Simple SEO
Slug: cds-simple-seo · David Cole · 10,000+
Overall Score
Excellent quality and security
92
Excellent
What this score means
Scores are calculated on a 100-point scale by analysing six weighted categories: Security, WP.org Readiness, Performance, Code Quality, Accessibility, and Vulnerabilities. Open vulnerabilities are weighted by severity, CVSS, and patch availability, and incomplete source data can reduce confidence slightly.
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Excellent The plugin follows best practices across every measured category. It is well-maintained, low-risk, and recommended for production use.
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Good Strong overall quality with minor areas for improvement. Generally safe to use on most sites.
-
Needs Review Some areas of concern detected. Review the full issues report and weigh the risks before installing on production.
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High Risk Significant quality or security problems found. Exercise caution — check the details carefully before using this plugin.
Score computed: May 24, 2026 12:09 am (1 month ago). Vulnerability data mode: Live.
High confidence (100/100) based on metadata completeness and vulnerability evidence quality.
Open vulnerabilities are weighted by severity, CVSS, and patch availability, then adjusted slightly when the source data is incomplete.
High confidence (100/100) based on metadata completeness and vulnerability evidence quality.
Open vulnerabilities are weighted by severity, CVSS, and patch availability, then adjusted slightly when the source data is incomplete.
- Wordfence: June 28, 2026 6:47 pm (26 minutes ago)
AI-Generated Summary
Simple SEO currently scores 92/100 (excellent). Latest scan findings include 0 errors and 7 warnings.
Strengths
- Overall score is in a strong range for production use.
- No open vulnerabilities are currently recorded in tracked sources.
Recommended Next Actions
- Address warning-level findings to improve maintainability and reduce future risk.
Generated from latest scan and metadata signals. Validate in staging before production changes.
Score Breakdown
Security
76
Needs Review
Why this score?
Top deductions are based on 1 affected rules, reducing this category by 24 total points.
| Rule | Hits | Impact | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security issue: Warning | 6 | -24 | 100% |
WP.org Readiness
96
Excellent
Why this score?
Top deductions are based on 1 affected rules, reducing this category by 4 total points.
| Rule | Hits | Impact | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repo issue: Notice | 4 | -4 | 100% |
Performance
100
Excellent
Why this score?
Top deductions are based on 0 affected rules, reducing this category by 0 total points.
No deductions were applied for this category in the latest score run.
Code Quality
100
Excellent
Why this score?
Top deductions are based on 0 affected rules, reducing this category by 0 total points.
No deductions were applied for this category in the latest score run.
Accessibility
98
Excellent
Why this score?
Top deductions are based on 1 affected rules, reducing this category by 2 total points.
| Rule | Hits | Impact | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessibility issue: Warning | 1 | -2 | 100% |
Vulnerability Status
100
Excellent
Why this score?
Top deductions are based on 0 affected rules, reducing this category by 0 total points.
No deductions were applied for this category in the latest score run.
Plugin Details
- Version: 2.0.33
- Active Installs: 10,000+
- Last Updated: 2026-05-19 14:55:00
- Tested up to: 7.0
- Requires PHP: 7.4
- Rating: 4.7/5 (33 ratings)
- View on WordPress.org
- Download Plugin
Scan Summary
- Errors: 0
- Warnings: 7
- Notices: 4
- Last Scanned: 2026-05-23 23:09:39
- Score confidence: 100/100
Scans are performed automatically once per day, and the report will note when source data is stale or incomplete.
What Changed Since Last Scan
Run at least two completed scans to view issue deltas.
Detected Issues
| Severity | Category | Message | File | Fix Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOTICE | REPO | Plugin has no header banner on WordPress.org. |
Quick
Upload the required WordPress.org banner image sizes in SVN assets.
Moderate
Create responsive-safe banner designs with legible copy and branding.
Advanced
Integrate listing asset checks in the release pipeline with design QA approvals.
|
|
| WARNING | SECURITY | Declared minimum WordPress 4.6.2 is very outdated and lacks modern security APIs. |
Quick
Raise minimum WordPress version to a modern supported release.
Moderate
Replace deprecated APIs and confirm compatibility across current WordPress branches.
Advanced
Run multi-version WordPress integration tests in CI and block unsupported API usage.
|
|
| NOTICE | REPO | Main plugin file does not declare a Domain Path header. | cds-simple-seo.php |
Quick
Add a Domain Path header if language files are stored in a languages directory.
Moderate
Apply the same remediation pattern across repo findings and re-scan to confirm notice issues drop.
Advanced
Add automated linting, CI checks, and team review guidance so this issue class is prevented in future releases.
|
| NOTICE | REPO | Plugin package does not include a license file. |
Quick
Add a LICENSE or COPYING file so distribution terms are explicit.
Moderate
Apply the same remediation pattern across repo findings and re-scan to confirm notice issues drop.
Advanced
Add automated linting, CI checks, and team review guidance so this issue class is prevented in future releases.
|
|
| WARNING | SECURITY | Direct database query detected without an immediately visible $wpdb->prepare() wrapper. | app/init/Sitemap.php |
Quick
Wrap dynamic SQL arguments with $wpdb->prepare() in the flagged query.
Moderate
Refactor repeated SQL into repository/helper methods that enforce prepared statements by default.
Advanced
Add integration tests and static checks that fail builds when direct dynamic SQL is introduced.
|
| WARNING | SECURITY | Raw superglobal access detected. | app/Helpers/Import.php |
Quick
Wrap direct request values with sanitization and nonce verification in the affected code path.
Moderate
Centralize request normalization in helper methods so handlers consume validated input only.
Advanced
Adopt typed request DTOs and automated security lint checks for unsanitized superglobal access.
|
| WARNING | SECURITY | Direct database query detected without an immediately visible $wpdb->prepare() wrapper. | app/Helpers/Import.php |
Quick
Wrap dynamic SQL arguments with $wpdb->prepare() in the flagged query.
Moderate
Refactor repeated SQL into repository/helper methods that enforce prepared statements by default.
Advanced
Add integration tests and static checks that fail builds when direct dynamic SQL is introduced.
|
| WARNING | SECURITY | Raw superglobal access detected. | app/Admin/Admin.php |
Quick
Wrap direct request values with sanitization and nonce verification in the affected code path.
Moderate
Centralize request normalization in helper methods so handlers consume validated input only.
Advanced
Adopt typed request DTOs and automated security lint checks for unsanitized superglobal access.
|
| WARNING | SECURITY | Raw superglobal access detected. | app/Admin/Save.php |
Quick
Wrap direct request values with sanitization and nonce verification in the affected code path.
Moderate
Centralize request normalization in helper methods so handlers consume validated input only.
Advanced
Adopt typed request DTOs and automated security lint checks for unsanitized superglobal access.
|
| WARNING | ACCESSIBILITY | Image markup without an alt attribute detected. | app/Admin/Meta/Post.php |
Quick
Add alt attributes to the flagged image tags, or alt="" for decorative images.
Moderate
Audit all templates/components for missing alternative text and update content guidelines.
Advanced
Integrate accessibility testing in CI (axe/pa11y) and block releases with critical a11y violations.
|
| NOTICE | REPO | Translation functions are present, but no textdomain loader was detected. |
Quick
Call load_plugin_textdomain() during plugin bootstrap so translations can be loaded.
Moderate
Apply the same remediation pattern across repo findings and re-scan to confirm notice issues drop.
Advanced
Add automated linting, CI checks, and team review guidance so this issue class is prevented in future releases.
|
Score History
No history available yet. · All-Time High: N/A
All Past Vulnerabilities
Showing all known historical vulnerabilities for this plugin, including open and closed records.
| Vulnerability | CVE | Severity | Status | Affected Versions | Patched Version | Updated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple SEO <= 1.8.12 - Cross-Site Request Forgery | N/A | LOW | Closed | *-1.8.12 | 1.8.13 | 2022-10-20 00:00:00 | Wordfence |
| Simple SEO <= 2.0.31 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting | N/A | LOW | Closed | *-2.0.31 | 2.0.32 | 2025-09-23 00:00:00 | Wordfence |
| Simple SEO <= 1.7.91 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting | N/A | LOW | Closed | *-1.7.91 | 1.7.92 | 2022-07-12 00:00:00 | Wordfence |
| Simple SEO <= 1.8.12 - Cross-Site Request Forgery to Sitemap Deletion/Creation | N/A | LOW | Closed | *-1.8.12 | 1.8.13 | 2022-10-20 00:00:00 | Wordfence |
| Simple SEO <= 1.7.91 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting | N/A | LOW | Closed | *-1.7.91 | 1.7.92 | 2022-07-29 00:00:00 | Wordfence |
| Simple SEO <= 2.0.25 - Cross-Site Request Forgery via multiple admin_post functions | N/A | LOW | Closed | *-2.0.25 | 2.0.26 | 2023-10-06 00:00:00 | Wordfence |