Smart Syntax Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/smart-syntax

Automatic google prettify syntax highlighting for jetpack markdown fenced code blocks

10 active installs v1.0.2 PHP + WP 3.8+ Updated Sep 27, 2016
code-blocksgoogle-prettifyjetpack-markdownmarkdownsyntax-highlighter
85
A · Safe
CVEs total0
Unpatched0
Last CVENever
Safety Verdict

Is Smart Syntax Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 85/100

Smart Syntax 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

The 'smart-syntax' plugin v1.0.2 exhibits a generally strong security posture based on the provided static analysis. The absence of any recorded vulnerabilities in its history, coupled with the complete lack of detected SQL injection vulnerabilities and the use of prepared statements for all queries, is a significant strength. Furthermore, the plugin demonstrates good practices by employing nonce checks and having no external HTTP requests, which limits potential attack vectors. However, the presence of the `unserialize` function is a notable concern. While the static analysis didn't flag any specific taint flows stemming from it, `unserialize` is inherently risky if not handled with extreme caution, as it can lead to Remote Code Execution (RCE) if processing untrusted input. The relatively low percentage of properly escaped output also presents a minor risk of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities, although the attack surface appears to be minimal. The lack of capability checks on any identified entry points is also a weakness, though this is mitigated by the reported zero entry points. Overall, the plugin appears to be developed with security in mind, but the `unserialize` function warrants careful review and monitoring.

Key Concerns

  • Presence of unserialize function
  • Low output escaping percentage
  • Missing capability checks on entry points
Vulnerabilities
None known

Smart Syntax Security Vulnerabilities

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

Smart Syntax Code Analysis

Dangerous Functions
1
Raw SQL Queries
0
0 prepared
Unescaped Output
3
2 escaped
Nonce Checks
1
Capability Checks
0
File Operations
0
External Requests
0
Bundled Libraries
0

Dangerous Functions Found

unserialize$sorted[$lang] = unserialize($ser);includes\functions.php:63

Output Escaping

40% escaped5 total outputs
Data Flows
All sanitized

Data Flow Analysis

2 flows
smart_syntax_settings_page (includes\admin-menu.php:10)
Source (user input) Sink (dangerous op) Sanitizer Transform Unsanitized Sanitized
Attack Surface

Smart Syntax Attack Surface

Entry Points0
Unprotected0
WordPress Hooks 5
actioninitsmart_syntax.php:69
actionadmin_menusmart_syntax.php:70
actionwp_enqueue_scriptssmart_syntax.php:71
filterthe_contentsmart_syntax.php:75
filtercomment_textsmart_syntax.php:76
Maintenance & Trust

Smart Syntax Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested4.6.30
Last updatedSep 27, 2016
PHP min version
Downloads5K

Community Trust

Rating100/100
Number of ratings3
Active installs10
Developer Profile

Smart Syntax Developer Profile

Smartpixels

1 plugin · 10 total installs

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

How We Detect Smart Syntax

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

Asset Fingerprints

Asset Paths
/wp-content/plugins/smart-syntax/assets/css/smart_syntax.css/wp-content/plugins/smart-syntax/assets/css/prettify.css
Script Paths
/wp-content/plugins/smart-syntax/assets/js/src/run_prettify.js
Version Parameters
smart-syntax/style.css?ver=smart-syntax/script.js?ver=

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

CSS Classes
prettyprint
Data Attributes
lang-
JS Globals
prettyPrint()
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Smart Syntax