Linux Kernel up to 6.12.38/6.15.6 HID joycon_init state issue

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.38/6.15.6. It has been declared as problematic. This issue affects the function joycon_init of the component HID. Executing a manipulation can lead to state issue. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2025-38507. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.38/6.15.6 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function joycon_init of the component HID. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a state issue vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-371. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: HID: nintendo: avoid bluetooth suspend/resume stalls Ensure we don't stall or panic the kernel when using bluetooth-connected controllers. This was reported as an issue on android devices using kernel 6.6 due to the resume hook which had been added for usb joycons. First, set a new state value to JOYCON_CTLR_STATE_SUSPENDED in a newly-added nintendo_hid_suspend. This makes sure we will not stall out the kernel waiting for input reports during led classdev suspend. The stalls could happen if connectivity is unreliable or lost to the controller prior to suspend. Second, since we lose connectivity during suspend, do not try joycon_init() for bluetooth controllers in the nintendo_hid_resume path. Tested via multiple suspend/resume flows when using the controller both in USB and bluetooth modes.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-38507 since 04/16/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 01/30/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 276629 (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS / 25.04 : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-7879-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.39 or 6.15.7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 7b4a026313529a487821ef6ab494a61f12c1db08/72cb7eef06a5cde42b324dea85fa11fd5bb6a08a/4a0381080397e77792a5168069f174d3e56175ff is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (276629), EUVD (EUVD-2025-25091) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1858). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Dell Avamar
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• IBM Security Verify Access

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.15.0
• 6.15.1
• 6.15.2
• 6.15.3
• 6.15.4
• 6.15.5
• 6.15.6

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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