WP Categories and Posts Security & Risk Analysis

wordpress.org/plugins/wp-categories-and-posts

This plugin adds in a template tag you can use to display categories and sub categories and the posts underneath those categories.

20 active installs v1.0.2 PHP + WP 3.0+ Updated Unknown
linkspagepagespostposts
100
A · Safe
CVEs total0
Unpatched0
Last CVENever
Safety Verdict

Is WP Categories and Posts Safe to Use in 2026?

Generally Safe

Score 100/100

WP Categories and Posts has no known CVEs and is actively maintained. It's a solid choice for most WordPress installations.

No known CVEs
Risk Assessment

The "wp-categories-and-posts" plugin v1.0.2 exhibits a generally strong security posture based on the provided static analysis. The absence of any identified AJAX handlers, REST API routes, shortcodes, or cron events significantly limits its attack surface. Furthermore, the code signals indicate a complete lack of dangerous functions and all SQL queries are properly prepared, which are excellent security practices. The plugin also avoids file operations and external HTTP requests, further reducing potential vulnerabilities.

However, there are areas for concern. The static analysis reveals that only 50% of the output is properly escaped, meaning there's a potential for cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities if user-supplied data is displayed without sufficient sanitization. The lack of nonce checks and capability checks on any identified entry points, while currently theoretical given the zero entry points, represents a significant risk if the plugin were to be expanded without implementing these essential security measures. The fact that there's no vulnerability history is positive, suggesting a stable development process for this version, but it doesn't negate the identified coding concerns.

In conclusion, the plugin is currently well-secured due to its limited functionality and adherence to secure coding practices for SQL. Nevertheless, the unescaped output is a concrete risk that needs immediate attention. Developers should prioritize implementing proper output escaping for all dynamic content and consider adding nonce and capability checks if the plugin's functionality is ever extended to include any form of user interaction or administrative actions.

Key Concerns

  • Half of outputs are not properly escaped
  • No nonce checks on any entry points
  • No capability checks on any entry points
Vulnerabilities
None known

WP Categories and Posts Security Vulnerabilities

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

WP Categories and Posts Code Analysis

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

Output Escaping

50% escaped2 total outputs
Attack Surface

WP Categories and Posts Attack Surface

Entry Points0
Unprotected0
Maintenance & Trust

WP Categories and Posts Maintenance & Trust

Maintenance Signals

WordPress version tested4.1.42
Last updatedUnknown
PHP min version
Downloads8K

Community Trust

Rating0/100
Number of ratings0
Active installs20
Developer Profile

WP Categories and Posts Developer Profile

Phil McDonnell

2 plugins · 120 total installs

89
trust score
Avg Security Score
93/100
Avg Patch Time
30 days
View full developer profile
Detection Fingerprints

How We Detect WP Categories and Posts

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

Asset Fingerprints

Asset Paths
/wp-content/plugins/wp-categories-and-posts/sitemap.php

HTML / DOM Fingerprints

CSS Classes
sitemap-listchildren
HTML Comments
<!-- START EXAMPLE OF SITEMAP USAGE --><!-- END EXAMPLE OF SITEMAP USAGE -->
Shortcode Output
<h3>Categories and Posts</h3><div class="sitemap-list">
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about WP Categories and Posts