{"id":"CVE-2020-5741","published":"2020-05-08T13:15:11Z","modified":"2026-06-17T03:22:09Z","title":"Plex Media Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability","vendor":"Plex","product":"Media Server","tier":"core","eol":null,"description":{"text":"Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Plex Media Server on Windows allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary Python code.","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"summary":{"text":"The vulnerability is a deserialization of untrusted data flaw in the Plex Media Server product on Windows. A remote attacker with valid authentication can exploit it to execute arbitrary Python code, with no user interaction or special configuration indicated.","provenance":"ai","model":"claude-haiku-5-5","generatedAt":"2026-10-23T07:11:12Z"},"cvss":{"score":7.2,"severity":"HIGH","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"epss":{"score":0.72936,"percentile":0.9945,"date":"2026-10-29","provenance":"source"},"kev":{"dateAdded":"2023-03-10","dueDate":"2023-03-31","ransomware":false,"requiredAction":"Apply updates per vendor instructions.","notes":"https://forums.plex.tv/t/security-regarding-cve-2020-5741/586819; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5741","provenance":"source"},"vulncheckKev":{"dateAdded":"2023-02-27","exploitedFirstSeen":"2023-02-27","ransomware":false,"evidence":[{"url":"https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/02/lastpass-hackers-infected-employees-home-computer-and-stole-corporate-vault/","date":"2023-02-27"},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json","date":"2023-03-10"},{"url":"https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-warns-of-actively-exploited-plex-bug-after-lastpass-breach/","date":"2023-03-11"}],"evidenceTotal":3,"provenance":"source"},"exploited":true,"otx":{"pulseCount":50,"pulses":[{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae20c1db17e7057ae7d9ad1","created":"2026-10-28"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae0ba7e0e2a97ff7b218819","created":"2026-10-27"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6adf68b85c3e852f3c111d18","created":"2026-10-26"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6adb740e397c3ad4799aa4cd","created":"2026-10-23"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ada236fcfba2dfa730ea482","created":"2026-10-22"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad8d33a077cbb5cab524d80","created":"2026-10-21"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 21, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad78130c4d1ac2be83a8b6d","created":"2026-10-20"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 20, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad62f63c24a405a3423cc13","created":"2026-10-19"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 19, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad4dda174e5797d0bd238b7","created":"2026-10-18"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 18, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad38c22e1848f8189d1c121","created":"2026-10-17"}],"provenance":"machine"},"cwes":[{"id":"CWE-502","name":"Deserialization of Untrusted Data"}],"references":[{"url":"http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158470/Plex-Unpickle-Dict-Windows-Remote-Code-Execution.html","tags":["Exploit","Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"]},{"url":"https://www.tenable.com/security/research/tra-2020-32","tags":["Exploit","Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158470/Plex-Unpickle-Dict-Windows-Remote-Code-Execution.html","tags":["Exploit","Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"]},{"url":"https://www.tenable.com/security/research/tra-2020-32","tags":["Exploit","Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-5741","tags":["US Government Resource"]}],"techniques":[{"id":"T1190","name":"Exploit Public-Facing Application","tactics":["initial-access"],"provenance":"ai","basis":"ai-mapping","bases":["ai-mapping"],"basisDetail":"claude-haiku-5-5: Remote exploitation of public-facing media server","mappingType":"exploitation_technique","evidence":[{"from":"description","quote":"Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Plex Media Server","start":0,"end":54}],"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","confidence":"medium","confidenceNote":"AI-mapped from the description (quote-validated, not expert-reviewed)"},{"id":"T1059","name":"Command and Scripting Interpreter","tactics":["execution"],"provenance":"ai","basis":"ai-mapping","bases":["ai-mapping"],"basisDetail":"claude-haiku-5-5: Direct arbitrary Python code execution","mappingType":"primary_impact","evidence":[{"from":"description","quote":"allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary Python code","start":66,"end":138}],"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","confidence":"medium","confidenceNote":"AI-mapped from the description (quote-validated, not expert-reviewed)"}],"reports":[],"affected":[],"advisories":[],"euvd":{"id":"EUVD-2020-26900","url":"https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2020-26900","exploited":true,"exploitedSince":"2023-03-10","provenance":"source"},"exploits":[],"exploitSources":{"pocGithub":{"count":1,"skipped":0,"earliest":"2026-09-04","earliestUrl":"https://github.com/HORKimhab/CVE-2025-34158-CVE-2020-5741","repos":[{"name":"HORKimhab/CVE-2025-34158-CVE-2020-5741","url":"https://github.com/HORKimhab/CVE-2025-34158-CVE-2020-5741","stars":0,"created":"2026-09-04"}]},"metasploit":[{"name":"Plex Unpickle Dict Windows RCE","module":"exploit/windows/http/plex_unpickle_dict_rce","type":"exploit","disclosureDate":"2020-05-07","url":"https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/http/plex_unpickle_dict_rce.rb"}],"first":{"date":"2020-05-07","source":"Metasploit","url":"https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/http/plex_unpickle_dict_rce.rb"},"provenance":"source"},"exploitRefs":["http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/158470/Plex-Unpickle-Dict-Windows-Remote-Code-Execution.html","https://www.tenable.com/security/research/tra-2020-32"],"flow":[{"stage":"exploitation","techniques":["T1190"],"provenance":"ai"},{"stage":"primary","techniques":["T1059"],"provenance":"ai"}],"timeline":[{"date":"2020-05-07","kind":"exploit-public","label":"First public exploit: Metasploit; later: PoC-in-GitHub 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exploited","url":"https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2020-26900","provenance":"source"}],"speed":{"daysToPublicExploit":null,"firstExploitFrom":"Metasploit","daysToKev":1036},"priority":{"score":67.9,"factors":[{"name":"In a KEV catalog","points":35.0,"detail":"listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV"},{"name":"Recent KEV listing","points":0.0,"detail":"added 1340 days ago"},{"name":"Known ransomware use","points":0.0,"detail":"not known"},{"name":"EPSS percentile","points":19.89,"detail":"percentile 0.9945"},{"name":"Named in threat reports","points":0.0,"detail":"0 reports"},{"name":"Public exploit code","points":5.0,"detail":"2 NVD references tagged Exploit; 1 PoC-in-GitHub repo; 1 Metasploit module"},{"name":"Mentioned in OTX pulses","points":3.0,"detail":"50 pulses"},{"name":"CVSS severity","points":5.04,"detail":"base score 7.2"},{"name":"End-of-life product","points":0.0,"detail":"supported or unknown"}]}}