CVE-2025-27577: Arbitrary Code Execution in OpenHarmony via Race Condition Vulnerability

Overview

Cybersecurity threats are evolving rapidly and one such threat that has recently caught the attention of cybersecurity professionals is CVE-2025-27577. This vulnerability, found in OpenHarmony version 5.0.3 and prior versions, can allow local attackers to execute arbitrary code via a race condition in tcb. It is a significant threat as it has the potential to compromise the system or cause data leakage, impacting the privacy and integrity of users’ data.
This vulnerability matters because OpenHarmony is widely used in various devices and applications, making a large number of users potentially vulnerable to an attack. It requires immediate attention and remediation to prevent malicious entities from exploiting the loophole and causing irrevocable damage.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-27577
Severity: High (8.4 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

OpenHarmony | v5.0.3 and prior versions

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability works via a race condition in tcb, an integral part of the OpenHarmony system. A race condition occurs when the output of an operation depends on the sequence or timing of other uncontrollable events. In this case, a local attacker can exploit the timing delay to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
The attacker triggers the race condition and injects malicious code into the system during the brief window when the system is vulnerable. The injected code could potentially give the attacker control over the system or access to sensitive data.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited:

# Trigger the race condition
$ trigger_race_condition
# Exploit the race condition to inject malicious code
$ inject_code 'malicious code'

This example is purely conceptual and simplifies the actual complexity of exploiting the vulnerability. In reality, exploiting a race condition requires precise timing and deep knowledge of the system’s inner workings.

Mitigation Guidance

The best remedy for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor’s patch, which addresses the specific issue in tcb. It is recommended to update any affected OpenHarmony versions to the latest secure version.
As a temporary mitigation, users can employ a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. However, these are only temporary solutions, and applying the vendor patch is crucial for long-term security.