Howdy Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/howdy

A WordPress plugin to remove "Howdy" from the admin bar.

0 active installs v1.0.0 PHP 5.6+ WP 5.2+ Updated Unknown
adminadmin-bardashboardhowdy
100
A · Safe
CVEs total0
Unpatched0
Last CVENever
Download
Safety Verdict

Is Howdy Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 100/100

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

No known CVEs
Risk Assessment

The "howdy" v1.0.0 plugin exhibits a remarkably clean static analysis report, showing no identified entry points like AJAX handlers, REST API routes, or shortcodes that lack authentication checks. The code also demonstrates adherence to secure coding practices, with no dangerous functions, all SQL queries utilizing prepared statements, and all output properly escaped. Furthermore, there are no reported file operations, external HTTP requests, or bundled libraries, which simplifies the security assessment. The plugin's vulnerability history is also clear, with no known CVEs recorded, indicating a lack of publicly disclosed security flaws.

Despite the pristine static analysis and vulnerability history, the complete absence of nonces and capability checks across all potential, albeit currently non-existent, entry points is a notable omission. While there are no active entry points to exploit, this pattern suggests a potential lack of defensive security considerations in the plugin's design philosophy. If future versions introduce new features that create entry points, the established pattern of omitting these crucial security checks could become a significant risk.

In conclusion, "howdy" v1.0.0 presents a strong security posture based on its current code and historical data, characterized by a minimal attack surface and adherence to best practices in SQL and output handling. However, the complete lack of any nonce or capability checks, even in areas where they are not strictly required by the current code, is a weakness that warrants attention for future development and maintenance.

Key Concerns

  • No nonce checks implemented
  • No capability checks implemented
Vulnerabilities
None known

Howdy Security Vulnerabilities

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

Howdy 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

Howdy Attack Surface

Entry Points0
Unprotected0
WordPress Hooks 2
filteradmin_bar_menuhowdy.php:17
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptshowdy.php:39
Maintenance & Trust

Howdy Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested5.8.13
Last updatedUnknown
PHP min version5.6
Downloads3K

Community Trust

Rating0/100
Number of ratings0
Active installs0
Developer Profile

Howdy Developer Profile

Brad Parbs

16 plugins · 3K total installs

86
trust score
Avg Security Score
88/100
Avg Patch Time
30 days
View full developer profile
Detection Fingerprints

How We Detect Howdy

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

Asset Fingerprints

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

CSS Classes
display-name
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Howdy