CVE-2021-40038Network attack vector

Service integrity compromise via AOD double free

Published Jan 7, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

A double-free flaw in the AOD module in Huawei HarmonyOS 2.0 and EMUI 11.0.0 and 12.0.0 allows remote attackers to affect service integrity. The AOD module releases the same memory allocation twice; Huawei has not disclosed the input path, trigger, or affected routine. The published network vector requires no privileges or user interaction, but the disclosed consequence is limited to service-integrity effects.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.60%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A double-free flaw in the AOD module in Huawei HarmonyOS 2.0 and EMUI 11.0.0 and 12.0.0 allows remote attackers to affect service integrity. The AOD module releases the same memory allocation twice; Huawei has not disclosed the input path, trigger, or affected routine. The published network vector requires no privileges or user interaction, but the disclosed consequence is limited to service-integrity effects.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40038
Published
Jan 7, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Product
HarmonyOS
Classifications
CWE-415
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 7, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. · HarmonyOSversion=2.0
MindSpore · EMUIversion=11.0.0; version=12.0.0

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-415Double Free

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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