CVE-2021-38544 json
Sony SRS-XB33 and SRS-XB43 devices through 2021-08-09 allow remote attackers to recover speech signals from an LED on the device, via a tel…
published 2021-08-11 5 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2021-24992
- cvss
- 5.9
- version 3.1, NVD
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 1.3%
- EPSS 1.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 70%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
Sony SRS-XB33 and SRS-XB43 devices through 2021-08-09 allow remote attackers to recover speech signals from an LED on the device, via a telescope and an electro-optical sensor, aka a "Glowworm" attack. The power indicator LED of the speakers is connected directly to the power line, as a result, the intensity of a device's power indicator LED is correlative to the power consumption. The sound played by the speakers affects their power consumption and as a result is also correlative to the light intensity of the LEDs. By analyzing measurements obtained from an electro-optical sensor directed at the power indicator LEDs of the speakers, we can recover the sound played by them.
Exploit prediction
1.29% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 70% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- nassiben.com https://www.nassiben.com/glowworm-attack referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVD | 3.1 | 5.9 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N |
| NVD | 2.0 | 4.3 | AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N |
References
-
nassiben.com
/glowworm-attack
exploit, third-party-advisory
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2021-38544
- NVD CVE-2021-38544
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