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.
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 | Revisionize | 41 | 54 | 24 | 4k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #952 | Simple Page Access Restriction | 41 | 66 | 51 | 6k+ | Unsafe printing function | ||
| #953 | SiteSEO – SEO Simplified | 41 | 20 | 110 | 500k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #954 | Squeeze – Image Optimization & Compression, WEBP Conversion | 41 | 20 | 70 | 2k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #955 | StifLi Flex MCP – MCP Server with undo for ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini | 41 | 2 | 111 | 1k+ | Interpolated SQL is not prepared | ||
| #956 | Visibility Logic for Elementor | 41 | 27 | 43 | 30k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #957 | WPC Product Bundles for WooCommerce | 41 | 21 | 93 | 30k+ | Missing nonce verification | ||
| #958 | WPC Composite Products for WooCommerce | 41 | 11 | 73 | 9k+ | Missing nonce verification | ||
| #959 | Post Grid Master — Post Grids & AJAX Filters | 42 | 44 | 115 | 1k+ | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #960 | 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 | ||
| #961 | LH Page Links To | 42 | 25 | 38 | 500 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #962 | PE Easy Slider | 42 | 190 | 10 | 800 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #963 | Prepare New Version | 42 | 53 | 24 | 6k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #964 | Reusable Blocks Extended | 42 | 38 | 15 | 20k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #965 | Starter Sites | 42 | 62 | 25 | 1k+ | Output is not escaped | ||
| #966 | WP Bulk Delete | 42 | 7 | 130 | 100k+ | Direct Query | ||
| #967 | Eventin – Event Calendar, Event Registration, Tickets & Booking (AI Powered) | 42 | 2,583 | 1,823 | 10k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #968 | WPB Custom Tab Manager for WooCommerce – Add, Edit & Reorder Tabs | 42 | 95 | 32 | 500 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #969 | Anonymous Restricted Content | 43 | 22 | 24 | 1k+ | Unsafe printing function | ||
| #970 | Floating Awesome Button (Sticky Button, Popup, Toast) & 200+ Website Custom Interactive Element | 43 | 66 | 109 | 800 | Missing direct file access protection | ||
| #971 | Ultimate Member Widgets for Elementor – Login Form, Register Form & User Directory | 43 | 15 | 102 | 400 | Non-prefixed namespace | ||
| #972 | User Session Control | 43 | 31 | 21 | 700 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #973 | Post Grid | 44 | 33 | 208 | 30k+ | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #974 | Proxy & VPN Blocker | 44 | 74 | 1k+ | Nonce verification recommended | |||
| #975 | Shippit for WooCommerce | 44 | 127 | 26 | 900 | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #976 | WP Club Manager – WordPress Sports Club Plugin | 44 | 171 | 682 | 600 | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #977 | WPKoi Templates for Elementor | 44 | 937 | 25 | 5k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #978 | Product Visibility by User Role for WooCommerce | 45 | 36 | 35 | 6k+ | Missing Translators Comment | ||
| #979 | GetAutoSEO AI Tool | 46 | 10 | 250 | 1k+ | Direct Query | ||
| #980 | RY Tools for WooCommerce | 46 | 295 | 5k+ | Non-prefixed class | |||
| #981 | Stars Rating | 46 | 13 | 34 | 1k+ | Missing nonce verification | ||
| #982 | StockPack – Stock photos from Unsplash, Adobe Stock and more | 46 | 35 | 51 | 6k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #983 | Ultimate FAQ Solution | 46 | 285 | 97 | 600 | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #984 | Verified Member for BuddyPress | 47 | 20 | 38 | 3k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #985 | Legal Pages – Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions, GDPR, CCPA, and Cookie Notice Generator | 47 | 44 | 83 | 10k+ | Missing direct file access protection | ||
| #986 | Better Badge – Custom Product Badges for WooCommerce | 48 | 21 | 47 | 500 | Non Singular String Literal Domain | ||
| #987 | Filter Page by Template | 48 | 17 | 20 | 2k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #988 | FlexStock – Product Stock Sync with Google Sheets for WooCommerce | 48 | 241 | 700 | Direct Query | |||
| #989 | ThemeFarmer Companion | 48 | 54 | 51 | 2k+ | Missing Version | ||
| #990 | ACF Quick Edit Fields | 49 | 20 | 72 | 30k+ | Nonce verification recommended | ||
| #991 | Easy Property Listings | 49 | 60 | 66 | 5k+ | wp function not compatible with requires wp | ||
| #992 | Simple Post Expiration | 49 | 47 | 10 | 400 | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #993 | WooBuilder | 49 | 20 | 17 | 700 | Output is not escaped | ||
| #994 | Product Slider, Product Grid, Product Masonry | 49 | 55 | 144 | 10k+ | wp function not compatible with requires wp | ||
| #995 | HT Slider For Elementor | 50 | 884 | 40 | 20k+ | Text Domain Mismatch | ||
| #996 | Simple User Listing | 50 | 27 | 56 | 900 | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #997 | WPML Multilingual for BuddyPress and BuddyBoss | 51 | 18 | 21 | 6k+ | SQL query is not prepared | ||
| #998 | Gutenverse – WordPress Blocks, Page Builder & Site Editor | 51 | 17 | 47 | 20k+ | Non-prefixed hook name | ||
| #999 | Interactive Globes – 3D World Maps | 51 | 24 | 104 | 400 | Non-prefixed global variable | ||
| #1000 | StoryChief | 51 | 12 | 55 | 1k+ | Input is not sanitized |
