Full Report
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CVSS v3 10.0 ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity Vendor: Illumina Equipment: Universal Copy Service (UCS) Vulnerabilities: Binding to an Unrestricted IP Address, Execution with Unnecessary Privileges 2. RISK EVALUATION Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to take any action at the operating system level. A threat actor could impact settings, configurations, software, or data on the affected product; a threat actor could interact through the affected product via a connected network. 3. TECHNICAL DETAILS 3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS The following products using Illumina Universal Copy Service are affected: iScan Control Software: v4.0.0 iScan Control Software: v4.0.5 iSeq 100: All versions MiniSeq Control Software: v2.0 and newer MiSeq Control Software: v4.0 (RUO Mode) MiSeqDx Operating Software: v4.0.1 and newer NextSeq 500/550 Control Software: v4.0 NextSeq 550Dx Control Software: v4.0 (RUO Mode) NextSeq 550Dx Operating Software: v1.0.0 to 1.3.1 NextSeq 550Dx Operating Software: v1.3.3 and newer NextSeq 1000/2000 Control Software: v1.4.1 and prior NovaSeq 6000 Control Software: v1.7 and prior NovaSeq Control Software: v1.8 3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW 3.2.1 BINDING TO AN UNRESTRICTED IP ADDRESS CWE-1327 Instruments with Illumina Universal Copy Service v2.x are vulnerable due to binding to an unrestricted IP address. An unauthenticated malicious actor could use UCS to listen on all IP addresses, including those capable of accepting remote communications. CVE-2023-1968 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 10.0 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H). 3.2.2 EXECUTION WITH UNNECESSARY PRIVILEGES CWE-250 Instruments with Illumina Universal Copy Service v1.x and v2.x contain an unnecessary privileges vulnerability. An unauthenticated malicious actor could upload and execute code remotely at the operating system level, which could allow an attacker to change settings, configurations, software, or access sensitive data on the affected product. CVE-2023-1966 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 7.4 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H). 3.3 BACKGROUND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Healthcare and Public Health COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: United States 3.4 RESEARCHER Illumina reported these vulnerabilities to CISA. 4. MITIGATIONS Illumina recommends using the UCS Vulnerability Instructions Guide based on the user’s specific system configuration to mitigate the vulnerabilities. Illumina recommends users read the instructions before downloading any software. CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities. Specifically, users should: Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, and ensure they are not accessible from the Internet. Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolate them from business networks. When remote access is required, use secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize VPN is only as secure as its connected devices. CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures. CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov/ics. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies. Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov/ics in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies. Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents. CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks: Do not click web links or open attachments in unsolicited email messages. Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams. Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks. No known public exploits specifically target these vulnerabilities.
Analysis Summary
# Vulnerability: Illumina UCS Critical Flaws - Unrestricted Binding and Privilege Escalation
## CVE Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2023-1968, CVE-2023-1966
- CVSS Score: 10.0 (Critical) for CVE-2023-1968; 7.4 (High) for CVE-2023-1966
- CWE: CWE-1327 (Binding to an Unrestricted IP Address), CWE-250 (Execution with Unnecessary Privileges)
## Affected Systems
- Products: Illumina Universal Copy Service (UCS) implementations across multiple sequencing control platforms.
- Versions:
- **CVE-2023-1968 (CVSS 10.0):** UCS v2.x environments.
- **CVE-2023-1966 (CVSS 7.4):** UCS v1.x and v2.x environments.
- Specific affected software versions include:
- iScan Control Software: v4.0.0, v4.0.5
- iSeq 100: All versions
- MiniSeq Control Software: v2.0 and newer
- MiSeq Control Software: v4.0 (RUO Mode)
- MiSeqDx Operating Software: v4.0.1 and newer
- NextSeq 500/550 Control Software: v4.0
- NextSeq 550Dx Control Software: v4.0 (RUO Mode)
- NextSeq 550Dx Operating Software: v1.0.0 to 1.3.1, v1.3.3 and newer
- NextSeq 1000/2000 Control Software: v1.4.1 and prior
- NovaSeq 6000 Control Software: v1.7 and prior
- NovaSeq Control Software: v1.8
- Configurations: Vulnerability exploitation is described across network-connected systems hosting the UCS service.
## Vulnerability Description
This report details two distinct Critical Infrastructure vulnerabilities in Illumina's Universal Copy Service (UCS):
1. **CVE-2023-1968 (CVSS 10.0): Binding to an Unrestricted IP Address (CWE-1327).** UCS v2.x binds its service to all available IP addresses by default, allowing an unauthenticated, remote attacker to communicate with the service without restriction.
2. **CVE-2023-1966 (CVSS 7.4): Execution with Unnecessary Privileges (CWE-250).** UCS v1.x and v2.x allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to upload and execute code at the operating system level, potentially leading to modifications of settings, configurations, software, or sensitive data access.
## Exploitation
- Status: No known public exploits specifically target these vulnerabilities at the time of the report, but exploitation is possible.
- Complexity: Low (for CVE-2023-1968: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N); Medium/Low (for CVE-2023-1966: AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N - note the requirement for physical presence 'P' or low prerequisite access in vendor/CISA analysis).
- Attack Vector: Network (for CVE-2023-1968); potentially Physical/Adjacent if low-level access is implied for the second vulnerability, though network vectors are possible given the service binding flaw.
## Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to take any action at the operating system level on the affected instrument.
- Confidentiality: High (Data exfiltration possible)
- Integrity: High (Settings, software, and configuration manipulation possible)
- Availability: High (System downtime or modification possible)
## Remediation
### Patches
The article directs users to consulting the **"UCS Vulnerability Instructions Guide"** based on their specific system configuration for remediation steps, which likely involve downloading updated software components. Users must consult the vendor documentation before downloading software.
### Workarounds
CISA recommends general network hardening actions to minimize exposure:
1. Minimize network exposure for all control system devices.
2. Ensure affected systems are **not accessible from the Internet**.
3. Locate control system networks behind firewalls and isolate them from business networks.
4. When remote access is required, use secure methods such as up-to-date **Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)**.
## Detection
The article does not detail specific Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) but implies that network monitoring for unexpected inbound connections to the UCS service across all interfaces, or unusual OS-level command execution, should raise alerts.
## References
- Vendor Advisories: Illumina support documentation concerning UCS Vulnerability Instructions Guide
- Relevant links - defanged:
- hXXps://support.illumina.com/downloads/illumina-universal-copy-service-1-0.html (For UCS Vulnerability Instructions Guide)
- hXXps://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/alerts/ICS-ALERT-10-301-01 (General ICS security advice)
- hXXps://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/Recommended-Practices (ICS security practices)
- hXXps://us-cert.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/recommended_practices/NCCIC_ICS-CERT_Defense_in_Depth_2016_S508C.pdf (Defense-in-Depth Strategies)
- hXXps://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/tips/ICS-TIP-12-146-01B (Intrusion Detection Strategies)
- hXXps://www.cisa.gov/uscert/sites/default/files/publications/emailscams_0905.pdf (Email Scam avoidance)
- hXXps://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/tips/ST04-014 (Social Engineering avoidance)