CVE-2020-5742Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Private-media access via wildcard CORS policy

Published Jun 15, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper access control in Plex Media Server before June 15, 2020 allows remote attackers to access private media via cross-origin requests. By default, the server returns an Access-Control-Allow-Origin value of * and lets attacker-hosted browser code steal an X-Plex-Token or issue authenticated requests to a victim-administered server. Exploitation requires an administrator to follow a phishing lure and sign in to an attacker-controlled Plex server; resulting requests can read private media, change settings, or reboot services.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.42%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Plex Media Server before June 15, 2020 allows remote attackers to access private media via cross-origin requests. By default, the server returns an Access-Control-Allow-Origin value of * and lets attacker-hosted browser code steal an X-Plex-Token or issue authenticated requests to a victim-administered server. Exploitation requires an administrator to follow a phishing lure and sign in to an attacker-controlled Plex server; resulting requests can read private media, change settings, or reboot services.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-5742
Published
Jun 15, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Plex, Inc.
Product
Plex Media Server
Classifications
T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 15, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Prior to June 15, 2020

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Plex, Inc. · Plex Media Serverversion=Prior to June 15, 2020

Published CVSS scores

8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8TenableAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1204.001User Execution: Malicious Link

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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