CVE-2025-54642 in HarmonyOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2025
Issue of buffer overflow caused by insufficient data verification in the kernel gyroscope module. Impact: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may affect availability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-54642 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the kernel-level gyroscope module of a Linux-based operating system. This flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the size and content of data structures processed by the kernel module responsible for handling gyroscope sensor inputs. The gyroscope module typically interfaces with hardware sensors to provide orientation and motion data to various system components, making it a fundamental element in mobile devices, embedded systems, and IoT platforms where precise motion tracking is essential. The insufficient data verification creates a scenario where maliciously crafted input data can exceed the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially leading to memory corruption and system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. When exploitation occurs, the buffer overflow can result in arbitrary code execution within kernel space, providing attackers with elevated privileges and complete system compromise. The kernel gyroscope module's failure to implement proper bounds checking or input sanitization allows attackers to craft malicious sensor data packets that, when processed by the vulnerable module, overwrite adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption can manifest in various ways including system crashes, denial of service conditions, or more severe scenarios where attackers can execute code with kernel-level privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-54642 extends beyond simple system availability concerns as demonstrated by its classification for availability impact. While the primary effect may appear as system instability or crashes, the underlying vulnerability creates a pathway for more sophisticated attacks that can persist across system reboots. The gyroscope module typically operates continuously in the background, processing sensor data from multiple applications and system services, making it a persistent target for exploitation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to maintain persistent access to affected systems, particularly in mobile environments where gyroscope data is continuously streamed to various applications. The vulnerability affects not only individual device security but also networked systems where multiple devices may be compromised, potentially enabling lateral movement attacks within enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-54642 should focus on immediate patch deployment from vendor sources, as this vulnerability requires kernel-level modifications to address the insufficient data verification mechanisms. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous sensor data patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, utilizing intrusion detection systems that can identify unusual kernel module behavior. The implementation of kernel memory protection features such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel address space layout randomization can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation and establish incident response procedures specifically targeting kernel-level vulnerabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation and T1499 for endpoint denial of service, highlighting the multi-faceted attack surface this flaw presents. Regular security assessments of kernel modules and input validation processes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The vulnerability underscores the importance of rigorous input validation in kernel space code and the need for comprehensive security testing of system drivers and modules that interface with hardware peripherals.