# CVE-2023-1968: CVE-2023-1968

> Unauthenticated attackers can access Illumina sequencing instruments via the Universal Copy Service due to unrestricted IP binding, bypassing network isolation controls.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 16 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cpwh-2ghx-4jvr

## What is CVE-2023-1968?

CVE-2023-1968 is a critical vulnerability in Illumina  MiSeq Control Software, published on 28 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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.

Weakness: CWE-1327 (Binding to an Unrestricted IP Address)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-1968?

It affects 11 products.


Products: Illumina Iscan Firmware, Illumina Iseq 100 Firmware, Illumina Miniseq Firmware, Illumina Miseq Firmware, Illumina Miseqdx Firmware, Illumina Nextseq 1000 Firmware, Illumina Nextseq 2000 Firmware, Illumina Nextseq 500 Firmware, Illumina Nextseq 550 Firmware, Illumina Nextseq 550dx Firmware, Illumina Novaseq 6000 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-1968?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-1968 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-1968 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-1968 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Illumina  MiSeq Control Software

- [CVE-2023-1966](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1966/): CVE-2023-1966 (high 7.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-1968 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-1968 is a critical vulnerability in Illumina  MiSeq Control Software, published on 28 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-1968 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Illumina  MiSeq Control Software. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1968/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1968/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-1968
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1968
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-1968

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1968/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.