CVE-2023-1968: Instruments with Illumina Universal Copy Service v2.x are vulnerable due to binding to an unrestricted IP add

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CRITICAL 10.0REMOTEMITIGATEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2023-1968 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting iscan firmware, iseq 100 firmware, miniseq firmware. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

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.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.8% (top 21%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-1327
Published	2023-04-28
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): ICS-CERT · Vendor: illumina

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-04-28 19:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 05:29 UTCUpdated Record last modified

illumina iscan firmware MITIGATE

Affected: 4.0.0 · 4.0.5

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

illumina iseq 100 firmware MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

illumina miniseq firmware MITIGATE

Affected: >= 2.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

illumina miseq firmware MITIGATE

Affected: >= 4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

illumina miseqdx firmware MITIGATE

Affected: >= 4.0.1 · 4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

illumina nextseq 500 firmware MITIGATE

Affected: 4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-1968?

iscan firmware: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; iseq 100 firmware: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; miniseq firmware: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-1968 being exploited?

CVE-2023-1968 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2023-1968 affect?

CVE-2023-1968 affects iscan firmware, iseq 100 firmware, miniseq firmware. Severity is critical (CVSS 10.0). 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

How urgent is CVE-2023-1968?

Priority 60/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-1966 HIGH 7.4 MITIGATE MITIGATE Instruments with Illumina Universal Copy Service v1.x and v2.x contain an unnecessary privileges vulnerability

References

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