CVE-2021-38545

MEDIUM
5.9
CVSS Score
Published: August 11, 2021 at 03:25 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 04:02 AM UTC
4 products affected across 1 vendorRaspberry Pi 3 Model B+ FirmwareRaspberry Pi 4 Model B FirmwareRaspberry Pi 3 Model B+

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Severity
MEDIUM5.9
Exploit prediction
EPSS 1%

Description

Raspberry Pi 3 B+ and 4 B 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 Raspberry Pi supplies power to some speakers. The power indicator LED of the Raspberry Pi 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 the Raspberry Pi'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 Raspberry Pi, we can recover the sound played by the speakers.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v ≤ 2021-08-09
raspberrypi-raspberry-pi-3-model-b (same device)
v ≤ 2021-08-09
raspberrypi-raspberry-pi-4-model-b (same device)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet, and no fixed version or vendor advisory is recorded against it.

References (1)

x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party Advisory
https://www.nassiben.com/glowworm-attack

CVSS

Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
HIGH
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
NONE
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
NVD-CWE-noinfo

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