--- title: "CVE-2026-96656: Plex Media Server arbitrary file write | CubePath" description: "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…" language: en source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-96656 --- # CVE-2026-96656: Plex Media Server arbitrary file write | CubePath ## Description 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. Official description from the CVE record, published by cisa-cg. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-96656) ## Key data ### CVSS 4.0 High 8.6 Score published by cisa-cg in the CVE record. 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 | Metric | Value | What it means | | ----------------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. | | Attack complexity | Low | No measurable action is needed to get around the system's built-in security controls. The attack is repeatable. | | Attack requirements | None | The attack works without any special deployment or execution conditions. | | Privileges required | High | An account with significant privileges, such as an administrator, is needed. | | User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. | | Vulnerable system: confidentiality | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. | | Vulnerable system: integrity | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. | | Vulnerable system: availability | High | Serious or total effect on availability. | | Subsequent systems: confidentiality | None | No effect on other systems' data secrecy. | | Subsequent systems: integrity | None | No effect on other systems' data trustworthiness. | | Subsequent systems: availability | None | No effect on other systems' availability. | ### CVSS 3.1 High 7.2 Score published by cisa-cg in the CVE record. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | Metric | Value | What it means | | ---------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. | | Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. | | Privileges required | High | An account with significant privileges, such as an administrator, is needed. | | User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. | | Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. | | Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. | | Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. | | Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. | CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) . ### EPSS Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days. Score 0.01785 (1.8% probability) Percentile 78.5% Scores of Nov 10, 2026 Model v2026.06.15 ### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Name in the catalog Plex Media Server External Control of File Name or Path Vulnerability Added to the catalog Oct 20, 2026 Federal due date Oct 23, 2026 ### CISA assessment as of Oct 19, 2026 Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA. Exploitation Recorded by CISA as active Automatable no Technical impact total ### Weakness (CWE) CWE catalog version 5.0. CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license. - [CWE-73](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/73.html) External Control of File Name or Path ## Affected products Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them. - Plex Media Server - affected: before 1.43.3.10861 - unaffected: 1.43.3.10861 ## References Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control. - [url](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-media-server/30447/711) (forums.plex.tv) release-notes - [url](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-96656) (cve.org) vdb-entry - [url](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cisagov/CSAF/develop/csaf%5Ffiles/IT/white/2026/va-26-266-01.json) (raw.githubusercontent.com) third-party-advisory - [url](https://zmain.info/blog/plex2shell) (zmain.info) third-party-advisory ## Timeline 1. ID reserved Sep 23, 2026 2. Record published Sep 23, 2026 3. Added to CISA KEV Oct 20, 2026 4. Record last updated Oct 21, 2026 ## Look up another CVE ## About CubePath CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection. [Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection) Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:37 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)