CVE-2025-66326 is a race condition vulnerability classified as a use-after-free (CWE-416) in the audio module of Huawei's HarmonyOS 6.0.0. This flaw occurs when the system improperly manages memory, freeing an object while it is still in use, leading to potential exploitation scenarios where attackers can manipulate the system state. The vulnerability requires local access with high privileges (PR:H) and does not require user interaction (UI:N), indicating that an attacker must already have significant access to the device. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.7, reflecting medium severity, with impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning remote exploitation is not feasible without prior access. The race condition in the audio module could cause system instability or crashes, affecting availability and potentially allowing privilege escalation or data corruption. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability's presence in a core OS component like the audio module makes it critical to address. The vulnerability was reserved on 2025-11-27 and published on 2025-12-08, indicating recent discovery. Given Huawei's significant market share in mobile and IoT devices, this vulnerability could have broad implications if exploited.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-66326 lies in potential denial of service or system instability caused by exploitation of the use-after-free condition in HarmonyOS devices. This can disrupt business operations, especially in sectors relying on Huawei devices for communication or IoT functions. Confidentiality and integrity impacts suggest that sensitive data could be exposed or altered if the vulnerability is chained with other exploits. Organizations in telecommunications, critical infrastructure, and government sectors using HarmonyOS devices are at higher risk. The requirement for high privilege local access limits the attack surface but also indicates that insider threats or compromised devices pose significant risks. The lack of patches means organizations must rely on compensating controls until updates are available. Disruption to availability could affect service continuity, impacting customer trust and regulatory compliance under EU data protection laws. The vulnerability also raises concerns about supply chain security for Huawei-based devices in Europe.

1. Restrict and monitor privileged local access to HarmonyOS devices, ensuring only trusted administrators have high-level permissions. 2. Implement strict endpoint security controls to detect and prevent unauthorized local access or privilege escalation attempts. 3. Monitor system logs and audio module behavior for anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts or instability. 4. Employ application whitelisting and integrity verification to prevent unauthorized code execution on affected devices. 5. Prepare for rapid deployment of official patches from Huawei once released by establishing update management processes. 6. Segment networks to isolate critical HarmonyOS devices, reducing the risk of lateral movement if a device is compromised. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on local privilege escalation vectors. 8. Educate staff about the risks of granting high privileges and the importance of device security hygiene. 9. Collaborate with Huawei and security communities to stay informed on vulnerability developments and mitigation strategies. 10. Consider alternative devices or OS platforms for critical applications if timely patching is not feasible.