CVE-2025-26474 in OpenHarmony
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2026
in OpenHarmony v5.0.3 and prior versions allow a local attacker cause information improper input. 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-2025-26474 affects OpenHarmony versions 5.0.3 and earlier, representing a local privilege escalation issue that stems from improper input handling within the operating system's security framework. This flaw exists within the kernel or system-level components that process user inputs, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to exploit local access conditions and manipulate system behavior through crafted input sequences. The vulnerability's classification as local in nature indicates that exploitation requires prior access to the system, typically through legitimate user accounts or existing compromised credentials, making it less immediately dangerous than remote exploits but still significant for system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize or verify input parameters before processing. This type of flaw commonly falls under CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness in software security design where applications fail to validate input data thoroughly. The improper handling of input data can lead to various downstream security issues including buffer overflows, injection attacks, or privilege escalation scenarios where attackers can manipulate system behavior through malformed input sequences. In OpenHarmony's context, this weakness likely affects the kernel's input processing routines or system call handlers that manage user-space interactions with kernel-space components.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-26474 is particularly concerning within environments where OpenHarmony devices are deployed with elevated privileges or where local access might be gained through social engineering, physical access, or other initial compromise vectors. While the vulnerability requires local access to exploit, the potential for privilege escalation means that an attacker who gains user-level access could potentially elevate their privileges to system-level access, thereby gaining complete control over the device's functionality. This scenario is particularly dangerous in IoT deployments, automotive systems, or mobile devices where OpenHarmony might be used to control critical functions or handle sensitive data processing. The restricted exploitation scenarios mentioned in the description suggest that specific conditions must be met for successful exploitation, but these conditions are still within the realm of possibility for determined attackers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms and strengthening the kernel's security boundaries. Organizations should prioritize updating to OpenHarmony versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as patches typically include enhanced input sanitization routines and improved validation checks. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous input patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider deploying additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, input filtering at multiple layers, and regular security audits of system components. The ATT&CK framework's technique T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," is relevant here as attackers might leverage this vulnerability to move from user-level to system-level privileges, while T1190, "Exploit Public-Facing Application," could apply if the vulnerability can be indirectly accessed through network services that interact with the vulnerable system components. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege and regular security assessments can help reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of such local vulnerabilities.