F5 said a nation-state actor had persistent access to some of its internal systems and downloaded files, including from the BIG-IP development environment. The company characterized the impact as limited, but its October 2025 statements did not establish a final number of affected customers or identify the actor.
What happened at F5?
F5 said it learned on August 9, 2025, that an advanced nation-state actor had gained unauthorized access to certain company systems. The company disclosed the incident publicly on October 15, saying the actor had maintained persistent access and downloaded files from some systems, including the BIG-IP product development environment and engineering knowledge management platforms. F5’s SEC filing and customer disclosure describe the company’s account.
FedRAMP’s October 15 notice about CISA Emergency Directive 26-01 says the files included a portion of BIG-IP source code and vulnerability information. That is the government notice’s description of the exfiltrated material. FedRAMP’s notice
When did F5 discover and disclose the incident?
| Date | What was reported |
|---|---|
| August 9, 2025 | F5 said it learned of unauthorized access to certain company systems. |
| October 15, 2025 | F5 publicly disclosed the incident and filed an SEC report. FedRAMP also published a notice summarizing the government response. |
| October 28, 2025 | CyberScoop reported F5’s characterization that a small percentage of customers had data exfiltrated, while the investigation into full scope remained ongoing. CyberScoop’s report |
Was BIG-IP source code stolen?
FedRAMP’s notice says the compromised files included a portion of BIG-IP source code, as well as vulnerability information. F5’s disclosure separately confirms that files were downloaded from certain systems, including its BIG-IP product development environment. The sources do not specify how much source code was included or provide a fuller inventory of the downloaded files.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- Compact and Efficient Design: The FortiGate 40F is designed for small to mid-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices, featuring a compact, fanless desktop form factor that ensures quiet operation and minimizes space usage.
- Robust Connectivity Options: Equipped with 5 GE RJ45 ports, including 1 WAN port and 4 internal ports, this model provides essential connectivity and flexibility for various network configurations in a small-scale environment.
- High-Performance Security: Offers up to 1 Gbps IPS throughput and 600 Mbps threat protection throughput, using Fortinet’s purpose-built security processor technology to deliver industry-leading performance and protection for SSL encrypted traffic.
- Advanced Threat Protection: Integrated with Fortinet’s AI-powered FortiGuard Labs, the FortiGate 40F offers comprehensive cybersecurity, identifying and mitigating both known and unknown threats to maintain robust security across your network.
- Simplified Management and Deployment: Features a user-friendly management console that provides comprehensive network automation and visibility, coupled with Zero Touch Integration with Fortinet’s Security Fabric for easy deployment.
How many customers were affected?
F5 characterized customer impact as limited. On October 28, 2025, CyberScoop reported that F5 described data exfiltration as affecting “a small percentage of our customers,” while saying the full scope remained under investigation. That is a qualitative, dated assessment—not a final customer count. The cited statements do not establish how many customers were affected.
What did F5 do in response?
F5 said it activated its incident response process, took containment measures, and engaged outside cybersecurity specialists, including CrowdStrike and Mandiant. In its October 15 customer disclosure, the company stated: “Since beginning these activities, we have not seen any new unauthorized activity, and we believe our containment efforts have been successful.” This is F5’s assessment, not independent confirmation. Its fiscal 2025 annual report said initial response steps were successful while investigation and security work continued.
Rank #2
- HARDWARE PLUS SECURITY SERVICES: FortiGate-60F Firewall Appliance bundled with 1 year of FortiCare Premium and FortiGuard Unified Threat Protection.
- UNIFIED THREAT PROTECTION (UTP): Secures against advanced online threats with comprehensive web filtering and anti-botnet technologies.
- OPTIMIZED FOR MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES: Tailored for businesses needing robust security without the infrastructure of larger enterprises.
- RELIABLE CUSTOMER SUPPORT: FortiCare Premium ensures high-quality support and service continuity.
- EFFECTIVE PROTECTION: Employs advanced filtering technologies to safeguard against sophisticated threats.
F5 also said eligible customers with supported BIG-IP products were offered a Falcon EDR subscription through October 14, 2026. This was a specific measure described in the company’s incident notice, not a general offer for all customers.
Who was behind the attack?
F5 and its SEC filing described the intruder as a nation-state actor, but the cited official statements do not name a country, government, or group. Attribution beyond that label is not established by these sources.
Rank #3
- 【Up to 1100 Mbps VPN Speed 】 Hardware-accelerated WireGuard and OpenVPN-DCO deliver up to 1100 Mbps VPN throughput, over 3× faster than Brume 2 for smooth remote access and file transfers.
- 【Three 2.5G Ports & Multi-WAN】Tri-port 2.5GbE design with flexible WAN LAN configuration supports multi-gigabit wired setups, dual-ISP Multi-WAN and failover to keep home and SOHO networks online.
- 【Stealth VPN Obfuscation】VPN obfuscation disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS, helping you evade blocking, bypass restrictive networks and maintain stable, private connections.
- 【DPI protection】Deep Packet Inspection with visual dashboards blocks adult/gambling/malicious sites, while SQM and QoS prioritize gaming, calls, and video when bandwidth is tight
- 【OpenWrt & USB 3.0 Expansion】OpenWrt with 1GB DDR4 and 8GB eMMC lets you install plugins and build VPN, ad-blocking or NAS, while USB 3.0 Type‑C connects high-speed storage or 4G/5G dongles
What does “limited impact” mean for customers?
It is F5’s characterization, not a settled independent finding. The October 28 report gives that characterization useful context: F5 said the affected share was small, but was still investigating the incident’s full scope. F5’s annual report also warned of possible near-term revenue headwinds and described management’s expectation that response, remediation, continued innovation, and customer trust would help mitigate longer-term business effects. Those are company assessments and outlook, not proof of the eventual financial impact.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Runs UniFi Network for full-stack network management
- Manages 30+ UniFi Network devices and 300+ clients
- 1 Gbps routing with IDS/IPS
- Multi-WAN load balancing
- 0.96" LCM status display
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
