WordPress.DB.SlowDBQuery.slow_db_query_meta_key
slow db query meta key
A query pattern is likely to be slow on larger WordPress sites.
Why It Shows Up
The scan found query arguments such as broad meta queries, tax queries, or unindexed lookups that commonly become expensive as content grows.
Why It Matters
A query that feels fine on a small test site can become a production bottleneck on large stores, membership sites, or publishers.
How to Fix
- Avoid broad `meta_query`, `tax_query`, and unindexed searches on front-end requests when possible.
- Cache expensive results with transients, object cache, or precomputed data.
- Add narrower constraints, pagination, and indexes when custom tables are appropriate.
References
Affected Plugins
| Rank | Plugin | Score | Errors | Warnings | Installs | Added | Updated | Top Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #951 | PDF Catalog for WooCommerce | 38 | 30 | 46 | 1k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #952 | Popular Posts by Webline | 38 | 256 | 8 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #953 | Popular Widget | 38 | 61 | 30 | 700 | Unsafe printing function | ||
| #954 | Like This | 38 | 60 | 17 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #955 | LinkBoss – Semantic AI Internal Linking | 38 | 28 | 57 | 2k+ | Missing Arg Domain | ||
| #956 | Templatiq | 38 | 31 | 94 | 900 | Non-prefixed hook name | ||
| #957 | WholesaleX – B2B & Wholesale Plugin for WooCommerce with Wholesale Prices | 38 | 40 | 180 | 2k+ | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #958 | ACF Recent Posts Widget | 39 | 260 | 16 | 500 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #959 | Advanced Woo Labels – Product Labels & Badges for WooCommerce | 39 | 172 | 122 | 10k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #960 | Archive Control | 39 | 151 | 67 | 1k+ | Unsafe printing function | ||
| #961 | Blogger Importer Extended | 39 | 55 | 45 | 4k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #962 | Bogo | 39 | 30 | 139 | 10k+ | Request data is not unslashed | ||
| #963 | Cryptocurrency Widgets Pack | 39 | 246 | 48 | 700 | Unsafe printing function | ||
| #964 | Duplicate Killer – Prevent Duplicate Form Submissions | 39 | 57 | 103 | 1k+ | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #965 | Email Marketing by EmailOctopus | 39 | 43 | 62 | 3k+ | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #966 | Events Manager – Zoom Integration | 39 | 141 | 43 | 700 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #967 | First Order Discount Woocommerce | 39 | 55 | 30 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #968 | hpb seo plugin for WordPress | 39 | 15 | 87 | 2k+ | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #969 | Magazine Blocks – Blog Designer, Magazine & Newspaper Website Builder, Page Builder with Posts Blocks, Post Grid | 39 | 65 | 72 | 6k+ | block api version too low | ||
| #970 | Page List Widget | 39 | 150 | 6 | 400 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #971 | Product Size Chart for Woocommerce | 39 | 20 | 169 | 600 | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #972 | Re Gallery – Responsive Image & Photo Gallery | 39 | 16 | 121 | 700 | Missing nonce verification | ||
| #973 | Reorder by Term | 39 | 20 | 84 | 1k+ | Request data is not unslashed | ||
| #974 | RioVizual — Table Blocks for Comparison, Pricing and Pros & Cons | 39 | 32 | 81 | 1k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #975 | Scripts n Styles | 39 | 150 | 92 | 30k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #976 | Shared Files – File Upload & Download Manager | 39 | 5 | 184 | 4k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #977 | Visual Portfolio, Photo Gallery & Post Grid | 39 | 34 | 189 | 60k+ | Non-prefixed hook name | ||
| #978 | WP Attachments | 39 | 49 | 44 | 3k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #979 | WPEPP – Essential Security, Password Protect & Login Page Customizer | 39 | 34 | 29 | 3k+ | Unsupported Identifier Placeholder | ||
| #980 | WP Sitemap Control | 39 | 31 | 37 | 400 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #981 | WPC Composite Products for WooCommerce | 39 | 25 | 107 | 9k+ | Missing nonce verification | ||
| #982 | Atomic Edge Security – Firewall, Malware Scan and Login Security | 40 | 12 | 184 | 600 | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #983 | Autocomplete Google Address | 40 | 22 | 67 | 2k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #984 | AxiaChat AI – Free AI Chatbot (Answers Customers Automatically) | 40 | 2 | 135 | 2k+ | Interpolated SQL is not prepared | ||
| #985 | bbPress WP Tweaks | 40 | 147 | 18 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #986 | Bulk Add Terms | 40 | 74 | 27 | 800 | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #987 | Flamingo | 40 | 15 | 228 | 800k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #988 | GetPaid > Item Inventory | 40 | 112 | 52 | 400 | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #989 | Invite Anyone | 40 | 32 | 130 | 1k+ | Non-prefixed hook name | ||
| #990 | Listdomer Core | 40 | 45 | 92 | 500 | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #991 | Logbook | 40 | 33 | 59 | 2k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #992 | PE Recent Posts | 40 | 292 | 11 | 2k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #993 | Permalink Editor | 40 | 50 | 28 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #994 | Manual Related Posts | 40 | 51 | 32 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #995 | Secondary Title | 40 | 117 | 31 | 7k+ | Unsafe printing function | ||
| #996 | StifLi Flex MCP – MCP Server with undo for ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini | 40 | 7 | 111 | 1k+ | Interpolated SQL is not prepared | ||
| #997 | Timeline History | 40 | 31 | 17 | 500 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #998 | Track Geolocation Of Users Using Contact Form 7 | 40 | 17 | 173 | 900 | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #999 | Ultimate Dashboard – Custom WordPress Dashboard | 40 | 17 | 144 | 60k+ | Input is not sanitized | ||
| #1000 | Upcoming Events Lists | 40 | 75 | 17 | 900 | Text Domain Mismatch |
