Read the docs
TI-2021-16143 Aliases CVE-2021-38544GHSA-4x9j-662f-4xw7

Sony SRS-XB33 and SRS-XB43 devices through 2021-08-09 allow remote attackers to recover…

Priority LOW 29Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · None · None
Fix status
No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.

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.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.01293 70th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 4

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:sony:srs-xb33_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 2021-08-09VulnerableSony
cpe:2.3:h:sony:srs-xb33:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onSony
cpe:2.3:o:sony:srs-xb43_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 2021-08-09VulnerableSony
cpe:2.3:h:sony:srs-xb43:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onSony
  • cpe:2.3:o:sony:srs-xb33_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2021-08-09 Vulnerable ·Sony
  • cpe:2.3:h:sony:srs-xb33:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Sony
  • cpe:2.3:o:sony:srs-xb43_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2021-08-09 Vulnerable ·Sony
  • cpe:2.3:h:sony:srs-xb43:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Sony

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-38544
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-4x9j-662f-4xw7

References

Exploit 1

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences