CVE-2021-38543: tp-link ue330_firmware
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2021-38543 is a medium (CVSS 5.9) vulnerability in tp-link ue330_firmware. EPSS estimates a 1.29% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 70% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.
Timeline
- 11-08-2021PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 04-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
TP-Link UE330 USB splitter devices through 2021-08-09, in certain specific use cases in which the device supplies power to audio-output equipment, 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. We assume that the USB splitter supplies power to some speakers. The power indicator LED of the USB splitter is connected directly to the power line, as a result, the intensity of the USB splitter's power indicator LED is correlative to its power consumption. The sound played by the connected speakers affects the USB splitter's power consumption and as a result is also correlative to the light intensity of the LED. By analyzing measurements obtained from an electro-optical sensor directed at the power indicator LED of the USB splitter, we can recover the sound played by the connected speakers.
CVSS metrics
2 scores · 1 source · 2 versionsEPSS trend
Probability
1.29%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
70%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
No change 0.00 pp
From 1.29% on 22-09-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
Not in the ENISA CNW catalog.
Not in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
1 foundExploit Reference (nassiben.com)
Maturity: unknown
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeNo weakness data has been published for this record.
Affected systems
Tp-link1 product
- ue330_firmware≤ 2021-08-09
1 vendor · 1 product