capabilities. 8) Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of monitoring low-level system behavior on affected devices. These measures go beyond generic patching advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and proactive detection tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.