HTML Post Editor Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/html-post-editor-new

Adds HTML tab to the post editor which shows the raw source of the page and is highlighted with the Ace Editor

200 active installs v1.0.0 PHP + WP 4.1+ Updated May 13, 2015
ace-editoradminhtmlpost-editorraw
85
A · Safe
CVEs total0
Unpatched0
Last CVENever
Download
Safety Verdict

Is HTML Post Editor Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 85/100

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

No known CVEs Updated 10yr ago
Risk Assessment

Based on the static analysis, "html-post-editor-new" v1.0.0 exhibits a generally good security posture. The absence of any identified AJAX handlers, REST API routes, shortcodes, or cron events significantly limits the potential attack surface. The plugin also demonstrates sound practices regarding SQL queries, with 100% utilizing prepared statements, and a lack of dangerous functions or file operations further bolsters its security.

However, a significant concern arises from the output escaping. With only 43% of outputs being properly escaped, there is a notable risk of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities. Any dynamic content rendered by the plugin that is not properly escaped could be exploited by attackers to inject malicious scripts. Furthermore, the complete absence of nonce checks and capability checks, especially if the plugin interacts with user-submitted data or modifies settings, presents a potential avenue for unauthorized actions and privilege escalation.

The plugin's vulnerability history is a strong positive indicator, showing zero recorded CVEs. This suggests a history of secure development. However, it's crucial to remember that this is version 1.0.0, and a lack of past vulnerabilities does not guarantee future security, especially given the identified output escaping issues. The strengths lie in its limited attack surface and secure SQL handling, while the weaknesses are concentrated in insufficient output escaping and potential lack of authorization checks.

Key Concerns

  • Unescaped output detected
  • Missing nonce checks
  • Missing capability checks
Vulnerabilities
None known

HTML Post Editor Security Vulnerabilities

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

HTML Post Editor Code Analysis

Dangerous Functions
0
Raw SQL Queries
0
0 prepared
Unescaped Output
4
3 escaped
Nonce Checks
0
Capability Checks
0
File Operations
0
External Requests
0
Bundled Libraries
0

Output Escaping

43% escaped7 total outputs
Attack Surface

HTML Post Editor Attack Surface

Entry Points0
Unprotected0
WordPress Hooks 3
actionadmin_inithtml-post-editor.php:16
actionadmin_menuhtml-post-editor.php:17
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptshtml-post-editor.php:18
Maintenance & Trust

HTML Post Editor Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested4.1.42
Last updatedMay 13, 2015
PHP min version
Downloads15K

Community Trust

Rating60/100
Number of ratings3
Active installs200
Developer Profile

HTML Post Editor Developer Profile

mortalis

3 plugins · 310 total installs

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

How We Detect HTML Post Editor

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

Asset Fingerprints

Asset Paths
/wp-content/plugins/html-post-editor-new/css/options.css/wp-content/plugins/html-post-editor-new/ace-min/ace.js/wp-content/plugins/html-post-editor-new/ace-min/ext-themelist.js/wp-content/plugins/html-post-editor-new/js/options.js/wp-content/plugins/html-post-editor-new/css/jquery-ui.min.css/wp-content/plugins/html-post-editor-new/css/editor.css/wp-content/plugins/html-post-editor-new/js/emmet.min.js/wp-content/plugins/html-post-editor-new/js/beautify-html.min.js+3 more
Script Paths
ace-min/ace.jsace-min/ext-themelist.jsjs/options.jsjs/emmet.min.jsjs/beautify-html.min.jsjs/theme-sublime.js+2 more
Version Parameters
html-post-editor-new/css/options.css?ver=html-post-editor-new/ace-min/ace.js?ver=html-post-editor-new/ace-min/ext-themelist.js?ver=html-post-editor-new/js/options.js?ver=html-post-editor-new/css/jquery-ui.min.css?ver=html-post-editor-new/css/editor.css?ver=html-post-editor-new/js/emmet.min.js?ver=html-post-editor-new/js/beautify-html.min.js?ver=html-post-editor-new/js/theme-sublime.js?ver=html-post-editor-new/ace-min/ext-emmet.js?ver=html-post-editor-new/editor.min.js?ver=

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

JS Globals
ace_font_sizeace_editor_theme
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about HTML Post Editor