CVE-2026-96656
What it is
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.
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited over the network with an admin-level account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
- In the wild
- CISA lists this as exploited in real attacks. Treat as urgent.
- Fix
- No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.
Timeline
- ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- 2026-10-20 Exploited in the wildAdded to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
- 2026-10-23 Remediation deadlineCISA's due date for federal agencies to fix it
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: yes, CISA lists it. This puts it above everything that is not.
- Exploit odds: 1.8% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 8.6 HIGH (CVSS).
- Fix: none linked yet, which raises it.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Added to CISA KEV
- 2026-10-20
- Exploit probability
- 1.8% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-73
- Record status
- Analyzed
Affected
- Plex Media Server < 1.43.3.10861
Attack profile CVSS 4.0 · 8.6
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Privileges needed
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
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/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-96656.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-96656. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
References
- https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-media-server/30447/711
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cisagov/CSAF/develop/csaf_files/IT/white/2026/va-26-266-01.json
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-96656
- https://zmain.info/blog/plex2shell
- https://www.boredhackerblog.info/2026/10/plex-vulnerabilities-being-exploited-in.html
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-96656