CVE-2026-96652
CVE-2026-96652 is a security flaw in Plex Media Server, software for streaming your own films and music around the house. Attackers can make Plex Media Server send requests into the network behind it. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 20 Oct 2026.[1]
Plex Media Server is in things households have, such as phones, computers, browsers and everyday apps, so the fix matters at home as much as at work. Fixed in version 1.43.3.10861 of Media Server.
Description
CISA calls it a server-side request forgery (SSRF) in Plex Media Server. In its words: “Plex Media Server contains a server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability which could allow an attacker using any X-Plex-Token value to include a full URL in the 'protocol' parameter and force the Plex server to POST to the attacker's chosen destination. This vulnerability can be chained with CVE-2026-96654, CVE-2026-96655, and CVE-2026-96656.”[1]
The underlying weakness is server-side request forgery (CWE-918), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.[2]
It scores 4.3 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record lists one fixed version: everything before it is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| Media Server | 1.43.3.10861 |
Every device with Plex Media Server needs the update.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 20 Oct 2026, 27 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 3 Nov 2026 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 2%. That’s in the top 22% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Plex has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes).”[1]
- Update Plex Media Server now.Install the latest update from Plex on every device that has it, and restart when asked. Then turn on automatic updates, so the next fix arrives on its own.
- Check you’re on 1.43.3.10861 or later.Fixed in version 1.43.3.10861 of Media Server. Anything older is what attackers are going after.
- If there’s no update, stop using it.CISA’s advice when a flaw being used in attacks has no fix is to stop using the product until it does.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 4.3.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 2%.[4] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] |
See also
Other Plex Media Server flaws
- CVE-2026-96656: external control of file name or path ·
- CVE-2026-96655: server-side request forgery (SSRF) ·
- CVE-2026-96654: improper neutralization of encoded URI schemes in a web page ·
- CVE-2020-5741: remote code execution ·
Other server-side request forgery flaws
- CVE-2026-83548, SonicWall SMA1000 Appliances: server-side request forgery ·
- CVE-2026-64849, MLflow: server-side request forgery ·
- CVE-2026-15409, SonicWall SMA1000 Appliances: server-side request forgery ·
- CVE-2026-20230, Cisco Unified Communications Manager: server-side request forgery (SSRF) ·
- CVE-2021-22054, Omnissa Workspace One UEM: workspace ONE server-side request forgery ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2026-96656, Plex Media Server: external control of file name or path ·
- CVE-2026-96655, Plex Media Server: server-side request forgery (SSRF) ·
- CVE-2026-96654, Plex Media Server: improper neutralization of encoded URI schemes in a web page ·
- CVE-2026-110936, Siemens Software Center: uncontrolled search path element ·
- CVE-2026-106931, EG Secure Solutions SiteGuard Server Edition: OS command injection ·
Every Plex flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in October 2026
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Plex Media Server Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 20 Oct 2026.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2026-96652 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 23 Sep 2026.
- ^ Plex. Advisories and fixes: forums.plex.tv, forums.plex.tv.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.018, percentile 78.8, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2026-96652”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.