CVE-2026-24920 is a permission control vulnerability classified under CWE-264 affecting the Ability Management Service (AMS) module of Huawei's HarmonyOS versions 4.2.0, 4.3.0, and 4.3.1. The vulnerability arises from improper enforcement of permissions and access controls within the AMS module, which is responsible for managing application lifecycle and system abilities. An attacker with local access and no privileges can exploit this flaw without requiring user interaction, potentially escalating privileges or manipulating system components in unauthorized ways. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.2 indicates a medium severity, with an attack vector limited to local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on integrity (I:H), with no direct confidentiality or availability impact. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability could be leveraged to alter system behavior or compromise application management, potentially destabilizing device operations or enabling further attacks. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates proactive mitigation and monitoring. This vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments where HarmonyOS devices are deployed in critical roles, such as telecommunications, IoT, and enterprise mobile deployments.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2026-24920 lies in the potential compromise of system integrity on Huawei HarmonyOS devices. This could lead to unauthorized modification of system or application states, potentially disrupting business operations or enabling further exploitation. While availability and confidentiality are not directly affected, integrity breaches can undermine trust in device behavior and data accuracy. Organizations relying on HarmonyOS for telecommunications infrastructure, IoT device management, or enterprise mobility may experience operational instability or increased risk of lateral movement by attackers. The local access requirement limits remote exploitation risks but raises concerns for insider threats or compromised endpoints within corporate networks. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not preclude targeted attacks, especially in high-value sectors. Consequently, European entities using Huawei HarmonyOS devices should prioritize vulnerability management to maintain operational security and compliance with data protection regulations.

1. Monitor Huawei’s official channels for patches addressing CVE-2026-24920 and apply updates promptly once available. 2. Restrict physical and local access to HarmonyOS devices, especially in sensitive environments, to reduce the risk of local exploitation. 3. Implement strict access controls and endpoint security measures to detect and prevent unauthorized privilege escalations on devices running HarmonyOS. 4. Employ behavioral monitoring and anomaly detection focused on the AMS module to identify suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing on HarmonyOS deployments to uncover potential exploitation vectors. 6. Educate staff on the risks of local device compromise and enforce policies limiting device usage to trusted personnel. 7. Where feasible, segment networks to isolate HarmonyOS devices from critical infrastructure to contain potential impacts. 8. Maintain comprehensive logging on HarmonyOS devices and integrate logs into centralized security information and event management (SIEM) systems for timely detection.