CVE-2026-24931 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-264, indicating improper permissions, privileges, or access controls within Huawei's HarmonyOS card module. The flaw arises from an improper criterion security check, which means that the system does not adequately verify permissions before granting access to certain card module functionalities. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive service data, potentially compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The affected versions are HarmonyOS 5.1.0 and 6.0.0. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L) indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L), has low complexity (AC:L), requires no privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is low but present (C:L/I:L/A:L). No patches have been published yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with local access to the device, potentially through physical access or local network compromise, to bypass security checks in the card module and access sensitive service information. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust access control mechanisms in embedded operating systems, particularly in modules handling sensitive data or services.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-24931 depends largely on the extent of HarmonyOS device usage within their infrastructure. Organizations using Huawei devices running the affected versions may face risks of unauthorized data access, potentially leading to leakage of confidential information or disruption of services relying on the card module. Sectors such as telecommunications, finance, and government agencies that use Huawei devices for critical operations could be particularly vulnerable. The requirement for local access reduces the risk of remote exploitation but raises concerns about insider threats or physical device compromise. Confidentiality breaches could lead to regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is exposed. Integrity and availability impacts, while rated low, could affect service reliability and trust. The absence of known exploits suggests limited current risk, but the vulnerability should be addressed proactively to prevent future exploitation.

1. Monitor Huawei's official channels for patches addressing CVE-2026-24931 and apply them promptly once available. 2. Restrict physical and local network access to devices running HarmonyOS, especially those with sensitive data or critical functions. 3. Implement strict access control policies and device usage monitoring to detect unauthorized local access attempts. 4. Conduct regular security audits of devices to ensure compliance with security policies and detect potential misuse. 5. Educate staff on the risks of local device compromise and enforce policies to prevent unauthorized physical access. 6. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior on HarmonyOS devices. 7. If possible, isolate critical devices from general user access to minimize the attack surface. 8. Maintain an inventory of all Huawei devices and their OS versions to prioritize patching and monitoring efforts.