CVE-2026-24923 in HarmonyOS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2026
Permission control vulnerability in the HDC module. Impact: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may affect service confidentiality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2026
The CVE-2026-24923 vulnerability represents a critical permission control flaw within the HDC module of a system or application. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of access control weaknesses that can undermine the fundamental security posture of affected systems. The HDC module typically handles hardware device communication and management functions, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability manifests as insufficient authorization checks or improper validation of user permissions, allowing malicious actors to bypass intended access restrictions. Such flaws are particularly dangerous because they can provide attackers with elevated privileges that would normally be restricted to authorized personnel only. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can potentially compromise the confidentiality of services that rely on proper permission enforcement. When attackers successfully exploit this flaw, they can gain access to sensitive data, system configurations, or operational parameters that should remain protected. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. This weakness can be leveraged by attackers following the tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and credential access domains. The exploitation process typically involves identifying the specific permission boundaries within the HDC module and finding ways to circumvent them through malformed requests or manipulated access tokens. The affected service confidentiality is particularly concerning because it can lead to data breaches, information disclosure, and potential compromise of critical system operations.
The technical implementation of this permission control vulnerability stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within the HDC module's access control framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests or manipulating system calls that should normally be restricted based on user roles or system permissions. The vulnerability likely exists in the module's authentication and authorization logic, where proper checks are either missing, incorrectly implemented, or bypassed through predictable patterns in the system's response handling. This type of flaw often occurs when developers fail to implement comprehensive access control policies or when security measures are inconsistently applied across different system components. The HDC module's interaction with underlying hardware and system resources creates multiple potential attack vectors for exploiting the permission control weakness. The vulnerability can be particularly insidious because it may not immediately manifest in obvious error messages or system failures, allowing attackers to operate undetected while accessing restricted resources. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability can be classified under the broader category of insecure direct object reference issues, where proper access controls fail to validate user authorization for specific system objects or resources. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities often requires understanding the internal structure of the HDC module and its associated permission models, making it particularly challenging for defensive measures to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts.
The operational impact of CVE-2026-24923 extends far beyond simple access violations, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of critical system services. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they can access sensitive operational data that may include system configurations, user credentials, hardware specifications, or communication protocols. The confidentiality breach can lead to cascading security incidents where compromised information is used to launch further attacks against other system components or external targets. The vulnerability's presence in the HDC module can particularly affect industrial control systems, embedded devices, or network infrastructure where hardware communication protocols are critical for system operation. Organizations may experience significant operational disruptions when this vulnerability is exploited, as attackers can potentially manipulate hardware settings or disable security controls that protect system integrity. The impact on service confidentiality can also result in regulatory compliance violations, especially in environments governed by standards such as iso 27001, nist cybersecurity framework, or industry-specific regulations like pci dss. The vulnerability can enable attackers to gain insights into system architecture, operational procedures, and security controls that would normally remain confidential. This information can be weaponized for advanced persistent threat campaigns or used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the same or related systems. The operational consequences may include data loss, service degradation, or complete system compromise, depending on the specific implementation and scope of the HDC module's functionality. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive monitoring and logging of HDC module activities to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address such vulnerabilities effectively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-24923 should focus on strengthening the permission control mechanisms within the HDC module and implementing comprehensive access control policies. Organizations should immediately apply vendor-provided patches or updates that address the specific authorization flaws in the HDC module. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews of the HDC module's access control implementation to identify and remediate any additional permission-related vulnerabilities. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls should be enforced throughout the HDC module, ensuring that all system operations require proper authorization and authentication. Organizations should also implement robust logging and monitoring capabilities to detect unauthorized access attempts or privilege escalation activities within the HDC module. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to HDC module interfaces and reduce the attack surface available to potential attackers. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls and identify any remaining vulnerabilities in the system's permission framework. The mitigation approach should align with established cybersecurity frameworks such as the nist cybersecurity framework, which emphasizes the importance of access control and information protection. Security teams should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms for accessing HDC module functions and establish strict audit trails for all system operations involving hardware communication protocols. Additionally, organizations should maintain up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to monitor for any reported exploitation attempts or new attack techniques targeting similar permission control vulnerabilities in industrial control systems or embedded hardware interfaces.