Developer Mode Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/developer-mode

Limit access to the WordPress admin panel for your clients. Block functionality like updating plugins and viewing menu items for administrators, while …

300 active installs v0.4.1.3 PHP + WP 3.1+ Updated Jul 7, 2013
adminclientdeveloperdeveloper-modehide-menu
85
A · Safe
CVEs total0
Unpatched0
Last CVENever
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Safety Verdict

Is Developer Mode Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 85/100

Developer Mode has no known CVEs and is actively maintained. It's a solid choice for most WordPress installations.

No known CVEs Updated 12yr ago
Risk Assessment

Based on the provided static analysis and vulnerability history, the "developer-mode" plugin version 0.4.1.3 appears to have a very strong security posture. The code analysis reveals no identified dangerous functions, no direct SQL queries (all are prepared statements), and all output is properly escaped. Furthermore, there are no file operations or external HTTP requests, and crucially, the plugin exhibits no apparent attack surface through AJAX handlers, REST API routes, shortcodes, or cron events that are not properly authenticated or checked for permissions. The absence of any recorded vulnerabilities in its history further reinforces this positive assessment.

While the lack of any identified risks in the static analysis is commendable, it's important to note that the "Total flows analyzed" and "Total entry points" are both zero. This might indicate that the analysis was performed on a very minimal codebase, or perhaps on a version where certain features were intentionally disabled. The absence of nonce checks and capability checks, while not a direct vulnerability given the zero attack surface, could become a concern if any new entry points are introduced in future versions without proper security considerations. However, as it stands, the plugin demonstrates excellent adherence to secure coding practices for the analyzed components.

Vulnerabilities
None known

Developer Mode Security Vulnerabilities

No known vulnerabilities — this is a good sign.
Code Analysis
Analyzed Mar 16, 2026

Developer Mode Code Analysis

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

Developer Mode Attack Surface

Entry Points0
Unprotected0
Maintenance & Trust

Developer Mode Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested3.5.2
Last updatedJul 7, 2013
PHP min version
Downloads14K

Community Trust

Rating86/100
Number of ratings8
Active installs300
Developer Profile

Developer Mode Developer Profile

Jesper van Engelen

7 plugins · 2K total installs

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

How We Detect Developer Mode

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

Asset Fingerprints

Asset Paths
/wp-content/plugins/developer-mode/lib/css/admin.css/wp-content/plugins/developer-mode/lib/js/admin.js
Script Paths
/wp-content/plugins/developer-mode/lib/js/admin.js
Version Parameters
developer-mode/lib/css/admin.css?ver=developer-mode/lib/js/admin.js?ver=

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Developer Mode