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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1001 | WooSidebars | 40 | 43 | 37 | 100k+ | Missing Translators Comment | ||
| #1002 | WP Help | 40 | 49 | 54 | 10k+ | Unsafe printing function | ||
| #1003 | WP Tab Widget | 40 | 128 | 32 | 10k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #1004 | Yektanet Ecommerce | 40 | 45 | 103 | 1k+ | Request data is not unslashed | ||
| #1005 | Avatar Manager | 41 | 29 | 41 | 5k+ | Unsafe printing function | ||
| #1006 | Controlled Admin Access | 41 | 22 | 40 | 10k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #1007 | Inpost Paczkomaty | 41 | 35 | 68 | 8k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #1008 | Smart Post – Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider Gutenberg Blocks for Blog & News | 41 | 537 | 20k+ | Non-prefixed global variable | |||
| #1009 | Squeeze – Image Optimization & Compression, WEBP Conversion | 41 | 20 | 70 | 2k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #1010 | StifLi Flex MCP – MCP Server with undo for ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini | 41 | 2 | 111 | 1k+ | Interpolated SQL is not prepared | ||
| #1011 | 多合一搜索自动推送管理插件-支持Baidu/Google/Bing/IndexNow/Yandex/头条 | 42 | 17 | 38 | 2k+ | Input is not sanitized | ||
| #1012 | Custom Fields Account Registration For WooCommerce | 42 | 14 | 105 | 700 | Missing nonce verification | ||
| #1013 | Simple Download Counter | 42 | 58 | 46 | 2k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #1014 | Starter Sites | 42 | 62 | 25 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #1015 | AMP | 43 | 63 | 362 | 400k+ | Non-prefixed hook name | ||
| #1016 | Floating Awesome Button (Sticky Button, Popup, Toast) & 200+ Website Custom Interactive Element | 43 | 66 | 109 | 800 | Missing direct file access protection | ||
| #1017 | GD bbPress Tools | 43 | 15 | 61 | 1k+ | Input is not sanitized | ||
| #1018 | Per User Prompt for Google Authenticator | 43 | 8 | 52 | 400 | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #1019 | Linker – URL shortener & track outbound link clicks | 43 | 17 | 17 | 2k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #1020 | Ultimate Member Widgets for Elementor – Login Form, Register Form & User Directory | 43 | 15 | 102 | 400 | Non-prefixed namespace | ||
| #1021 | Post Grid | 44 | 33 | 208 | 30k+ | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #1022 | UiChemy — Figma Converter for Elementor, Gutenberg and Bricks | 44 | 7 | 85 | 9k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #1023 | WP Club Manager – WordPress Sports Club Plugin | 44 | 171 | 682 | 600 | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #1024 | Jetpack Search | 45 | 925 | 426 | 5k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #1025 | Simple Membership MailChimp Integration | 45 | 34 | 27 | 1k+ | curl curl setopt | ||
| #1026 | DX Delete Attached Media | 46 | 32 | 8 | 4k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #1027 | Easy Subscribe | 46 | 132 | 700 | Direct Query | |||
| #1028 | RY Tools for WooCommerce | 46 | 295 | 5k+ | Non-prefixed class | |||
| #1029 | The Tribal Plugin | 47 | 43 | 62 | 800 | Non-prefixed function | ||
| #1030 | CookieFox – Cookie Notice | 48 | 14 | 19 | 400 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #1031 | Tag Pilot FREE – Google Tag Manager Integration for WooCommerce | 48 | 35 | 19 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #1032 | Jetpack Social | 48 | 829 | 254 | 30k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #1033 | ThemeFarmer Companion | 48 | 54 | 51 | 2k+ | Missing Version | ||
| #1034 | WPC Smart Wishlist for WooCommerce | 48 | 44 | 38 | 100k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #1035 | ACF Quick Edit Fields | 49 | 20 | 72 | 30k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #1036 | Easy Property Listings | 49 | 60 | 66 | 5k+ | wp function not compatible with requires wp | ||
| #1037 | Import into Easy Property Listings | 49 | 335 | 24 | 1k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #1038 | Anti-Spam Protection – No API Key, GDPR Friendly | 49 | 2 | 106 | 1k+ | Direct Query | ||
| #1039 | OneClick Chat to Order | 49 | 677 | 41 | 40k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #1040 | Simple Post Expiration | 49 | 47 | 10 | 400 | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #1041 | Was This Helpful? | 49 | 19 | 28 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #1042 | Rede Itaú for WooCommerce — Payment PIX, Credit Card and Debit | 49 | 5 | 145 | 1k+ | Missing nonce verification | ||
| #1043 | Product Slider, Product Grid, Product Masonry | 49 | 55 | 144 | 10k+ | wp function not compatible with requires wp | ||
| #1044 | Block IPs for Gravity Forms | 50 | 8 | 36 | 1k+ | Request data is not unslashed | ||
| #1045 | Product Open Pricing (Name Your Price) for WooCommerce | 50 | 105 | 37 | 6k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #1046 | Send Emails with Mandrill | 50 | 36 | 141 | 6k+ | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #1047 | Simple User Listing | 50 | 27 | 56 | 900 | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #1048 | Interactive Globes – 3D World Maps | 51 | 24 | 104 | 400 | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #1049 | Quotes and Tips by BestWebSoft | 51 | 485 | 190 | 1k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #1050 | Tourfic Toolkit | 51 | 44 | 27 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped |
