CVE-2026-24923 Overview
CVE-2026-24923 is a permission control vulnerability discovered in the HDC (HarmonyOS Device Connector) module of Huawei's HarmonyOS operating system. This security flaw stems from improper permission controls that could allow a local attacker with low privileges to access sensitive information, potentially compromising service confidentiality.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may allow unauthorized access to confidential service data due to insufficient permission controls in the HDC module.
Affected Products
- Huawei HarmonyOS 6.0.0
- HarmonyOS devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearables
- All devices running affected HarmonyOS versions with the vulnerable HDC module
Discovery Timeline
- February 6, 2026 - CVE-2026-24923 published to NVD
- February 10, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-24923
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability resides in the HDC (HarmonyOS Device Connector) module, a critical component that facilitates device connectivity and communication within the HarmonyOS ecosystem. The flaw is classified under CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls), indicating that the vulnerability stems from improper implementation of access control mechanisms.
The HDC module is responsible for managing connections between HarmonyOS devices and development tools, handling sensitive operations that require proper authorization. Due to inadequate permission validation, an authenticated local user with limited privileges can potentially bypass access restrictions and gain unauthorized access to confidential information handled by the HDC service.
The attack requires local access to an affected device and low-privilege user credentials. No user interaction is required for successful exploitation, making it particularly concerning in shared device environments or scenarios where device access may be temporarily obtained by an adversary.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2026-24923 lies in insufficient permission verification within the HDC module's access control implementation. The module fails to properly validate user privileges before granting access to protected resources or services. This permissions bypass allows lower-privileged processes to access data or functionality that should be restricted to higher-privileged system components.
Specifically, the vulnerability appears to be related to how the HDC module handles permission checks during inter-process communication or service requests, allowing an attacker to circumvent intended access restrictions.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, meaning an attacker must have some form of access to the affected device. The exploitation process involves:
- An attacker gains local access to a HarmonyOS device running version 6.0.0
- Using a low-privileged user account, the attacker interacts with the HDC module
- Due to improper permission controls, the attacker bypasses access restrictions
- Confidential information handled by the HDC service becomes accessible to the unauthorized user
The vulnerability does not impact system integrity or availability—only confidentiality is affected. This means while sensitive data may be exposed, the attacker cannot modify system data or cause service disruption through this specific flaw.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24923
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual access patterns to HDC module resources from low-privileged processes
- Unexpected inter-process communication involving the HDC service
- Anomalous permission requests or access attempts logged by HarmonyOS security subsystems
- Unauthorized reads of sensitive configuration or service data
Detection Strategies
- Monitor system logs for unexpected HDC module access from non-administrative processes
- Implement behavioral analysis to detect unusual process interactions with protected services
- Review access control logs for permission boundary violations
- Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of monitoring HarmonyOS system component interactions
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for HDC module operations on affected devices
- Configure alerts for anomalous permission check failures or bypasses
- Establish baseline behavior for HDC module access patterns and alert on deviations
- Regularly audit device access logs for signs of local exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24923
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the February 2026 HarmonyOS security patch immediately on all affected devices
- Restrict physical access to devices running vulnerable HarmonyOS versions
- Review and limit user accounts with local access to affected devices
- Enable enhanced security logging to detect potential exploitation attempts
Patch Information
Huawei has released security updates addressing CVE-2026-24923 as part of their February 2026 security bulletin. Organizations and users should update their HarmonyOS devices to the latest patched version as soon as possible.
For detailed patch information, refer to the following official Huawei security bulletins:
Workarounds
- Limit local access to affected devices to only trusted users until patching is complete
- Disable or restrict HDC module functionality if not required for device operation
- Implement additional access control mechanisms at the network or device management level
- Monitor affected devices closely for signs of unauthorized access attempts
# Verify HarmonyOS version and check for updates
# Access device Settings > System > About device to verify current version
# Navigate to Settings > System > Software update to check for and install security patches
# Ensure automatic updates are enabled for timely security patch deployment
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
