CVE-2025-46591 in HarmonyOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2025
Out-of-bounds data read vulnerability in the authorization module Impact: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may affect service confidentiality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds data read flaw within the authorization module of the affected system. The issue stems from improper bounds checking during authorization processing, where the system fails to validate array indices or memory access boundaries before reading data from memory locations. Such vulnerabilities typically arise when developers assume valid input parameters without implementing proper input sanitization or boundary validation mechanisms. The authorization module serves as a critical control point for access management, making this flaw particularly dangerous as it could potentially expose sensitive authorization data or allow unauthorized access to protected resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when the authorization subsystem processes user credentials or access tokens without adequate validation of data boundaries. This allows an attacker to craft malicious input that causes the system to read memory locations beyond intended boundaries, potentially accessing sensitive data such as authentication tokens, user permissions, or system configuration information. The out-of-bounds read occurs during the authorization validation process, where the system attempts to access authorization-related data structures that have not been properly bounds-checked. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129 which specifically addresses improper validation of array indices and other bounds checking issues, making it a direct descendant of well-established software security weaknesses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as successful exploitation could compromise the confidentiality of service operations and potentially enable further attacks within the system. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability might gain access to authorization context information that could be used to escalate privileges or bypass access controls. The confidentiality impact is particularly concerning because authorization data often contains sensitive information about user roles, permissions, and access rights that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to restricted resources. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.001 which covers abuse of privileges through improper access control mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally within the system or maintain persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the authorization module. Developers must ensure that all array indices and memory access operations are properly validated before data access occurs, implementing proper boundary checks and input sanitization procedures. The fix should include comprehensive testing of authorization flows with boundary condition testing to prevent similar issues in the future. Additionally, implementing defensive programming practices such as using safe string handling functions, memory protection mechanisms, and regular security code reviews can significantly reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this type of vulnerability. The remediation process should follow established security development lifecycle practices to prevent recurrence of such issues in future releases.