
Phoenix Media Rename Security & Risk Analysis
wordpress.org/plugins/phoenix-media-renameThe Phoenix Media Rename plugin allows you to easily rename (and retitle) your media files, once uploaded.
Is Phoenix Media Rename Safe to Use in 2026?
Generally Safe
Score 100/100Phoenix Media Rename has a strong security track record. Known vulnerabilities have been patched promptly. It's a solid choice for most WordPress installations.
The phoenix-media-rename plugin v3.13.1 exhibits a mixed security posture with several concerning findings. While it demonstrates some good practices such as a low number of entry points and the use of prepared statements for the majority of SQL queries, the presence of a single unprotected AJAX handler presents a significant risk. This unprotected entry point, combined with the use of the `unserialize` function and a flow with an unsanitized path, creates a potential avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary code or manipulate plugin functionality without proper authentication.
The plugin's vulnerability history shows one known medium-severity CVE related to improper access control. While currently patched, this history suggests a pattern of potential weaknesses in how access is managed. The overall low percentage of properly escaped output is also a concern, as it could lead to cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, while the plugin has strengths in its limited attack surface and SQL query practices, the unprotected AJAX handler, the use of `unserialize`, and the historical access control issues warrant caution. Further investigation into the specific implementation of the AJAX handler and the use of `unserialize` is recommended to fully assess the risk.
Key Concerns
- Unprotected AJAX handler
- Use of dangerous function: unserialize
- Flow with unsanitized path
- Low percentage of properly escaped output
- One known medium CVE (improper access control)
Phoenix Media Rename Security Vulnerabilities
CVEs by Year
Severity Breakdown
1 total CVE
Phoenix Media Rename <= 3.4.2 - Author Arbitrary Media File Renaming
Phoenix Media Rename Release Timeline
Phoenix Media Rename Code Analysis
Dangerous Functions Found
SQL Query Safety
Output Escaping
Data Flow Analysis
Phoenix Media Rename Attack Surface
AJAX Handlers 1
WordPress Hooks 17
Maintenance & Trust
Phoenix Media Rename Maintenance & Trust
Maintenance Signals
Community Trust
Phoenix Media Rename Alternatives
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Media File Renamer: Rename for better SEO (AI-Powered)
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Rename filenames and media metadata for SEO and tidiness. Using AI, manually, in bulk, or in so many other ways!
Clean Image Filenames
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This plugin automatically converts language accent characters to non-accent characters in filenames when uploading to the media library.
Phoenix Media Rename Developer Profile
1 plugin · 50K total installs
How We Detect Phoenix Media Rename
Patterns used to identify this plugin on WordPress sites during automated security audits and web crawling.
Asset Fingerprints
/wp-content/plugins/phoenix-media-rename/css/phoenix-media-rename.css/wp-content/plugins/phoenix-media-rename/js/phoenix-media-rename.js/wp-content/plugins/phoenix-media-rename/js/phoenix-media-rename-options.js/wp-content/plugins/phoenix-media-rename/js/phoenix-media-rename-edit.js/wp-content/plugins/phoenix-media-rename/js/phoenix-media-rename.js/wp-content/plugins/phoenix-media-rename/js/phoenix-media-rename-options.js/wp-content/plugins/phoenix-media-rename/js/phoenix-media-rename-edit.jsphoenix-media-rename/css/phoenix-media-rename.css?ver=phoenix-media-rename/js/phoenix-media-rename.js?ver=phoenix-media-rename/js/phoenix-media-rename-options.js?ver=phoenix-media-rename/js/phoenix-media-rename-edit.js?ver=HTML / DOM Fingerprints
phoenix-media-rename-columndata-titledata-fielddata-actiondata-typephoenix_media_rename_params