CVE-2025-54808 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials) affecting Oxford Nanopore Technologies' MinKNOW software versions up to 24.11. The software stores authentication tokens in the system's temporary directory (/tmp), which is typically world-readable on Unix-like systems. This insecure storage allows any local user or process to read these tokens. If an attacker gains local access with low privileges, they can steal these tokens. The vulnerability becomes exploitable remotely only if remote access to the sequencer is enabled, which might be configured by users for legitimate purposes or enabled maliciously by malware with elevated privileges. Using the stolen token, an attacker can establish unauthorized remote connections to the sequencing device. Furthermore, the attacker can generate developer tokens with arbitrary expiration dates, enabling persistent and stealthy access that bypasses normal authentication controls. This chain of exploitation compromises confidentiality (unauthorized data access), integrity (potential manipulation of sequencing operations), and availability (disruption or misuse of the device). The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require some privilege level locally and remote access enabled. No patches are currently available, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The CVSS 4.0 score of 7.3 reflects a high-severity issue primarily due to the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with relatively low attack complexity and partial privileges required.

For European organizations, especially those in biotechnology, genomics research, clinical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical development using Oxford Nanopore sequencing devices, this vulnerability poses significant risks. Unauthorized access to sequencing devices can lead to theft or manipulation of sensitive genetic data, intellectual property loss, and disruption of critical research or clinical workflows. Persistent unauthorized access via developer tokens could allow attackers to maintain long-term control, evade detection, and potentially sabotage experiments or data integrity. This could result in regulatory compliance violations under GDPR due to exposure of personal genetic data. Additionally, compromised sequencing devices could be leveraged as footholds for broader network intrusion. The impact is amplified in environments where remote access is enabled for operational efficiency, increasing the attack surface. The lack of current patches means organizations must rely on mitigations and monitoring to reduce risk. Overall, the vulnerability threatens confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical scientific infrastructure and sensitive data within European research and healthcare sectors.

1. Immediately audit and restrict permissions on the /tmp directory and any files storing authentication tokens to prevent unauthorized local access. 2. Disable remote access to MinKNOW sequencers unless absolutely necessary; if required, restrict access via VPNs or secure tunnels and enforce strong authentication. 3. Monitor systems for signs of privilege escalation or unauthorized enabling of remote access features, including reviewing sudo logs and system changes. 4. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect malware or suspicious local activity that could lead to token theft. 5. Isolate sequencing devices on segmented networks with strict access controls to limit lateral movement. 6. Regularly back up sequencing data and configurations to enable recovery in case of compromise. 7. Engage with Oxford Nanopore Technologies for updates and apply patches promptly once released. 8. Educate users and administrators about the risks of enabling remote access and the importance of secure credential handling. 9. Consider deploying host-based file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to token files or configuration. 10. Review and harden system configurations to minimize exposure of sensitive files in world-readable directories.