CVE-2024-35585 Oxford Nanopore Technologies CVE debrief

Who should care

Laboratories, research teams, and operational staff using MinKNOW on sequencing systems should treat this as a high-priority exposure, especially where the sequencer is reachable from shared or untrusted networks. Network and endpoint defenders supporting these environments should also review configuration, segmentation, and account access controls.

Technical summary

The advisory describes a default-enabled remote access condition in MinKNOW where access control is tied to the IP address of the host computer rather than stronger authentication controls. Because the service is reachable over the network, an adjacent attacker can identify the host address on the local network and then connect using a legitimate or temporary Oxford Nanopore account. The stated impact includes surveillance of sequencing activity, interruption of data collection, and redirection of output data. The source assigns CVSS 3.1 vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L, reflecting network reachability and meaningful confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Defensive priority

High — the issue is network-reachable, enabled by default, and can directly affect sequencing operations and data handling.

Recommended defensive actions

• Upgrade MinKNOW to a version later than 24.11, which the vendor says eliminates the vulnerabilities described in the advisory.
• If an immediate upgrade is not possible, keep Remote Connect disabled unless it is strictly required.
• Only enable Remote Connect within trusted network environments.
• For systems that cannot be upgraded right away, contact Oxford Nanopore Support for guidance on securing the configuration.
• Maintain antivirus and malware-scanning tools on endpoints to help reduce denial-of-service conditions associated with local exploitation or malware.
• Review network exposure and restrict access to sequencing systems so they are not reachable from broader shared networks.

Evidence notes

This debrief is based on the CISA CSAF advisory for Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinKNOW (ICSMA-25-294-01), which states that remote access is enabled by default, authentication depends on the host IP address, and same-network attackers may gain access by using a legitimate or temporary Oxford Nanopore account. The advisory also states the operational impacts: observing sequencing activity, pausing or stopping data collection, and redirecting output data. Vendor remediation guidance in the source calls for upgrading beyond MinKNOW 24.11 and disabling Remote Connect unless needed.

Official resources