CVE-2026-24792: OpenHarmony RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-24792 Overview

CVE-2026-24792 affects OpenHarmony v6.0 and prior versions. The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution within pre-installed applications. The issue is tracked under [CWE-364: Signal Handler Race Condition], indicating a race condition flaw in handler logic. Exploitation requires low privileges, no user interaction, and operates over a network attack vector. Successful exploitation grants attackers the ability to run unauthorized code in the context of pre-installed system applications, compromising device confidentiality and availability.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers with low privileges can execute arbitrary code inside pre-installed OpenHarmony applications, gaining a foothold on affected devices without user interaction.

Affected Products

• OpenHarmony v6.0
• OpenHarmony versions prior to v6.0
• Devices running pre-installed OpenHarmony applications

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-05-19 - CVE-2026-24792 published to NVD
• 2026-05-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24792

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in pre-installed applications shipped with OpenHarmony v6.0 and earlier releases. OpenHarmony is an open-source operating system maintained under the OpenAtom Foundation and targets a broad range of smart devices. The flaw maps to [CWE-364], a signal handler race condition class of weakness. Race conditions in signal handling allow attackers to influence program state during the narrow window between checks and use of shared resources. When triggered remotely, this condition produces an inconsistent state that the attacker can manipulate to redirect execution flow. The result is arbitrary code execution within the privilege context of the affected pre-installed app.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper synchronization within a signal handler or equivalent asynchronous callback in pre-installed OpenHarmony applications. Shared resources accessed during signal processing are not protected against concurrent modification. An attacker who can deliver crafted input over the network can race the handler against normal execution paths and corrupt program state.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity. The attacker requires low privileges but does not need user interaction. Exploitation involves sending crafted requests that trigger the race window inside a vulnerable pre-installed application. Once the race is won, attacker-controlled data influences control flow, yielding arbitrary code execution on the device.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for CVE-2026-24792. Technical details are described in the OpenHarmony Security Disclosure 2026.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24792

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected child processes spawned by pre-installed OpenHarmony applications
• Anomalous network connections originating from system app processes to attacker-controlled hosts
• Crash or restart events in pre-installed apps coinciding with inbound network traffic bursts

Detection Strategies

• Monitor process lineage on OpenHarmony devices for pre-installed apps launching shells, interpreters, or download utilities
• Inspect application logs for repeated signal delivery or handler re-entry patterns that may indicate race attempts
• Correlate inbound network requests with process state changes in pre-installed applications

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on pre-installed applications and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform
• Baseline normal behavior for OpenHarmony pre-installed apps and alert on deviations in syscall and network patterns
• Track installation and patch level of OpenHarmony devices in your asset inventory to identify unpatched endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24792

Immediate Actions Required

• Identify all devices running OpenHarmony v6.0 or earlier across your environment
• Apply the security update referenced in the OpenHarmony Security Disclosure 2026
• Restrict network exposure of OpenHarmony devices, allowing only trusted management traffic
• Audit pre-installed applications for unnecessary network-listening services and disable those not required

Patch Information

Reference the OpenHarmony Security Disclosure 2026 for the official advisory and remediation guidance. Upgrade affected devices to a fixed OpenHarmony release as specified in the advisory.

Workarounds

• Segment OpenHarmony devices on isolated network zones to limit attacker reachability
• Apply firewall rules that block untrusted inbound connections to pre-installed application services
• Disable or remove vulnerable pre-installed applications where business requirements allow until the patch is deployed