CVE-2020-5741 Plex Media Server Remote Code Execution
A remote authenticated attacker can execute arbitrary Python code via unsafe deserialization in Plex Media Server on Windows.
- Exploited in the wild
- Since 10 Mar 2023
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2020-5741?
CVE-2020-5741 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Plex Media Server (Windows), published on 8 May 2020. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Plex Media Server on Windows allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary Python code.
Weakness: CWE-502
Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-5741?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Plex Media Server.
How do I fix CVE-2020-5741?
No fix has been published for CVE-2020-5741 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 31 Mar 2023.
Upgrade, and only deserialise data from trusted sources or with an allow-list of types. More about Unsafe deserialization.
Is CVE-2020-5741 being exploited?
Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-5741 in the wild since at least 10 Mar 2023.
Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module and 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in Plex Media Server (Windows)
- CVE-2026-96656 Plex Media Server External Control of File Name or Path
- CVE-2026-96654 Plex Media Server Improper Neutralization of Encoded URI Schemes in a Web Page
- CVE-2026-96652 Plex Media Server Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
- CVE-2026-96655 Plex Media Server Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
- CVE-2018-13415 XML external entity in n/a
Sources
Also known as GHSA-53fh-qcq6-xwhv.