CVE-2025-24298 Overview
CVE-2025-24298 is a use-after-free vulnerability in OpenHarmony v5.0.3 and prior versions. The flaw resides in the Trusted Computing Base (TCB) component and allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-416: Use After Free and affects the OpenAtom OpenHarmony open-source operating system.
Exploitation requires local access with low privileges but no user interaction. Successful exploitation grants full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact within the TCB, which handles security-sensitive operations on the device.
Critical Impact
A local attacker with low privileges can achieve arbitrary code execution inside the Trusted Computing Base, undermining the security boundary that isolates trusted from untrusted code.
Affected Products
- OpenAtom OpenHarmony v5.0.3
- OpenAtom OpenHarmony prior versions
- Devices running the OpenHarmony operating system with vulnerable TCB components
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-08-11 - CVE-2025-24298 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24298
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2025-24298 is a use-after-free condition [CWE-416] in the OpenHarmony Trusted Computing Base (TCB). Use-after-free flaws arise when a program continues to reference memory after it has been released. An attacker who controls the contents of the freed region can hijack subsequent operations that dereference the stale pointer.
In the context of the TCB, exploitation lets a local process influence code paths that run with elevated trust. Because the TCB mediates access to security-critical resources, corruption of its state translates directly into arbitrary code execution within the trusted domain.
The vulnerability is exploitable locally with low privileges and does not require user interaction. It affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected component.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper object lifetime management in the TCB. A code path in OpenHarmony v5.0.3 and earlier releases frees a memory object but retains one or more references to it. Subsequent access to the dangling reference operates on memory that may already be reallocated for attacker-controlled data.
Attack Vector
An attacker must run code on the target device with low privileges, for example through a compromised or malicious application. The attacker triggers the freeing code path and then races or reallocates the freed region with crafted data before the stale pointer is used. When the TCB dereferences the pointer, attacker-controlled state directs execution.
No exploit code is publicly available at this time, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the OpenHarmony Security Disclosure for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24298
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes or restarts of TCB-related services on OpenHarmony devices
- Kernel or userspace core dumps referencing freed heap objects in TCB code paths
- Installation of untrusted third-party applications immediately preceding TCB anomalies
Detection Strategies
- Monitor process crash logs and dmesg output for segmentation faults or heap corruption signatures in TCB components
- Enable and review audit logs for local privilege boundary crossings on OpenHarmony devices
- Compare installed OpenHarmony build version against fixed releases to identify exposed devices
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track application installation events and correlate them with system-service instability
- Aggregate device telemetry from OpenHarmony fleets to identify repeated TCB crashes across endpoints
- Alert on abnormal privilege transitions or unexpected code execution within trusted service processes
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24298
Immediate Actions Required
- Inventory all devices running OpenHarmony v5.0.3 or earlier and prioritize them for patching
- Restrict installation of untrusted applications on affected devices until updates are applied
- Review OpenHarmony device fleets for exposure to untrusted local users or workloads
Patch Information
OpenAtom has published a security disclosure for this issue. Consult the OpenHarmony Security Disclosure for the fixed version and upgrade instructions. Upgrade to a release later than v5.0.3 that includes the fix for CVE-2025-24298.
Workarounds
- Limit local access to trusted users and enforce strict application vetting where patching is delayed
- Disable or restrict components that expose the vulnerable TCB code path if identified in the vendor advisory
- Apply application sandboxing policies to reduce the ability of local processes to interact with TCB services
# Verify OpenHarmony version on the device
param get const.ohos.fullname
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
