CVE-2026-49304 in HarmonyOS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2026
Permission control vulnerability in the device key management module. Impact: Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may affect availability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the device key management module, specifically concerning its permission control mechanisms. This component is critical for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of cryptographic keys used by the system to secure communications and authenticate operations. The core technical deficiency involves an improper implementation or enforcement of access controls that govern who can view, modify, delete, or utilize these sensitive encryption materials. In a properly secured environment, such high-privilege actions should be restricted to authorized administrative entities with explicit justification and audit trails. However, the vulnerability indicates that this restriction is bypassed or inadequately validated, allowing unauthorized actors to interact with key management functions in ways they are not permitted. This misalignment between intended security policy and actual system behavior creates a significant gap in the defense-in-depth strategy of the device architecture.
From an operational perspective, the primary impact of exploiting this vulnerability is on availability rather than confidentiality or integrity, although these aspects may be indirectly affected depending on how the keys are manipulated. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could potentially delete critical encryption keys, render them unusable through corruption, or lock out legitimate administrators by altering access permissions. This leads to a denial-of-service condition where the device becomes unable to perform its intended functions that rely on those cryptographic operations. For instance, if secure communication channels depend on specific session keys managed by this module, their removal would disrupt network connectivity and service continuity. The inability to establish trusted connections or authenticate users effectively results in a complete loss of operational capability for systems dependent on the compromised device.
This type of vulnerability is commonly classified under CWE-269: Improper Privilege Control, which addresses situations where an actor can perform actions beyond their assigned privileges. It may also relate to CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource if the issue stems from misconfigured file or object permissions within the module's storage layer. In terms of adversary tactics, this aligns with MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as T1558.004: Steal or Forge Kerberos Tickets using Golden Ticket, although in a general device context it often maps to broader privilege escalation and resource manipulation strategies like T1078: Valid Accounts if the attacker gains initial access through other means before exploiting this permission flaw. The exploitation path typically requires some level of prior authentication or network reachability, making it more dangerous when combined with remote code execution vulnerabilities that allow an unauthenticated actor to gain a foothold and then escalate privileges within the key management subsystem.
Mitigation strategies must focus on reinforcing the principle of least privilege and ensuring robust validation at every step of the permission checking process. Developers should implement strict role-based access control (RBAC) models where permissions are explicitly defined and verified against user roles before any operation is executed. Input validation for all parameters related to key management operations, including deletion requests or modification commands, must be rigorous to prevent unauthorized actions. Additionally, implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring of all interactions with the key management module can aid in detecting anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on access control logic are essential to identify such flaws before deployment. Updating firmware to include patches that address these permission checks is critical for restoring secure operational status and preventing further availability disruptions caused by unauthorized manipulation of cryptographic assets.