CVE-2025-25277 in OpenHarmony
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2026
in OpenHarmony v5.1.0 and prior versions allow a local attacker arbitrary code execution in pre-installed apps through using incompatible type. This vulnerability can be exploited only in restricted scenarios.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-25277 represents a critical security flaw within OpenHarmony versions 5.1.0 and earlier, where a local attacker can potentially achieve arbitrary code execution within pre-installed applications. This vulnerability stems from improper type handling mechanisms that allow malicious actors to exploit type incompatibilities within the system's runtime environment. The flaw specifically targets the application sandboxing and type validation processes that govern how applications interact with system resources and each other. The vulnerability's exploitation requires specific conditions and is classified as restricted, meaning it cannot be easily leveraged in broad scenarios without careful preparation and targeting. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the category of privilege escalation attacks where an attacker must already have some level of system access or be in a position to manipulate the target environment.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation of data types during application execution, particularly when dealing with pre-installed applications that operate with elevated privileges or have access to sensitive system functions. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-704 category of Incorrect Type Conversion or Cast, which is a well-documented weakness in software development that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate type information in memory, potentially causing the system to execute unintended code paths within the targeted applications. The restricted nature of exploitation suggests that the vulnerability requires specific preconditions such as access to the device's file system, knowledge of the target application's internal structure, or the ability to trigger specific code execution sequences that would normally be protected by proper type checking mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-25277 is significant for organizations and users deploying OpenHarmony systems, particularly in environments where pre-installed applications handle sensitive data or provide critical system services. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to system resources, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of persistent backdoors. The attack surface is limited to local exploitation scenarios, meaning that network-based attacks are not feasible, but this does not diminish the threat level as local access often implies physical device compromise or social engineering success. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Local Privilege Escalation" and may also relate to T1548.001 for "Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism" within the context of application-level privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates to versions that address the type validation issues, proper application sandboxing enforcement, and implementation of runtime type checking mechanisms. System administrators should conduct thorough risk assessments to identify all pre-installed applications that may be vulnerable and ensure that automatic update mechanisms are enabled to prevent exploitation. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around memory access violations or unexpected code execution paths. The vulnerability's restricted exploitation nature suggests that organizations should also implement user access controls and device security policies that limit local administrative privileges. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the mitigation measures are effective and that no other similar type handling vulnerabilities exist within the OpenHarmony ecosystem. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and strict code review processes for all applications, especially those that operate with elevated privileges or have access to sensitive system resources.