CVEs / CVE-2020-5741

CVE-2020-5741: Plex Media Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 10 Mar 2023
high 7.2 CVSS 3.1 (NVD)
EPSS 72.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
Last changed at its sources 17 Jun 2026

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Summary

Plex Media Server contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows an attacker with access to the server administrator's Plex account to upload a malicious file via the Camera Upload feature and have the media server execute it.
CISA, Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

Description

Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Plex Media Server on Windows allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary Python code.
The CVE record, via NVD · published 8 May 2020 · NVD status: Analyzed

Affected and fixed versions

As stated by the CVE record (from the CNA)
Product	Affected	Fixed in
n/a Plex Media Server (Windows)	Versions prior to 1.19.3	—

Exploitation

In CISA KEV since	10 Mar 2023
Due date for US federal agencies	31 Mar 2023
Used in ransomware campaigns	Unknown
Required action	Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Severity

CVSS 3.1	7.2 high `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Scored by NVD
Weakness	CWE-502

References

CVE-2020-5741 on NVD
CVE-2020-5741 in the CISA KEV catalog
https://forums.plex.tv/t/security-regarding-cve-2020-5741/586819 (cited by CISA)
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158470/Plex-Unpickle-Dict-Windows-Remote-Code-Execution.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://www.tenable.com/security/research/tra-2020-32 Exploit, Third Party Advisory
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-5741 US Government Resource

Sources

Exploitation status from the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. EPSS scores from FIRST. Descriptions, severity and references from the National Vulnerability Database. Open-source package versions from OSV (CC-BY 4.0). Text is shown as each source states it; Stackurity does not edit it. Check the vendor's advisory before acting.

This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.