CVE-2021-38543

MediumCVSS 5.9/10Last modified Jun 17, 2026

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.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1 5.9/10CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Affected software

No affected versions have been published.

Timeline

Published
Aug 11, 2021
Last modified
Jun 17, 2026
NVD status
Modified

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CVE-2021-38543: Medium severity, CVSS 5.9 | Vulnix