AlphaHunt Signals Weekly — Signal > Noise

I’m testing a new ~weekly product. It’s not another “link dump.” It’s a signal-ranked brief for operators who are busy and actually have to act.

TL;DR

• [Network Devices] Cisco SNMP (CVE-2025-20352) actively exploited to implant switch rootkits enabling persistence and ACL/log tampering; harden SNMP/AAA and validate management-plane integrity.
• [Vendor Risk/Policy] Nation-state theft of F5 source code and undisclosed vulns prompts CISA emergency directive; execute urgent inventory, patching, and reporting across BIG-IP fleets.
• [Vulnerabilities] Microsoft October Patch Tuesday addresses 175 CVEs including exploited issues (WSUS, Secure Boot, drivers, Azure); CISA adds six exploited CVEs to KEV—prioritize identity, update, and internet-facing services.

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Current Stories

TL;DR

• [Network Devices] “Zero Disco”: Active exploitation of Cisco SNMP (CVE-2025-20352) to implant switch rootkits enabling persistence, ACL bypass, and log tampering.

• [Defense/Policy] CISA emergency directive on F5 BIG‑IP after nation‑state breach and theft of source code/undisclosed vulns; aggressive inventory, patch, and reporting deadlines.

• [Vulnerabilities] Microsoft October Patch Tuesday fixes 175 MS CVEs; multiple exploited and high‑priority issues across WSUS, Secure Boot, drivers, Azure services.

• [KEV] CISA adds six exploited CVEs (Windows SMB client, Adobe AEM Forms, Oracle E‑Business, Kentico) to KEV; prioritize remediation.

References

• (2025-10-15) Operation Zero Disco: Attackers Exploit Cisco SNMP Vulnerability to Deploy Rootkits

• (2025-10-15) ED 26-01: Mitigate Vulnerabilities in F5 Devices

• (2025-10-20) Threat Brief: Nation-State Actor Steals F5 Source Code and Undisclosed Vulnerabilities

• (2025-10-14) Microsoft Patch Tuesday for October 2025 — Snort rules and prominent vulnerabilities

• (2025-10-20) CISA Adds Five Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog

• (2025-10-15) CISA Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog

Suggested Pivots

Are our Cisco switch management planes and SNMP configurations hardened against Zero Disco TTPs?

• Why: Active rootkit ops target SNMP and device logs/ACLs; validate exposure, auth, and logging integrity controls.
• What to expect: A gap list for SNMP auth, AAA, VTY ACLs, config integrity checks, and TAC-assisted forensics pathways.

Which Microsoft Oct CVEs intersect with Internet-facing, identity, and update infrastructure?

• Why: Exploited and critical items span WSUS, Secure Boot, Azure; these underpin patching and auth trust chains.
• What to expect: A prioritized patch and detection plan for high-likelihood exploit paths.

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Emerging Stories

TL;DR

• [Ransomware/Logistics] Japan’s Askul halts online orders/shipments after ransomware; cascading disruptions for retailers relying on its logistics platform.

• [Policy/Vendor Risk] U.S. Senate presses Cisco on ASA vulnerability fallout and customer communications following prior federal emergency directive activity.

• [E‑Crime/Extortion] Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters: confirmed renewed insider‑access recruitment and leak activity; unverified claims of EaaS launch and “new ransomware” flagged as uncertain.

References & Suggested Pivots