PluginScore

WordPress.DB.SlowDBQuery.slow_db_query_meta_query

slow db query meta query

A query pattern is likely to be slow on larger WordPress sites.

medium weight

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

WordPress database access

Affected Plugins

RankPluginScoreErrorsWarningsInstallsAddedUpdatedTop Issue
#1Live Shopping & Shoppable Videos For WooCommerce079174400Non-prefixed global variable
#2Themify Builder95,3342,1715k+Text Domain Mismatch
#3MDTF – Meta Data and Taxonomies Filter161,5501,9561k+Non-prefixed global variable
#4RestroPress – Online Food Ordering System175353,2341k+Non-prefixed global variable
#5Shopping Cart & eCommerce Store177,49217,5543k+Non-prefixed global variable
#6WPtouch – Make your WordPress Website Mobile-Friendly171,46632550k+Text Domain Mismatch
#7Administrator Z182,061799400Output is not escaped
#8JetFormBuilder — Dynamic Blocks Form Builder182,1311,62380k+Text Domain Mismatch
#9Pagopar – WooCommerce Gateway185301,215400Non-prefixed global variable
#10WPPizza – A Restaurant Plugin184,6892,7031k+Text Domain Mismatch
#11Block Slider – Responsive Image Slider, Video Slider & Post Slider195551,2913k+Non-prefixed global variable
#12GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform193,4023,555100k+Output is not escaped
#13Go Fetch Jobs (for WP Job Manager)191,4101,741600Non-prefixed global variable
#14Netgsm193523481k+Non-prefixed global variable
#15Verified Reviews (Avis Vérifiés)196711,136700Non-prefixed global variable
#16Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL)195303753m+Missing Translators Comment
#17Scrollsequence – Cinematic Scroll Image Animation Plugin198781,5283k+Non-prefixed global variable
#18SendPress Newsletters192,2931,4221k+Output is not escaped
#19SureCart – Ecommerce Made Easy For Selling Physical Products, Digital Downloads, Subscriptions, Donations, & Payments195411,14680k+Non-prefixed global variable
#20AweBooking – Hotel Booking System203095141k+Non-prefixed global variable
#21Brizy – Page Builder2058572660k+Output is not escaped
#22Post Form – Registration Form – Profile Form for User Profiles – Frontend Content Forms for User Submissions (UGC)207362,112900Non-prefixed global variable
#23Download Monitor204231,36780k+Non-prefixed hook name
#24Event Organiser201,10454420k+Text Domain Mismatch
#25EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI208464,2247k+Non-prefixed global variable
#26MBE eShip205277401k+Non-prefixed global variable
#27MAS Videos205191,6931k+Non-prefixed global variable
#28Nimble Page Builder201,5911,68430k+Missing Arg Domain
#29پلاگین پرداخت دلخواه20584446900Text Domain Mismatch
#30Pronamic Pay202661,0782k+Non-prefixed global variable
#31Membership Plugin – Kadence Memberships205,0893,0059k+Text Domain Mismatch
#32Restrict User Access – Ultimate Membership & Content Protection209771,84810k+Non-prefixed global variable
#33Robin Image Optimizer – Unlimited Image Optimization, WebP & AVIF20556543100k+Output is not escaped
#34WP Compress – Instant Performance & Speed Optimization204,2923,69110k+Non Singular String Literal Domain
#35Premium Packages – Sell Digital Products Securely202,0432,2992k+Non-prefixed global variable
#36Forumax – AI Powered Advanced Community Forum Plugin214,9314,352600Text Domain Mismatch
#37Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection211,060959700k+Missing Translators Comment
#38Pinpoint Booking System – Version 2216343283k+Missing direct file access protection
#39Booking Ultra Pro Appointments Booking Calendar Plugin217612,083400Request data is not unslashed
#40Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots211,6732,18010k+Direct Query
#41Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk218351,146200k+Missing nonce verification
#42DELUCKS SEO213621,171300Missing nonce verification
#43eRoom – Webinar & Meeting Plugin for Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams211864378k+Non-prefixed global variable
#44Feeds for YouTube (YouTube video, channel, and gallery plugin)21503995100k+Output is not escaped
#45Ibtana – Ecommerce Product Addons211,5481,7186k+Non Singular String Literal Domain
#46AI Infographic Maker211,311456600Output is not escaped
#47LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor218,4031,88210k+Text Domain Mismatch
#48Leyka212573,4462k+Request data is not unslashed
#49Mapster WP Maps213,5943,0203k+Text Domain Mismatch
#50Mergado Pack212,323588700Output is not escaped