CVE-2020-5741 kev in the critical feed json
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Plex Media Server on Windows allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary Python code.
published 2020-05-08 6 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2020-26900
- cvss
- 7.2
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Exploited
- added 2023-03-10
- epss
- 72.9%
- EPSS 72.9% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.4%
- public exploits
- 1
- Metasploit
Summary
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Plex Media Server on Windows allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary Python code.
Patch / fix
cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- plex media_server 1.19.3
Timeline
- First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/windows/http/plex_unpickle_dict_rce)
- Published
- Added to CISA KEV
- CISA patch deadline
- CISA SSVC: exploitation active
Known exploited
- Added
- 3 y ago
- Patch by
- 2023-03-31 (3 y ago)
- Ransomware
- Not known
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Vendor, product
- Plex, Media Server
- CISA name
- Plex Media Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- Active, exploited in the wild
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
- Assessed
- 21 mo ago
Exploit prediction
72.94% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.4% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
Exploits and checks
- Metasploit exploit/windows/http/plex_unpickle_dict_rce Plex Unpickle Dict Windows RCE metasploit exploit, normal rank, 2020-05-07
- tenable.com https://www.tenable.com/security/research/tra-2020-32 referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
- packetstormsecurity.com http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158470/Plex-Unpickle-Dict-Windows-Remote-Code-Execution.html referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA ADP | 3.1 | 7.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 3.1 | 7.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| CNA | 3.1 | 7.2 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 2.0 | 6.5 | AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P |
Affected products
- n/a Plex Media Server (Windows)
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data
References
-
tenable.com
/security/research/tra-2020-32
exploit, third-party-advisory
-
packetstormsecurity.com
/files/158470/Plex-Unpickle-Dict-Windows-Remote-Code-Execution.html
exploit, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
-
cisa.gov
/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-5741
government-resource, us-government-resource
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2020-5741
- NVD CVE-2020-5741
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.