CVE-2026-96654: in the CISA KEV catalogue
Plex Media Server Improper Neutralization of Encoded URI Schemes in a Web Page Vulnerability. CISA added CVE-2026-96654 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2026-10-20 with a default due date of 2026-10-23. Known ransomware campaign use: Unknown. Forensic triage flag: No.
Plex Media Server contains an improper neutralization of encoded URI schemes in a web page vulnerability that could allow an attacker to call other plugins' functions and supply their own parameters. This vulnerability can be chained with CVE-2026-96652, CVE-2026-96655, and CVE-2026-96656. (CISA description)
- Vendor / product
- Plex Media Server
- CWE
- CWE-84
- CISA 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). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
- EPSS
- 1.9%, percentile 80 (scored 2026-11-03)
EPSS puts about 1.9 in 100 odds (1.9%) on exploitation activity being observed in the next 30 days. Its score is higher than or equal to that of 80% of scored CVEs. This is a model estimate about exploitation anywhere, not about your environment.
Vendor and reference links (from CISA)
- https://forums.plex.tv/t/important-security-update-for-plex-media-server-v1-43-2-and-earlier/942319
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96654
Your own deadline under CISA BOD 26-04 depends on exposure, automatability and technical impact: work it out with the BOD 26-04 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2026-96654 in the CISA KEV catalogue?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2026-96654 (Plex Media Server Improper Neutralization of Encoded URI Schemes in a Web Page Vulnerability) to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2026-10-20. CISA's default due date for it is 2026-10-23.
Is CVE-2026-96654 used in ransomware attacks?
CISA marks known ransomware campaign use as Unknown for CVE-2026-96654. That means CISA lacks confirmation, not that ransomware groups do not use it.
What should I do about CVE-2026-96654?
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). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
Sources
- CISA, Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog (accessed 2026-11-03)
- FIRST, Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) (EPSS by FIRST; scores generated by Empirical Security)
- NVD record for CVE-2026-96654