# CVE-2020-5741: Plex Media Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-5741-plex-media-server-remote-code-execution-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2023-03-10. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2020-5741 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.2 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2023-03-10

Plex Media Server on Windows contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability. A remote, authenticated attacker with administrator privileges can exploit this via the Camera Upload feature to upload a malicious file and execute arbitrary Python code.

Technologies: [Plex Media Server](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/media-server). Vendors: [Plex](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/plex).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2020-5741 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2020-5741 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 10 March 2023. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2020-5741?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.2, published 10 March 2023.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Plex Plex Media Server up to (excluding) 1.19.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2020-5741?** A patch was published on 2023-03-31: Due date for remediation per CISA KEV catalog; updates available in version 1.19.3 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2020-5741 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2020-5741?** Check whether you run Plex Media Server. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Plex Plex Media Server up to (excluding) 1.19.3

## Timeline

- 2020-05-08: disclosed: NVD Published Date
- 2023-03-10: kev added: Date added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2023-03-31: patched: Due date for remediation per CISA KEV catalog; updates available in version 1.19.3

## Related threats

- [Plex Media Server arbitrary file write in transcoder options](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96656-plex-media-server-before-1-43-3-10861-allows-an-admin-user-to)
- [Plex Media Server SSRF via transcode endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96655-plex-media-server-before-1-43-3-10861-allows-an-authenticated)
- [Plex Media Server unsafe URL neutralization in searchOne](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96654-plex-media-server-before-1-43-3-10861-does-not-correctly)
- [Plex Media Server SSRF via /player/timeline](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96652-plex-media-server-before-1-43-3-10861-allows-ssrf-via-player)
- [Plex Media Server path traversal in agent endpoint](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96651-plex-media-server-before-1-43-3-10861-builds-a-file-path-from-the)