HTML Special Characters Helper Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/html-special-characters-helper

Admin widget on the Add/Edit Post pages for inserting HTML encodings of special characters into the post.

200 active installs v2.2 PHP + WP 4.6+ Updated Feb 22, 2017
admin-widgetdbxhtml-special-characterspostwrite-post
85
A · Safe
CVEs total0
Unpatched0
Last CVENever
Safety Verdict

Is HTML Special Characters Helper Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 85/100

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

No known CVEs Updated 9yr ago
Risk Assessment

Based on the provided static analysis and vulnerability history, the 'html-special-characters-helper' plugin v2.2 appears to have a strong security posture. The absence of any identified AJAX handlers, REST API routes, shortcodes, or cron events significantly limits the attack surface. Furthermore, the code signals show no dangerous functions, all SQL queries utilize prepared statements, and there are no file operations or external HTTP requests. This indicates a well-written and securely coded plugin, focusing on its intended functionality without introducing common web vulnerabilities.

While the static analysis is largely positive, a potential area of concern is the output escaping. With 6 total outputs and 33% not properly escaped, there is a possibility for cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities if the unescaped output is rendered in a user-facing context. However, the absence of taint analysis flows and known CVEs suggests that these potential issues may not be exploitable or have not been identified. The plugin's vulnerability history is completely clean, with no recorded CVEs, which is a significant strength. This indicates a track record of security and potentially thorough internal testing.

In conclusion, 'html-special-characters-helper' v2.2 exhibits excellent security practices by minimizing its attack surface and avoiding common risky coding patterns. The lack of any historical vulnerabilities further reinforces its security. The only notable weakness identified is the incomplete output escaping, which warrants attention. However, given the overall context, the risk is currently assessed as low, but it would be prudent to investigate the unescaped outputs further.

Key Concerns

  • Unescaped output found
Vulnerabilities
None known

HTML Special Characters Helper Security Vulnerabilities

No known vulnerabilities — this is a good sign.
Version History

HTML Special Characters Helper Release Timeline

v2.3
v2.2Current
v2.1
v2.0.1
v2.0
v1.9.3
v1.9.2
v1.9.1
v1.9
v1.8
v1.7.1
v1.7
v1.6
v1.5
v1.0
Code Analysis
Analyzed Mar 16, 2026

HTML Special Characters Helper Code Analysis

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

Output Escaping

67% escaped6 total outputs
Attack Surface

HTML Special Characters Helper Attack Surface

Entry Points0
Unprotected0
WordPress Hooks 6
actionadmin_inithtml-special-characters-helper.php:86
actionload-post.phphtml-special-characters-helper.php:103
actionload-post-new.phphtml-special-characters-helper.php:104
actionadd_meta_boxeshtml-special-characters-helper.php:106
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptshtml-special-characters-helper.php:130
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptshtml-special-characters-helper.php:133
Maintenance & Trust

HTML Special Characters Helper Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested4.7.33
Last updatedFeb 22, 2017
PHP min version
Downloads38K

Community Trust

Rating100/100
Number of ratings3
Active installs200
Developer Profile

HTML Special Characters Helper Developer Profile

Scott Reilly

63 plugins · 92K total installs

71
trust score
Avg Security Score
88/100
Avg Patch Time
374 days
View full developer profile
Detection Fingerprints

How We Detect HTML Special Characters Helper

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

Asset Fingerprints

Asset Paths
/wp-content/plugins/html-special-characters-helper/css/meta-box.css/wp-content/plugins/html-special-characters-helper/js/meta-box.js
Script Paths
/wp-content/plugins/html-special-characters-helper/js/meta-box.js
Version Parameters
html-special-characters-helper/css/meta-box.css?ver=html-special-characters-helper/js/meta-box.js?ver=

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

CSS Classes
c2c-html-special-characters-helper-metabox
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about HTML Special Characters Helper