CVE-2018-13415

In Plex Media Server 1.13.2.5154, the XML parsing engine for SSDP/UPnP functionality is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Processing (XXE) attack

published August 13, 2018

CVSS
—
EPSS
31%
Percentile
98.3
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A sneaky XML parsing flaw in Plex Media Server could let attackers access private files and even run commands on your system! 🔥 Think of XML parsing as a librarian who mistakenly trusts any book that comes through the door. If they don’t check what's inside, a mischievous author could slip in a story that leads the librarian to reveal secrets from other books! Imagine an attacker waltzing through your Plex Media Server, accessing sensitive files, and even garnering command over your system. This vulnerability allows for not only reading files accessible by the Plex user, but also posing a real risk of exposing your passwords and executing commands remotely — it’s a cybersecurity nightmare waiting to happen!

Put simply

Think of XML parsing as a librarian who mistakenly trusts any book that comes through the door. If they don’t check what's inside, a mischievous author could slip in a story that leads the librarian to reveal secrets from other books! This vulnerability arises from an XML External Entity (XXE) processing flaw in the UPnP functionality of Plex Media Server 1.13.2.5154, allowing remote, unauthenticated attackers to read files and execute commands by manipulating XML input.

What to do

Imagine an attacker waltzing through your Plex Media Server, accessing sensitive files, and even garnering command over your system. This vulnerability allows for not only reading files accessible by the Plex user, but also posing a real risk of exposing your passwords and executing commands remotely — it’s a cybersecurity nightmare waiting to happen! To mitigate this, it's crucial to update your Plex Media Server to the latest version where this issue is resolved. Additionally, consider disabling UPnP if it's not actively being used, and review your firewall settings for extra protection. You've got this! Following these steps will put you back in control and keep your Plex environment safe! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.31457 · 98.3th percentile
Published
2018-08-13T17:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 13 AUG 17:00Z
    In Plex Media Server 1.13.2.5154, the XML parsing engine for SSDP/UPnP functionality is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Processing (XXE) attack
    cvelistv5