---
id: "CVE-2020-5741"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2020-5741"]
title: "Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Plex Media Server on Windows allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute\u2026"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.2
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: [{"name": "plex media server", "fixed": ["1.19.3"], "affected": "< 1.19.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Plex Media Server", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "plex-media-server", "runtime", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["camera-upload-disabled", "no-admin-account-exposure"]
published_at: "2020-05-08T13:15:11+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-24T00:09:51+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2020-5741", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5741", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00"}]
---

# Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Plex Media Server on Windows allows a remote, authenticated attacker to execute…

Plex Media Server has a remote code execution flaw in its Camera Upload feature. An attacker who holds the server administrator's Plex account can upload a malicious file and get the server to execute it.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:plex media server affected < 1.19.3 fixed 1.19.3
- vendor:Plex Media Server affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the vendor update for Plex Media Server; the sources do not name the fixed version. CISA lists this as a known exploited vulnerability with required action: apply updates per vendor instructions.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2020-5741
- 2026-10-23T22:29:04+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5741

## From the sources

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 required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_