CVE-2025-25218 in OpenHarmony
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2025
in OpenHarmony v5.0.3 and prior versions allow a local attacker case DOS through NULL pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-25218 affects OpenHarmony versions 5.0.3 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables local attackers to execute denial of service attacks through null pointer dereference mechanisms. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the operating system's kernel components, specifically impacting the system's ability to process malformed or unexpected data inputs. The vulnerability exists in the core system architecture where memory management functions fail to properly validate pointer references before attempting to access memory locations, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors with local system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when the system encounters a null pointer reference during normal operation or specific system calls. The flaw occurs within the memory management subsystem where kernel functions attempt to dereference pointers that have not been properly initialized or validated. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, making it particularly dangerous as it can cause immediate system crashes and prevent legitimate system operations from completing successfully. The attack vector requires local system access, meaning an attacker must already have authenticated access to the device, but the impact remains severe as it can completely disable system functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-25218 extends beyond simple system crashes, as it can effectively render devices unusable until manual system restart or reboot occurs. This vulnerability particularly affects embedded systems and IoT devices running OpenHarmony where system stability is paramount for continuous operation. The denial of service condition can be triggered through various legitimate system calls or malicious input sequences that cause the kernel to attempt accessing null memory addresses. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, though in this case it operates at the local system level rather than network-based. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system unavailability, potentially causing operational disruptions in mission-critical environments where device uptime is essential.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patch deployment for all affected OpenHarmony versions, implementing additional input validation layers, and establishing monitoring systems to detect anomalous memory access patterns. System administrators should prioritize updating to patched versions of OpenHarmony 5.0.4 or later, as these releases contain the necessary fixes for the null pointer dereference conditions. Additional defensive measures include implementing kernel memory protection features, enabling stack canaries, and deploying runtime integrity checks that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing process isolation mechanisms and establishing robust system monitoring to detect early signs of memory corruption or abnormal system behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and error handling in kernel space operations, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and code review processes to prevent similar issues in future releases.