CVE Details
CVE-2026-96656
Plex Media Server External Control of File Name or Path Vulnerability
Published: 2026-10-20
CVSS: 8.6 HIGH
Product: Plex Media Server
Due Date: 2026-10-23
Plex Media Server contains an external control of file name or path vulnerability which can allow an admin user to write arbitrary files that may be executed on load. This vulnerability can be chained with CVE-2026-96652, CVE-2026-96654, and CVE-2026-96655.
GitHub PoC
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FIRST EPSS
EPSS estimates the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Higher values indicate higher likelihood of real-world exploitation.
Timeline
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KEV
MITRE
GitHub
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References
Show Raw Data
| Key | Remaining Key | Value |
|---|---|---|
| dataType | CVE_RECORD | |
| dataVersion | 5.2 | |
| cveMetadata > | cveId | CVE-2026-96656 |
| cveMetadata > | assignerOrgId | 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725 |
| cveMetadata > | state | PUBLISHED |
| cveMetadata > | assignerShortName | cisa-cg |
| cveMetadata > | dateReserved | 2026-09-23T14:42:33.270Z |
| cveMetadata > | datePublished | 2026-09-23T16:07:10.048Z |
| cveMetadata > | dateUpdated | 2026-10-20T19:58:23.908Z |
| containers > | cna > descriptions > 0 > lang | en |
| containers > | cna > descriptions > 0 > value | Plex Media Server before 1.43.3.10861 allows an admin user to write arbitrary files that may be executed on load. The preference TranscoderH264Options is appended verbatim to x264's option string on every transcode. At startup, all .so files are run without signature, execute bit, or symbol checks. |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > vendor | Plex |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > product | Media Server |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > defaultStatus | unknown |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 0 > version | 0 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 0 > status | affected |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 0 > lessThan | 1.43.3.10861 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 0 > versionType | custom |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 1 > version | 1.43.3.10861 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 1 > status | unaffected |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 0 > description | CWE-73 External Control of File Name or Path |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 0 > lang | en |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 0 > type | CWE |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 0 > cweId | CWE-73 |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > version | 4.0 |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > baseScore | 8.6 |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > attackVector | NETWORK |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > baseSeverity | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > vectorString | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > userInteraction | NONE |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > attackComplexity | LOW |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > attackRequirements | NONE |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > privilegesRequired | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > subIntegrityImpact | NONE |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > vulnIntegrityImpact | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > subAvailabilityImpact | NONE |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > vulnAvailabilityImpact | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > subConfidentialityImpact | NONE |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV4_0 > vulnConfidentialityImpact | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > scope | UNCHANGED |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > version | 3.1 |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > baseScore | 7.2 |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > attackVector | NETWORK |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > baseSeverity | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > vectorString | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > integrityImpact | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > userInteraction | NONE |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > attackComplexity | LOW |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > availabilityImpact | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > privilegesRequired | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 1 > cvssV3_1 > confidentialityImpact | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 2 > other > type | ssvc |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 2 > other > content > timestamp | 2026-09-14T18:24:56.053053Z |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 2 > other > content > id | CVE-2026-96656 |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 2 > other > content > options > 0 > Exploitation | none |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 2 > other > content > options > 1 > Automatable | no |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 2 > other > content > options > 2 > Technical Impact | total |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 2 > other > content > role | CISA Coordinator |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 2 > other > content > version | 2.0.3 |
| containers > | cna > title | Plex Media Server arbitrary file write |
| containers > | cna > references > 0 > name | url |
| containers > | cna > references > 0 > url | https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-media-server/30447/711 |
| containers > | cna > references > 0 > tags > 0 | release-notes |
| containers > | cna > references > 1 > name | url |
| containers > | cna > references > 1 > url | https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-96656 |
| containers > | cna > references > 1 > tags > 0 | vdb-entry |
| containers > | cna > references > 2 > name | url |
| containers > | cna > references > 2 > url | https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cisagov/CSAF/develop/csaf_files/IT/white/2026/va-26-266-01.json |
| containers > | cna > references > 2 > tags > 0 | third-party-advisory |
| containers > | cna > references > 3 > name | url |
| containers > | cna > references > 3 > url | https://zmain.info/blog/plex2shell |
| containers > | cna > references > 3 > tags > 0 | third-party-advisory |
| containers > | cna > credits > 0 > value | Zach Main |
| containers > | cna > credits > 0 > lang | en |
| containers > | cna > datePublic | 2026-08-03T00:00:00.000Z |
| containers > | cna > providerMetadata > orgId | 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725 |
| containers > | cna > providerMetadata > shortName | cisa-cg |
| containers > | cna > providerMetadata > dateUpdated | 2026-09-23T16:07:10.048Z |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > type | ssvc |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > id | CVE-2026-96656 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > role | CISA Coordinator |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > options > 0 > Exploitation | active |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > options > 1 > Automatable | no |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > options > 2 > Technical Impact | total |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > version | 2.0.3 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > timestamp | 2026-10-20T19:46:34.862476Z |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 1 > other > type | kev |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 1 > other > content > dateAdded | 2026-10-20 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 1 > other > content > reference | https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-96656 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > references > 0 > url | https://www.boredhackerblog.info/2026/10/plex-vulnerabilities-being-exploited-in.html |
| containers > | adp > 0 > references > 0 > tags > 0 | third-party-advisory |
| containers > | adp > 0 > references > 1 > url | https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-96656 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > references > 1 > tags > 0 | government-resource |
| containers > | adp > 0 > title | CISA ADP Vulnrichment |
| containers > | adp > 0 > providerMetadata > orgId | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > providerMetadata > shortName | CISA-ADP |
| containers > | adp > 0 > providerMetadata > dateUpdated | 2026-10-20T19:58:23.908Z |
| containers > | adp > 0 > timeline > 0 > time | 2026-10-20T00:00:00.000Z |
| containers > | adp > 0 > timeline > 0 > lang | en |
| containers > | adp > 0 > timeline > 0 > value | CVE-2026-96656 added to CISA KEV |