# 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.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 10 Mar 2023 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 8 May 2020
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-53fh-qcq6-xwhv

## 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 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-5741?

It affects 1 product.


Products: 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.

## 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:

- Plex Unpickle Dict Windows RCE (metasploit)
- CVE-2025-34158, CVE-2020-5741 - Draft or TODO (github_poc): https://github.com/HORKimhab/CVE-2025-34158-CVE-2020-5741

## Other vulnerabilities in Plex Media Server (Windows)

- [CVE-2026-96656](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-96656/): Plex Media Server External Control of File Name or Path (high 8.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-96654](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-96654/): Plex Media Server Improper Neutralization of Encoded URI Schemes in a Web Page (medium 6.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-96652](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-96652/): Plex Media Server Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-96655](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-96655/): Plex Media Server Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-13415](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-13415/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-5741 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: 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.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-5741 in the wild since at least 10 Mar 2023.

Affected product: Plex Media Server (Windows). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5741/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5741/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-5741
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5741
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-5741

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5741/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.