CVE-2025-68961 identifies a race condition vulnerability classified under CWE-362 within the camera framework module of Huawei's HarmonyOS operating system. This vulnerability occurs due to improper synchronization when multiple threads concurrently access shared resources, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system instability. Specifically, the flaw can cause availability issues by triggering race conditions that may crash the camera service or degrade its performance. The affected versions include HarmonyOS 5.0.1, 5.1.0, and 6.0.0. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H) indicates that exploitation requires local access with low attack complexity but high privileges, no user interaction, and results in no confidentiality impact, limited integrity impact, but high availability impact. No public exploits have been reported so far, but the vulnerability poses a risk to devices relying on the camera framework, potentially disrupting critical functionalities. Given Huawei's significant market presence in mobile and IoT devices, this vulnerability could affect a broad range of products. The absence of patch links suggests that fixes may still be pending or in development, underscoring the need for vigilance and interim mitigations.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-68961 is on the availability of devices running affected HarmonyOS versions, particularly those utilizing camera functionalities. This could disrupt operations in sectors such as telecommunications, public safety, healthcare, and manufacturing where camera-enabled devices are integral. The requirement for high privileges to exploit the vulnerability somewhat limits the attack surface to insiders or attackers who have already gained elevated access. However, successful exploitation could lead to denial of service conditions, impairing device reliability and potentially causing operational downtime. In environments where Huawei devices are used extensively, such as in corporate mobile fleets or IoT deployments, this vulnerability could degrade service continuity and user trust. Additionally, the lack of confidentiality impact reduces the risk of data leakage, but integrity could be marginally affected if the race condition leads to corrupted camera data or logs. Overall, the threat is moderate but significant enough to warrant proactive measures.

To mitigate CVE-2025-68961, European organizations should first monitor Huawei's official security advisories for patches and apply them promptly once released. Until patches are available, organizations should enforce strict access controls to limit local high-privilege access on devices running affected HarmonyOS versions. Implementing robust endpoint security solutions that detect and prevent privilege escalation attempts can reduce exploitation risk. Network segmentation and device usage policies should restrict camera access to trusted applications and users. Regular auditing of device logs may help identify suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. For critical deployments, consider temporarily disabling camera functionalities or isolating affected devices from sensitive networks. Additionally, educating users about the risks of granting elevated privileges and maintaining updated device firmware can further reduce exposure. Collaboration with Huawei support channels for guidance on interim fixes or workarounds is also recommended.