CVE-2025-68956: Huawei HarmonyOS Race Condition Flaw

CVE-2025-68956 Overview

CVE-2025-68956 is a multi-thread race condition vulnerability identified in the card framework module of Huawei HarmonyOS. This vulnerability exists due to improper synchronization when multiple threads access shared resources within the card framework component. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may impact system availability, potentially causing service disruptions on affected devices.

Critical Impact

Exploitation of this race condition vulnerability can lead to denial of service conditions affecting device availability. Local attackers with low privileges may trigger this condition to disrupt normal device operations.

Affected Products

• Huawei HarmonyOS 6.0.0
• Huawei HarmonyOS-based phones
• Huawei HarmonyOS-based laptops and wearables

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-14 - CVE-2025-68956 published to NVD
• 2026-01-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-68956

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization), commonly known as a race condition. The flaw resides in the card framework module of HarmonyOS, which handles card-related functionality across the operating system.

Race conditions occur when the correct behavior of a system depends on the sequence or timing of uncontrollable events. In this case, multiple threads within the card framework module can access shared resources without proper synchronization mechanisms, leading to unpredictable behavior.

The attack requires local access to the device and low-level privileges to execute. While the attack complexity is high due to the timing-dependent nature of race conditions, successful exploitation can result in a complete denial of service affecting system availability. The vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or integrity of data.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-68956 lies in insufficient thread synchronization within the card framework module. When multiple threads attempt to access or modify shared resources simultaneously without proper locking mechanisms or atomic operations, a Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) condition can occur. This allows the state of a resource to change between the time it is checked and the time it is used, leading to undefined behavior and potential system crashes.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, meaning an attacker must have some level of access to the target device to exploit the race condition. The exploitation scenario involves:

1. An attacker with low-level privileges on the affected HarmonyOS device
2. Triggering concurrent operations within the card framework module
3. Timing the operations to create a race condition between multiple threads
4. Causing the system to enter an inconsistent state, resulting in denial of service

The vulnerability requires precise timing to exploit, which increases the attack complexity. However, determined attackers may use automated techniques to repeatedly attempt exploitation until successful.

Due to the timing-sensitive nature of race condition vulnerabilities, exploitation attempts typically involve rapidly triggering the vulnerable code path to increase the probability of hitting the race window. Specific technical details regarding the exploitation methodology should be obtained from the official Huawei security bulletins linked in the references section.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-68956

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected system crashes or reboots on HarmonyOS devices without apparent cause
• Application hangs or freezes related to card framework functionality
• Abnormal CPU usage patterns indicating potential race condition exploitation attempts
• System log entries showing errors related to the card framework module or thread synchronization failures

Detection Strategies

• Monitor system logs for repeated crashes or errors originating from the card framework module
• Implement application-level monitoring to detect abnormal thread behavior patterns
• Use endpoint detection solutions to identify suspicious local privilege activity preceding system instability
• Enable enhanced logging for card framework operations to capture timing anomalies

Monitoring Recommendations

• Deploy SentinelOne agents on HarmonyOS devices to monitor for exploitation attempts and anomalous behavior patterns
• Configure alerts for repeated system stability issues that may indicate active exploitation
• Regularly review device health metrics and correlate sudden availability issues with potential security incidents
• Establish baseline behavior for card framework module operations to detect deviations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-68956

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the latest HarmonyOS security updates from Huawei as soon as they become available
• Review and restrict local access to affected devices to minimize attack surface
• Monitor affected devices for signs of exploitation attempts or unusual behavior
• Prioritize patching for devices in high-risk environments or those accessible to untrusted users

Patch Information

Huawei has addressed this vulnerability in their January 2026 security bulletins. Organizations should apply the security updates available through the official Huawei channels:

• Huawei Security Bulletin - Phones
• Huawei Security Bulletin - Laptops
• Huawei Security Bulletin - Wearables

Ensure all HarmonyOS 6.0.0 devices are updated to the patched version as specified in the security bulletins.

Workarounds

• Limit device access to trusted users only until patches can be applied
• Disable or restrict non-essential card framework functionality if operationally feasible
• Implement additional monitoring on devices that cannot be immediately patched
• Consider network segmentation to isolate potentially vulnerable devices from critical infrastructure

# Verify HarmonyOS version and patch status
# Access device settings to check current security patch level:
# Settings > About device > Security patch level
# Ensure the security patch level includes the January 2026 update

# Enable automatic security updates
# Settings > System & updates > Software update > Auto-download over Wi-Fi