Head Meta Data Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/head-meta-data

Adds a custom set of <meta> tags to the <head> section of all posts & pages.

10K active installs v20260209 PHP 5.6.20+ WP 4.7+ Updated Feb 10, 2026
metametadatarobotsseo
98
A · Safe
CVEs total2
Unpatched0
Last CVEJan 20, 2026
Safety Verdict

Is Head Meta Data Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 98/100

Head Meta Data has a strong security track record. Known vulnerabilities have been patched promptly.

2 known CVEsLast CVE: Jan 20, 2026Updated 1mo ago
Risk Assessment

The 'head-meta-data' plugin exhibits a generally strong security posture based on the static analysis. It demonstrates good practices by utilizing prepared statements for all SQL queries, performing capability checks on its entry points, and implementing nonce checks. The vast majority of output is properly escaped, mitigating a significant portion of cross-site scripting risks. Furthermore, there are no detected dangerous functions, file operations, or external HTTP requests, all of which reduce potential attack vectors.

However, a notable concern arises from the plugin's vulnerability history. The presence of two medium-severity Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities, even though they are currently patched, indicates a recurring weakness in input sanitization or output escaping within the plugin's codebase. The fact that the last vulnerability was recent (January 2026) suggests that these issues may resurface if not carefully addressed during development. While the current static analysis shows no immediate critical or high-severity risks, the historical pattern warrants caution.

In conclusion, the 'head-meta-data' plugin has made significant strides in its security implementation, with robust handling of SQL and good output escaping. The absence of immediate critical flaws in the static analysis is positive. Nevertheless, the historical pattern of medium-severity XSS vulnerabilities should be a key consideration. Developers should remain vigilant in their ongoing code reviews and testing to prevent recurrence of past issues.

Key Concerns

  • Medium severity XSS vulnerability in history
  • Medium severity XSS vulnerability in history
  • Output escaping is not 100%
Vulnerabilities
2

Head Meta Data Security Vulnerabilities

CVEs by Year

1 CVE in 2025
2025
1 CVE in 2026
2026
Patched Has unpatched

Severity Breakdown

Medium
2

2 total CVEs

CVE-2026-0608medium · 6.4Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

Head Meta Data <= 20251118 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Post Meta

Jan 20, 2026 Patched in 20260105 (1d)
CVE-2025-66081medium · 6.4Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')

Head Meta Data <= 20250327 - Authenticated (Author+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting

Dec 14, 2025 Patched in 20251118 (6d)
Code Analysis
Analyzed Mar 16, 2026

Head Meta Data Code Analysis

Dangerous Functions
0
Raw SQL Queries
0
0 prepared
Unescaped Output
16
65 escaped
Nonce Checks
1
Capability Checks
2
File Operations
0
External Requests
0
Bundled Libraries
0

Output Escaping

80% escaped81 total outputs
Attack Surface

Head Meta Data Attack Surface

Entry Points2
Unprotected0

Shortcodes 2

[head_meta_data] head-meta-data.php:120
[hmd_custom] head-meta-data.php:291
WordPress Hooks 13
actionadmin_inithead-meta-data.php:54
actioninithead-meta-data.php:68
actionadmin_inithead-meta-data.php:100
actionwp_headhead-meta-data.php:108
actionwp_headhead-meta-data.php:409
filterplugin_action_linkshead-meta-data.php:453
filterplugin_row_metahead-meta-data.php:479
filteradmin_footer_texthead-meta-data.php:501
actionadmin_inithead-meta-data.php:618
actionadmin_menuhead-meta-data.php:700
actionadmin_noticeshead-meta-data.php:1139
actionadmin_inithead-meta-data.php:1167
actionadmin_inithead-meta-data.php:1200
Maintenance & Trust

Head Meta Data Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested6.9.4
Last updatedFeb 10, 2026
PHP min version5.6.20
Downloads468K

Community Trust

Rating96/100
Number of ratings19
Active installs10K
Developer Profile

Head Meta Data Developer Profile

Jeff Starr

30 plugins · 1.2M total installs

78
trust score
Avg Security Score
98/100
Avg Patch Time
345 days
View full developer profile
Detection Fingerprints

How We Detect Head Meta Data

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

Asset Fingerprints

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

Shortcode Output
&lt;meta charset="&lt;meta name="abstract" content="&lt;meta name="author" content="&lt;meta name="classification" content="
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Head Meta Data