Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/dark-mode

Quickly edit content in your WordPress site by getting an immersive, peaceful and natural writing experience with the coolest editor.

1K active installs v4.2.1 PHP 7.4+ WP 6.2+ Updated Dec 9, 2025
admin-themedark-modedashboardeditormarkdown
99
A · Safe
CVEs total3
Unpatched0
Last CVEDec 16, 2022
Safety Verdict

Is Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 99/100

Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) has a strong security track record. Known vulnerabilities have been patched promptly. It's a solid choice for most WordPress installations.

3 known CVEsLast CVE: Dec 16, 2022Updated 5mo ago
Risk Assessment

The "dark-mode" plugin version 4.2.1 exhibits a mixed security posture. On the positive side, the plugin demonstrates good practices in several areas. It utilizes prepared statements for all its SQL queries, and the vast majority of its output is properly escaped, significantly reducing the risk of common web vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the absence of file operations, external HTTP requests, and bundled libraries further limits potential attack vectors.

However, there are significant concerns. The plugin has a notable attack surface with one unprotected AJAX handler. This lack of authentication on an entry point is a direct security risk that could be exploited by attackers. Compounding this, the plugin has a history of three medium severity vulnerabilities, specifically related to Missing Authorization and Cross-site Scripting. While there are currently no unpatched CVEs, this history suggests a recurring pattern of security weaknesses that require vigilant monitoring and prompt patching.

In conclusion, while "dark-mode" v4.2.1 implements some strong security measures, the presence of an unprotected AJAX handler and its vulnerability history represent critical areas of concern. The plugin's overall security is hampered by these issues, necessitating careful consideration and potential mitigation strategies for users.

Key Concerns

  • Unprotected AJAX handler
  • History of 3 medium severity CVEs
  • Missing nonce checks
  • Missing capability checks
Vulnerabilities
3 published

Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) Security Vulnerabilities

CVEs by Year

2 CVEs in 2018
2018
1 CVE in 2022
2022
Patched Has unpatched

Severity Breakdown

Medium
3

3 total CVEs

WF-84003388-c47c-41db-8d2d-4643aa375a89-dark-modemedium · 4.3Missing Authorization

Appsero <= 1.2.1 - Missing Authorization

Dec 16, 2022 Patched in 4.1.3 (699d)
CVE-2018-5651medium · 4.8Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

WP Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) < 1.7 - Cross-Site Scripting

Jan 12, 2018 Patched in 1.7 (2202d)
CVE-2018-5652medium · 6.4Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

WP Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) < 1.7 - Stored Cross-Site Scripting

Jan 12, 2018 Patched in 1.7 (2202d)
Code Analysis
Analyzed Mar 16, 2026

Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) Code Analysis

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

Output Escaping

98% escaped61 total outputs
Attack Surface
1 unprotected

Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) Attack Surface

Entry Points1
Unprotected1

AJAX Handlers 1

authwp_ajax_wp_markdown_editor_update_noticeincludes\class-hooks.php:41
WordPress Hooks 8
actionadmin_initincludes\class-admin.php:27
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptsincludes\class-dark-mode.php:37
actionadmin_noticesincludes\class-dark-mode.php:49
actionadmin_bar_menuincludes\class-hooks.php:28
actionadmin_headincludes\class-hooks.php:33
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptsincludes\class-settings-api.php:34
actionadmin_initincludes\class-settings.php:33
actionadmin_menuincludes\class-settings.php:37
Maintenance & Trust

Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested6.9.4
Last updatedDec 9, 2025
PHP min version7.4
Downloads117K

Community Trust

Rating66/100
Number of ratings84
Active installs1K
Developer Profile

Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode) Developer Profile

azizultex

3 plugins · 1K total installs

76
trust score
Avg Security Score
95/100
Avg Patch Time
1701 days
View full developer profile
Detection Fingerprints

How We Detect Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode)

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

Asset Fingerprints

Asset Paths
/wp-content/plugins/dark-mode/assets/css/admin.css/wp-content/plugins/dark-mode/assets/js/jquery.syotimer.min.js/wp-content/plugins/dark-mode/assets/js/admin.min.js
Script Paths
/wp-content/plugins/dark-mode/assets/js/jquery.syotimer.min.js/wp-content/plugins/dark-mode/assets/js/admin.min.js
Version Parameters
dark-mode/assets/css/admin.css?ver=dark-mode/assets/js/admin.min.js?ver=

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

CSS Classes
dark-mode
JS Globals
markdown
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Markdown Editor (Formerly Dark Mode)