Huawei has released its August 2025 security patch for both EMUI and HarmonyOS, fixing dozens of vulnerabilities across key system modules. The update addresses critical flaws in the gallery app, audio codec, and lock screen. Meanwhile, HarmonyOS 5.1 continues its rollout, though the timeline for EMUI 15 reaching other devices remains unclear.
Dozens of Vulnerabilities Patched
The update resolves five critical vulnerabilities and 41 medium-risk issues. These include bugs affecting the gallery, lock screen, home interface, audio codec, display management, and other core modules. While most of the vulnerabilities apply to HarmonyOS 5.1 and 5.0.1, many older builds are affected as well.
Broad Device Coverage
This is not a limited patch for new flagships. The update extends across multiple generations:
- HarmonyOS versions: 2.0, 2.1, 3.0, 3.1, 4.0, 4.2, 4.3, 4.3.1, 5.0.1, and 5.1
- EMUI versions: 12, 13, 14, and the newly launched 15
Huawei has also addressed security flaws in third-party libraries. Some were considered high-risk, including CVE-2025-26449, -26462, and -26443, along with a dozen others tied to widely used components. This makes the patch a deep system cleanup rather than a surface-level fix.
EMUI 15: Still a Mystery
EMUI 15 was officially introduced alongside the Mate X6 and Pura 80, but Huawei has offered no further updates. There’s no rollout schedule, no confirmed device list, and no public commitments. Silence reigns. As HarmonyOS gains momentum, it’s becoming clear that EMUI may be fading from Huawei’s long-term plans.
HarmonyOS 5.1: Expanding Rapidly
Unlike EMUI, HarmonyOS 5.1 is spreading fast. The update has already reached:
- Flagships: Mate 70 and Mate 60 series
- Pura X models
- Wearables: Watch GT 5 Pro and Watch D2 (global versions)
Huawei is signaling that HarmonyOS is no longer a China-only experiment it’s becoming a truly global operating system aimed at cross-device integration.
What Was Fixed: A Closer Look
Critical vulnerabilities (e.g., CVE-2025-54607, -54611, -54622) affect a wide range of builds, from EMUI 12 through 15 and HarmonyOS 2.0 to 5.1.
Moderate-risk issues over 40 in total, including CVE-2025-54606 through CVE-2025-54651 also cut across those same systems, highlighting the scale of this security sweep.
Third-party component issues were categorized by severity:
- High-risk: CVE-2025-26449, -21760, and others
- Medium-risk: CVE-2025-22005, -37749
- Low-risk: CVE-2025-37785
While the spotlight is on HarmonyOS 5.1 and 5.0.1, the patch also touches earlier versions indirectly.
Conclusion: HarmonyOS Rises, EMUI Slows Down
Huawei is stepping up its security efforts, but a strategic shift is evident. HarmonyOS continues to evolve and reach more devices, while EMUI seems increasingly sidelined. Updates still arrive, but the platform’s future looks uncertain. This could mark one of the last major updates for EMUI.
For now, users are encouraged to update their devices, check firmware versions, and prepare for what seems inevitable: a full transition to HarmonyOS even if it happens quietly.
