Bitly URL Generator Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/bitly-url-generator

Automatically creates a bit.ly url for each of your posts when they get published.

10 active installs v1.0 PHP + WP 3.3+ Updated Dec 19, 2012
bit-lybitlyshortlinkurlurl-shortener
85
A · Safe
CVEs total0
Unpatched0
Last CVENever
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Safety Verdict

Is Bitly URL Generator Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 85/100

Bitly URL Generator has no known CVEs and is actively maintained. It's a solid choice for most WordPress installations.

No known CVEs Updated 13yr ago
Risk Assessment

The 'bitly-url-generator' plugin v1.0 exhibits a generally good security posture based on the provided static analysis. There are no identified dangerous functions, SQL queries are properly prepared, and all output appears to be correctly escaped, indicating good coding practices in these areas. The absence of taint flows with unsanitized paths and no recorded vulnerability history further contribute to a positive security assessment. However, the plugin lacks comprehensive security checks that could leave it vulnerable to certain attacks.

Specifically, the absence of nonce checks and capability checks, particularly given the presence of a cron event, is a significant concern. Cron events can be triggered externally and, without proper authentication and authorization, could be exploited to perform unintended actions. While the attack surface is currently small and appears unprotected entries are zero, this could change with future updates or if the plugin's functionality expands. The single external HTTP request also warrants careful consideration, as it could be a vector for SSRF or other network-based attacks if not handled securely.

In conclusion, the plugin demonstrates a strong foundation in fundamental security practices like prepared statements and output escaping. The lack of past vulnerabilities is a positive sign of responsible development. However, the critical absence of nonce and capability checks, particularly around scheduled events, presents a notable risk that requires attention. This oversight, combined with the potential for future expansion of the attack surface, suggests that while not immediately critical, the plugin could benefit from more robust authorization mechanisms.

Key Concerns

  • No nonce checks
  • No capability checks
  • External HTTP request without context
Vulnerabilities
None known

Bitly URL Generator Security Vulnerabilities

No known vulnerabilities — this is a good sign.
Code Analysis
Analyzed Mar 17, 2026

Bitly URL Generator Code Analysis

Dangerous Functions
0
Raw SQL Queries
0
1 prepared
Unescaped Output
0
7 escaped
Nonce Checks
0
Capability Checks
0
File Operations
0
External Requests
1
Bundled Libraries
0

SQL Query Safety

100% prepared1 total queries

Output Escaping

100% escaped7 total outputs
Attack Surface

Bitly URL Generator Attack Surface

Entry Points0
Unprotected0
WordPress Hooks 6
actionadmin_menubitly-url-generator.php:24
actionpublish_postbitly-url-generator.php:33
actionpublish_future_postbitly-url-generator.php:34
filterpre_get_shortlinkbitly-url-generator.php:219
actioninitbitly-url-generator.php:263
actionbitly_hourly_hookbitly-url-generator.php:266

Scheduled Events 1

bitly_hourly_hook
Maintenance & Trust

Bitly URL Generator Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested3.5.2
Last updatedDec 19, 2012
PHP min version
Downloads3K

Community Trust

Rating100/100
Number of ratings1
Active installs10
Developer Profile

Bitly URL Generator Developer Profile

micahwave

1 plugin · 10 total installs

84
trust score
Avg Security Score
85/100
Avg Patch Time
30 days
View full developer profile
Detection Fingerprints

How We Detect Bitly URL Generator

Patterns used to identify this plugin on WordPress sites during automated security audits and web crawling.

Asset Fingerprints

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

Data Attributes
name="bitly_settings[api_login]"name="bitly_settings[api_key]"id="bitly_settings_nonce"
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Bitly URL Generator