Researchers Uncover Major Security Flaw in Illumina iSeq 100 DNA Sequencers

Latest News on Illumina iSeq 100 Security Vulnerability:

Researchers have recently uncovered a significant security flaw in the Illumina iSeq 100 DNA sequencing instrument. The vulnerability lies in the outdated BIOS firmware, which lacks Secure Boot and standard firmware write protections, making it susceptible to firmware exploits1.

Key Highlights:

1. Firmware Vulnerability: The Illumina iSeq 100 uses an outdated implementation of BIOS firmware (B480AM12 - 04/12/2018) that has known vulnerabilities. This outdated firmware does not include Secure Boot or standard firmware write protections, allowing attackers to modify the device firmware1.
2. Attack Scenarios: In a hypothetical attack, an adversary could target unpatched Illumina devices, escalate their privileges, and write arbitrary code to the firmware. This could lead to the device being bricked or infected with persistent malware1.
3. Impact on Critical Research: The iSeq 100 is crucial for genetic research, cancer detection, identifying drug-resistant bacteria, and vaccine production. A successful exploit could significantly disrupt these critical activities, making the device a high-value target for state-based actors and ransomware attackers1.

Context:

This is not the first time severe vulnerabilities have been disclosed in DNA gene sequencers from Illumina. In April 2023, a critical security flaw (CVE-2023-1968, CVSS score: 10.0) could have allowed eavesdropping on network traffic and remote command execution1.

Response:

Following responsible disclosure, Illumina has released a fix to address the firmware security vulnerabilities. It is advisable for users to update their devices to the latest firmware version to mitigate these risks1.

Trustworthy Citations:

• 1 The Hacker News: "Researchers Uncover Major Security Flaw in Illumina iSeq 100 DNA Sequencer" (2025-01-07)
• 4 Biorxiv.org: While not directly related to the security vulnerability, it mentions the use of Illumina NextSeq 2000, which is another DNA sequencing instrument from the same company, indicating the broader context of Illumina's role in genetic research.

This information provides a comprehensive overview of the latest news on the Illumina iSeq 100 security vulnerability, including the nature of the firmware exploit and the risks associated with malware on these devices.