Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/starfish-reviews

The best WordPress plugin for generating 5-star customer reviews on Google, Facebook, Tripadvisor, and many more platforms.

200 active installs v3.1.20 PHP 7.4+ WP 5.0+ Updated Feb 23, 2026
5-star-reviewsreputation-managementreview-generationreview-marketingreviews
68
C · Use Caution
CVEs total3
Unpatched1
Last CVEFeb 13, 2026
Safety Verdict

Is Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress Safe to Use in 2026?

Use With Caution

Score 68/100

Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress has 1 unpatched vulnerability. Evaluate alternatives or apply available mitigations.

3 known CVEs 1 unpatched Last CVE: Feb 13, 2026Updated 1mo ago
Risk Assessment

The "starfish-reviews" plugin v3.1.20 presents a mixed security posture. While it demonstrates some good practices, such as a moderate use of prepared statements for SQL queries and a good number of nonce and capability checks, significant concerns remain. The static analysis reveals a considerable attack surface with 18 AJAX handlers, a concerning 7 of which lack proper authorization checks. This directly exposes the plugin to potential unauthorized actions.

Taint analysis indicates a flow with unsanitized paths, which, although not currently classified as critical or high severity, highlights a potential for vulnerabilities if exploited in conjunction with other issues. The plugin's vulnerability history is a major red flag, with 3 known high-severity CVEs, 2 of which are currently unpatched. The consistent pattern of "Missing Authorization" in past vulnerabilities strongly suggests a recurring weakness in the plugin's access control mechanisms.

Overall, the presence of unpatched high-severity vulnerabilities and a substantial number of unprotected AJAX endpoints outweigh the positive aspects of the code. This plugin requires immediate attention to address the outstanding security flaws. The risk is elevated due to the documented history of significant vulnerabilities.

Key Concerns

  • Unpatched High Severity CVEs
  • AJAX handlers without authentication
  • Taint flow with unsanitized paths
  • Low percentage of properly escaped output
  • Bundled outdated library (Freemius v1.0)
Vulnerabilities
3

Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress Security Vulnerabilities

CVEs by Year

1 CVE in 2019
2019
1 CVE in 2025
2025
1 CVE in 2026 · unpatched
2026
Patched Has unpatched

Severity Breakdown

High
3

3 total CVEs

CVE-2025-15157high · 8.8Missing Authorization

Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress <= 3.1.19 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary Options Update via srm_restore_options_defaults

Feb 13, 2026Unpatched
CVE-2025-39533high · 8.8Missing Authorization

Starfish Review Generation & Marketing <= 3.1.19 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Arbitrary Options Update

Apr 16, 2025 Patched in 3.1.20 (336d)

Freemius SDK <= 2.2.3 - Missing Authorization to Arbitrary Options Update

Feb 25, 2019 Patched in 2.0.1 (1793d)
Code Analysis
Analyzed Mar 16, 2026

Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress Code Analysis

Dangerous Functions
0
Raw SQL Queries
7
8 prepared
Unescaped Output
208
200 escaped
Nonce Checks
13
Capability Checks
7
File Operations
11
External Requests
2
Bundled Libraries
1

Bundled Libraries

Freemius1.0

SQL Query Safety

53% prepared15 total queries

Output Escaping

49% escaped408 total outputs
Data Flows
1 unsanitized

Data Flow Analysis

1 flows1 with unsanitized paths
<starfish-admin-notices.action> (init\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:0)
Source (user input) Sink (dangerous op) Sanitizer Transform Unsanitized Sanitized
Attack Surface
7 unprotected

Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress Attack Surface

Entry Points19
Unprotected7

AJAX Handlers 18

authwp_ajax_starfish-execute-richreviews-migrationsinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks-richreviews-migrate.action.php:104
authwp_ajax_srm-testimonial-hideinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks-testimonial.action.php:63
authwp_ajax_srm-testimonial-submitinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks-testimonial.action.php:95
noprivwp_ajax_srm-testimonial-submitinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks-testimonial.action.php:96
authwp_ajax_starfish-execute-migrationsinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks.action.php:36
authwp_ajax_starfish-execute-restore-default-optionsinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks.action.php:78
authwp_ajax_srm-export-feedbackinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks.action.php:141
authwp_ajax_srm-delete-feedback-exportinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks.action.php:160
authwp_ajax_srm-settings-logs-purgeinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks.action.php:184
authwp_ajax_srm-settings-logs-refreshinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks.action.php:218
authwp_ajax_starfish-execute-plan-limit-refreshinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks.action.php:256
authwp_ajax_starfish-get-transientinit\actions\ajax\starfish-ajax-callbacks.action.php:283
authwp_ajax_srm-create-feedbackinit\actions\starfish-feedback-process.action.php:53
noprivwp_ajax_srm-create-feedbackinit\actions\starfish-feedback-process.action.php:54
authwp_ajax_srm-update-feedbackinit\actions\starfish-feedback-process.action.php:109
noprivwp_ajax_srm-update-feedbackinit\actions\starfish-feedback-process.action.php:110
authwp_ajax_starfish_upload_imagesinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:21
noprivwp_ajax_starfish_upload_imagesinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:22

Shortcodes 1

[starfish] init\shortcodes\starfish-main.shortcode.php:49
WordPress Hooks 85
actionrest_api_initinit\actions\api\starfish-api-meta.action.php:3
actionadmin_bar_menuinit\actions\menu\starfish-admin-menu-bar.action.php:5
actionadmin_menuinit\actions\menu\starfish-admin-menu-parent.action.php:3
actionadmin_menuinit\actions\menu\starfish-admin-menu-settings.action.php:5
actionupdate_optioninit\actions\options\starfish-admin-options.action.php:8
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:169
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:203
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:230
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:256
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:297
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:361
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:421
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:476
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-admin-notices.action.php:500
actionwp_enqueue_scriptsinit\actions\starfish-enqueue-scripts.action.php:40
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptsinit\actions\starfish-enqueue-scripts.action.php:41
actionadmin_enqueue_scriptsinit\actions\starfish-enqueue-scripts.action.php:140
filterwp_mail_content_typeinit\actions\starfish-feedback-process.action.php:214
actioninitinit\actions\starfish-feedback.action.php:7
actionmanage_starfish_feedback_posts_columnsinit\actions\starfish-feedback.action.php:88
actionmanage_edit-starfish_feedback_columnsinit\actions\starfish-feedback.action.php:109
actionmanage_starfish_feedback_posts_custom_columninit\actions\starfish-feedback.action.php:180
filtermanage_edit-starfish_feedback_sortable_columnsinit\actions\starfish-feedback.action.php:202
actionpre_get_postsinit\actions\starfish-feedback.action.php:203
filterpre_get_postsinit\actions\starfish-feedback.action.php:278
actionrestrict_manage_postsinit\actions\starfish-feedback.action.php:312
actionadmin_head-edit.phpinit\actions\starfish-feedback.action.php:348
actionadmin_footerinit\actions\starfish-footer.action.php:7
actioninitinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:13
actionadd_meta_boxes_funnelinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:14
actionsave_post_funnelinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:15
actionsave_post_funnelinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:16
actionsave_post_funnelinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:17
actionadmin_noticesinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:18
actionsave_post_funnelinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:19
actionsave_post_funnelinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:20
filterredirect_post_locationinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:842
filterredirect_post_locationinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:850
filterredirect_post_locationinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:860
filterredirect_post_locationinit\actions\starfish-funnels.action.php:868
actionadmin_initinit\actions\starfish-pluginloaded.action.php:13
actionplugins_loadedinit\actions\starfish-pluginloaded.action.php:29
actionwp_loadedinit\actions\starfish-pluginloaded.action.php:75
filtersingle_templateinit\actions\starfish-templates.action.php:40
actioninitinit\actions\starfish-testimonials.action.php:14
actionadd_meta_boxes_starfish_testimonialinit\actions\starfish-testimonials.action.php:15
actionsave_post_starfish_testimonialinit\actions\starfish-testimonials.action.php:16
actionadmin_footer-post.phpinit\actions\starfish-testimonials.action.php:192
actionadmin_footer-post-new.phpinit\actions\starfish-testimonials.action.php:193
actionadmin_footer-edit.phpinit\actions\starfish-testimonials.action.php:244
filtermanage_edit-funnel_columnsinit\filters\starfish-admin-funnel-columns.filter.php:3
actionmanage_posts_custom_columninit\filters\starfish-admin-funnel-columns.filter.php:9
filtermanage_edit-starfish_testimonial_columnsinit\filters\starfish-admin-testimonial-columns.filter.php:5
actionmanage_starfish_testimonial_posts_custom_columninit\filters\starfish-admin-testimonial-columns.filter.php:17
filtermanage_edit-starfish_testimonial_sortable_columnsinit\filters\starfish-admin-testimonial-columns.filter.php:59
filtermanage_starfish_testimonial_posts_columnsinit\filters\starfish-admin-testimonial-columns.filter.php:68
filterrest_starfish_feedback_queryinit\filters\starfish-api.filter.php:6
filterparse_queryinit\filters\starfish-feedback-admin.filter.php:30
filterviews_edit-starfish_testimonialinit\filters\starfish-testimonials.filter.php:3
filterpost_date_column_statusinit\filters\starfish-testimonials.filter.php:17
filterwp_insert_post_datainit\filters\starfish-testimonials.filter.php:28
filterwp_untrash_post_statusinit\filters\starfish-testimonials.filter.php:38
filterbulk_actions-edit-starfish_testimonialinit\filters\starfish-testimonials.filter.php:45
filterhandle_bulk_actions-edit-starfish_testimonialinit\filters\starfish-testimonials.filter.php:51
filtercron_schedulessrc\Cron.class.php:38
filterplugin_iconsrc\Freemius.class.php:121
filterlicense_keysrc\Freemius.class.php:122
filterlicense_key_maxlengthsrc\Freemius.class.php:123
filterhide_license_keysrc\Freemius.class.php:124
filterconnect_urlsrc\Freemius.class.php:125
filterafter_skip_urlsrc\Freemius.class.php:126
filterafter_connect_urlsrc\Freemius.class.php:127
filterafter_pending_connect_urlsrc\Freemius.class.php:128
filterupload_and_install_video_urlsrc\Freemius.class.php:129
filterhide_freemius_powered_bysrc\Freemius.class.php:130
filterhide_billing_and_payments_infosrc\Freemius.class.php:131
filterfreemius_pricing_js_pathsrc\Freemius.class.php:132
actionafter_premium_version_activationsrc\Freemius.class.php:133
actionafter_free_version_reactivationsrc\Freemius.class.php:134
actionafter_license_changesrc\Freemius.class.php:135
actionadmin_initsrc\Settings.class.php:85
actionadmin_initsrc\Settings.class.php:87
actionshutdownsrc\Settings.class.php:89
actioninitsrc\StarfishReviews.class.php:30
filterwp_mail_content_typesrc\Testimonials.class.php:595
Maintenance & Trust

Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested6.9.4
Last updatedFeb 23, 2026
PHP min version7.4
Downloads29K

Community Trust

Rating92/100
Number of ratings25
Active installs200
Developer Profile

Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress Developer Profile

Starfish Reviews

1 plugin · 200 total installs

57
trust score
Avg Security Score
68/100
Avg Patch Time
1065 days
View full developer profile
Detection Fingerprints

How We Detect Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress

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

Asset Fingerprints

Asset Paths
/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/css/starfish-main.css/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/js/starfish-main.js/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/css/starfish-admin-main.css/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-main.js/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/css/starfish-settings.css/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-freemius-account.js/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/css/starfish-funnel-admin.css/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-funnel.js+1 more
Script Paths
/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/js/starfish-main.js/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-main.js/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-freemius-account.js/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-funnel.js/wp-content/plugins/starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-funnel-multidestinations.js
Version Parameters
starfish-reviews/css/starfish-main.css?ver=starfish-reviews/js/starfish-main.js?ver=starfish-reviews/css/starfish-admin-main.css?ver=starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-main.js?ver=starfish-reviews/css/starfish-settings.css?ver=starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-freemius-account.js?ver=starfish-reviews/css/starfish-funnel-admin.css?ver=starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-funnel.js?ver=starfish-reviews/js/starfish-admin-funnel-multidestinations.js?ver=

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

CSS Classes
srm-noticesrm-notice-iconsrm-notice-contentsrm-mainsrm-admin-mainsrm-settingssrm-togglesrm-confirm+2 more
JS Globals
fa_datafunnel_varssettings
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Starfish Review Generation & Marketing for WordPress