WordPress.DB.RestrictedFunctions.mysql_mysqli_set_charset
mysql mysqli set charset
The plugin uses a raw MySQL extension or class instead of WordPress database APIs.
Why It Shows Up
The scan found `mysql_*`, `mysqli_*`, PDO MySQL, or related database functions in plugin code.
Why It Matters
Bypassing `$wpdb` can ignore WordPress database configuration, escaping conventions, character sets, and compatibility layers.
How to Fix
- Replace raw MySQL calls with `$wpdb` methods or higher-level WordPress APIs.
- Use `$wpdb->prepare()` for dynamic values.
- If a third-party library requires a database connection, isolate it and document why WordPress APIs cannot be used.
References
Affected Plugins
| Rank | Plugin | Score | Errors | Warnings | Installs | Updated | Top Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Matomo Analytics – Powerful, Privacy-First Insights for WordPress | 19 | 1,909 | 878 | 100k+ | Exception Not Escaped | |
| #2 | Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More | 21 | 2,572 | 1,277 | 1m+ | Output Not Escaped | |
| #3 | File Manager | 22 | 740 | 520 | 1m+ | Unsafe Printing Function | |
| #4 | Softaculous | 23 | 116 | 49 | 10k+ | file system operations fread | |
| #5 | TranslatePress – Translate Multilingual sites with AI Translation | 25 | 452 | 1,541 | 400k+ | Non Prefixed Hookname Found |
