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Plex warns users to patch security vulnerability immediately. Plex has notified some of its users on Thursday to urgently update their media servers due to a recently patched security vulnerability. The company has yet to assign a CVE-ID to track the flaw and didn't provide additional details regarding the patch, only saying that it impacts Plex Media Server versions 1.41.7.x to 1.42.0.x. Yesterday, four days after releasing security updates that addressed the mysterious security bug, Plex emailed those running affected versions to update their software as soon as possible. "We recently received a report via our bug bounty program that there was a potential security issue affecting Plex Media Server versions 1.41.7.x to 1.42.0.x. Thanks to that user, we were able to address the issue, release an updated version of the server, and continue to improve our security and defenses," the company said in the email. "You're receiving this notice because our information indicates that a Plex Media Server owned by your Plex account is running an older version of the server. We strongly recommend that everyone update their Plex Media Server to the most recent version as soon as possible, if you have not already done so." Plex Media Server 1.42.1.10060, the version that patches this vulnerability, can be downloaded from the server management page or the official downloads page. ​While Plex hasn't shared any details regarding the vulnerability so far, users are advised to follow the company's advice and patch their software before threat actors reverse engineer the patches and develop an exploit. Although Plex has experienced its share of critical and high-severity security flaws over the years, this is one of the few instances where the company has emailed customers about securing their systems against a specific vulnerability. In March 2023, CISA tagged a three-year-old remote code execution (RCE) flaw (CVE-2020-5741) in the Plex Media Server as actively exploited in attacks. As Plex explained two years earlier, when it released patches, successful exploitation can allow attackers to make the server execute malicious code. While the cybersecurity agency didn't provide any information on the attacks exploiting CVE-2020-5741, they were likely linked to LastPass' disclosure that one of its senior DevOps engineers' computers had been hacked in 2022 to install a keylogger by abusing a third-party media software RCE bug. The attackers exploited this access to steal the engineer's credentials and compromise the LastPass corporate vault, resulting in a massive data breach in August 2022 after stealing LastPass's production backups and critical database backups. The same month, Plex also notified users of a data breach and asked them to reset passwords after an attacker gained access to a database containing emails, usernames, and encrypted passwords. Picus Blue Report 2025 is Here: 2X increase in password cracking 46% of environments had passwords cracked, nearly doubling from 25% last year. Get the Picus Blue Report 2025 now for a comprehensive look at more findings on prevention, detection, and data exfiltration trends.

Daily Brief Summary

VULNERABILITIES // Plex Urges Immediate Update to Address Media Server Vulnerability

Plex has alerted users to update their media servers urgently due to a security flaw affecting versions 1.41.7.x to 1.42.0.x, though a CVE-ID is yet to be assigned.

The vulnerability was identified through Plex's bug bounty program, leading to the release of a patched version, 1.42.1.10060, now available for download.

While specific details about the flaw remain undisclosed, users are advised to update promptly to prevent potential exploitation by threat actors.

This proactive notification is unusual for Plex, highlighting the severity of the issue and the importance of securing systems against potential threats.

Past vulnerabilities in Plex Media Server, such as the CVE-2020-5741, have been linked to significant breaches, emphasizing the need for timely updates.

The urgency in patching is underscored by the risk of reverse engineering by attackers, which could lead to the development of exploits.

Users are reminded of the potential consequences of unpatched vulnerabilities, including unauthorized access and data breaches, as seen in previous incidents involving Plex.