Overview
The CVE-2025-24298 is a critical vulnerability present in the OpenHarmony v5.0.3 and all prior versions. OpenHarmony is a widely used open-source operating system, and this vulnerability allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary code in tcb through a use-after-free vulnerability. It poses a significant risk as it could potentially compromise the system or lead to data leakage, affecting not just individual users but also businesses and organizations that rely on this software for their day-to-day operations.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-24298
Severity: Critical (8.4)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
OpenHarmony | v5.0.3 and prior versions
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability exists due to the improper handling of memory by the tcb in OpenHarmony. A local attacker can exploit this use-after-free vulnerability by inducing a specific condition where an object in memory is used after it has been freed. This condition can allow the attacker to overwrite the freed memory area with arbitrary code, leading to the execution of this code within the context of the tcb process.
Conceptual Example Code
The following is a simplified example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:
# Attacker allocates memory for a certain object
object = malloc(sizeof(object));
# The object is then freed, but the pointer to the object is not nullified
free(object);
# The attacker then uses the object after it has been freed
# This can lead to undefined behavior, including arbitrary code execution
object->execute("arbitrary code");This conceptual code is not meant to be a working exploit, but rather a high-level representation of the vulnerability to help understand how it can be exploited.
Please remember that exploiting vulnerabilities for malicious purposes is illegal and unethical. The information provided is intended for educational purposes and to aid in the development of security countermeasures.
Mitigation Guidance
Users are strongly recommended to apply the latest vendor patches. If patches cannot be applied immediately, using a web application firewall (WAF) or intrusion detection system (IDS) may serve as a temporary mitigation measure. These tools can help detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. However, they are not a replacement for patching the affected system. Regularly updating and patching software is a fundamental aspect of maintaining a secure system.