CVE-2025-41432 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 out-of-bounds write. 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-2025-41432 affects OpenHarmony versions 5.1.0 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through an out-of-bounds write flaw that enables local arbitrary code execution within pre-installed applications. This vulnerability resides in the system's memory management mechanisms where improper bounds checking allows attackers to write data beyond allocated memory regions, potentially leading to privilege escalation and system compromise. The flaw specifically targets the runtime environment of pre-installed applications, making it particularly dangerous as these applications typically operate with elevated privileges and have deeper system integration compared to regular user applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory boundary checks within the OpenHarmony runtime environment. When pre-installed applications process user-supplied data or system inputs, the application fails to properly validate array indices or buffer sizes before performing memory operations. This allows an attacker to manipulate memory layout and overwrite critical program structures, function pointers, or return addresses, effectively enabling code execution at arbitrary memory locations. The out-of-bounds write condition occurs during normal application operation when legitimate data processing triggers memory corruption, making detection and exploitation challenging. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" and represents a classic memory safety issue that has plagued many operating systems and runtime environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-41432 is significant within the OpenHarmony ecosystem, particularly in scenarios where pre-installed applications are present and accessible to local attackers. While the vulnerability requires restricted conditions for exploitation, such as local physical access or existing user privileges, the potential for privilege escalation remains high since pre-installed applications often operate with system-level permissions. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. The restricted exploitation scenario does not diminish the severity, as local attackers with minimal privileges can often escalate their access through additional attack vectors, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise and IoT deployments where OpenHarmony is used.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-41432 should focus on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Organizations must prioritize updating to OpenHarmony versions that contain the necessary security patches addressing the out-of-bounds write vulnerability. System administrators should implement runtime monitoring and memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention to reduce exploitation success rates. The implementation of secure coding practices including bounds checking, input validation, and memory safety verification should be enforced throughout the development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential attack vectors and ensure that the system remains resilient against both current and emerging threats. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust security hygiene and adhering to industry standards such as those outlined in the ATT&CK framework for operating system security and memory corruption attack techniques.