CVE-2025-22851 Overview
CVE-2025-22851 is a local arbitrary code execution vulnerability in OpenHarmony v5.0.2 and prior versions. The flaw stems from an integer overflow [CWE-190] that affects pre-installed applications on the platform. A local attacker with low privileges can exploit the condition to execute arbitrary code in the context of pre-installed apps.
The vulnerability carries a scope change, meaning successful exploitation impacts resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. OpenAtom published the security advisory through the OpenHarmony Gitee repository in April 2025.
Critical Impact
Local attackers can trigger an integer overflow in pre-installed OpenHarmony apps to execute arbitrary code with elevated impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Affected Products
- OpenAtom OpenHarmony v5.0.2
- OpenAtom OpenHarmony prior versions
- Pre-installed applications shipped with OpenHarmony
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-07 - CVE-2025-22851 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-22851
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified as an integer overflow condition [CWE-190] in OpenHarmony, an open-source operating system maintained by the OpenAtom Foundation. The overflow occurs within pre-installed application logic and allows an attacker with local access to influence memory calculations.
When the affected code performs arithmetic on attacker-controlled values, the result wraps around beyond the storage capacity of the target integer type. This produces an unexpectedly small value that downstream logic treats as valid, leading to memory corruption and eventual code execution.
Exploitation requires only low privileges and no user interaction. Because the vulnerability carries a scope change, attacker-executed code runs in the context of pre-installed apps that hold broader privileges than the calling process.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or incorrect bounds validation on integer arithmetic within pre-installed OpenHarmony applications. Untrusted input flows into a size or length calculation that lacks overflow protection.
Attack Vector
The attack requires local access to a device running an affected OpenHarmony build. An authenticated low-privilege attacker delivers crafted input to a pre-installed application interface. The malformed input triggers the integer overflow and redirects execution into attacker-controlled memory.
OpenAtom has not published a public proof-of-concept. Technical details are available in the OpenHarmony Security Disclosure on Gitee.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22851
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes or restarts of pre-installed OpenHarmony applications with signal traces suggesting memory corruption
- Anomalous child processes spawned by pre-installed apps that would not normally launch external binaries
- Local application logs showing malformed input sizes or truncated buffer allocations
Detection Strategies
- Monitor application crash dumps on OpenHarmony devices for signatures consistent with integer overflow and heap corruption
- Baseline the normal process tree of pre-installed apps and alert on deviations such as shell invocations or privilege transitions
- Correlate installed OpenHarmony build versions against the vulnerable range documented in the OpenAtom advisory
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging for pre-installed application services and forward logs to a centralized analytics pipeline
- Track unauthorized modifications to pre-installed app binaries and configuration files
- Review privileged IPC calls originating from unprivileged local processes
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22851
Immediate Actions Required
- Inventory all OpenHarmony devices and identify builds running v5.0.2 or earlier
- Apply the vendor security update referenced in the OpenAtom disclosure as soon as it is available for the affected build
- Restrict local access to affected devices and enforce least privilege for user accounts
Patch Information
OpenAtom documents the fix in its April 2025 disclosure. Refer to the OpenHarmony Security Disclosure for the specific patched versions and remediation guidance.
Workarounds
- Limit which local users can interact with pre-installed applications that expose the vulnerable code path
- Disable or remove non-essential pre-installed applications where operationally feasible
- Apply application sandboxing and SELinux policies to constrain the impact of a successful overflow
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
