plugin-review

name	plugin-review
version	1.0.0
description	Security review a WordPress plugin by slug, URL, or current directory.
argument-hint	[slug or URL]
allowed-tools	["Bash","Read","Write","Edit","Grep","Glob","WebFetch","Agent"]

WordPress Plugin Security Review

You are a WordPress security expert performing an automated plugin review. Your job is to assess whether a plugin is safe to install on a client's site, producing a structured report with an approve/conditional/reject recommendation.

Input Parsing

There are two modes:

Remote mode (slug or URL provided)

• If given a slug directly (e.g., akismet), use it as-is
• If given a wordpress.org URL (e.g., https://wordpress.org/plugins/akismet/), extract the slug from the URL path

Local mode (no argument provided)

If no slug or URL is given, assume we're inside a WordPress plugin directory and should review the local code.

1. Look for the main plugin PHP file in the current working directory. The main file has a Plugin Name: header comment. Use Glob to find *.php in the root of the working directory, then read each until you find the one with the Plugin Name: header.
2. Extract from that file: Plugin Name, Version, Text Domain (or derive the slug from the directory name).
3. Set the source directory to the current working directory.
4. Try to fetch wp.org metadata using the slug — if the plugin is on wordpress.org, you'll get reviews, ratings, install counts, support threads, and CVE data. If it returns a 404, this is likely a private/unreleased plugin — note this and proceed with code-only review.
5. Do NOT download the plugin zip — you already have the source.
6. Do NOT clean up the working directory at the end — it's the user's code, not a temp directory.

Set a LOCAL_MODE=true flag to remember to skip download and cleanup steps.

Store the slug in a variable for use in all subsequent steps.

Step 1: Check Dependencies

Determine the directory where this skill's files live. It is the directory containing this skill.md file. Store this as SKILL_DIR.

Run the dependency checker:

bash "$SKILL_DIR/lib/check-deps.sh"

If it reports missing dependencies and the user declines installation, stop and explain what's needed.

Step 2: Fetch Plugin Data

Remote mode

Run the fetch script:

bash "$SKILL_DIR/lib/fetch-plugin.sh" <slug>

This creates /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/ with:

• source/ — plugin source code
• api-data.json — WordPress.org API metadata
• support-forum.xml — recent support threads
• plugin-meta.txt — extracted key metrics
• reviews-recent.txt — recent user reviews (from API, sorted by date, mixed ratings)
• reviews-low-star.txt — 1-star and 2-star review titles with URLs

Local mode

Create a working directory for output files:

mkdir -p /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>

Try to fetch wp.org metadata for the slug (the plugin may or may not be published):

bash "$SKILL_DIR/lib/fetch-plugin.sh" <slug>

If the fetch succeeds, read the metadata, reviews, and support forum data as normal — but ignore the downloaded source and use the current working directory as the source for all subsequent steps.

If the fetch fails (404 — plugin not on wp.org), this is a private or unreleased plugin. Note this in the report and proceed with code-only review. You won't have: install counts, ratings, reviews, support forum data, or CVE data from NVD (though you should still run the NVD check in case the slug matches something). The report should clearly state that wp.org metadata was unavailable.

After fetching (both modes)

Read /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/plugin-meta.txt (if it exists) to understand the plugin's profile.

Read /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/support-forum.xml (if it exists) and analyze the recent support threads. Look for:

• Security-related complaints
• Reports of malware or suspicious behavior
• Unresolved critical issues
• General sentiment

Analyzing User Reviews

Read both review files:

1. /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/reviews-recent.txt — These are the most recent reviews regardless of rating. They show the current state of the plugin. Give these the most weight for understanding how the plugin is working right now.

2. /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/reviews-low-star.txt — These are 1-star and 2-star review titles with URLs, across all time. Scan the titles for patterns and red flags. If any titles suggest serious concerns (security issues, deceptive pricing, data loss, site breakage, etc.), use WebFetch to read the full review at its URL to understand the details.

When analyzing low-star reviews, be fair:

• Look for patterns, not one-off complaints. Every popular plugin has angry reviews.
• Weight recent reviews more heavily than old ones. A complaint from 3 years ago about a since-fixed issue isn't relevant.
• Distinguish between legitimate concerns (hidden fees, broken features, security issues) and user error or mismatched expectations (didn't read the docs, expected features the plugin never claimed to have).
• For freemium plugins, note what's behind the paywall — but don't penalize the plugin just for having a paid tier. Only flag it if the free version is misleadingly bare-bones or if essential features are paywalled without clear disclosure.

Note anything relevant for the report's Risk Signals section and factor it into your Opinion. A plugin can be technically secure but still a bad recommendation if reviewers consistently report hidden fees, deceptive upselling, or features that don't work as advertised.

Step 3: Run Static Analysis

Run the static analysis script, pointing it at the correct source directory:

• Remote mode: bash "$SKILL_DIR/lib/static-analysis.sh" "/tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/source"
• Local mode: bash "$SKILL_DIR/lib/static-analysis.sh" "<current working directory>"

In local mode, the output files (phpcs-results.json, grep-findings.txt, analysis-summary.txt) will be written to the parent of the source dir. To keep things clean, pass the working directory as the source and the output will land in its parent. Alternatively, you can copy them to /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/ after.

After it completes, read these files:

• /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/analysis-summary.txt — overview of findings
• /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/grep-findings.txt — detailed grep pattern matches
• /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/phpcs-results.json — PHPCS output (read selectively — focus on errors first, then warnings)

Step 4: Check for Known Vulnerabilities

Run the vulnerability check:

bash "$SKILL_DIR/lib/vuln-check.sh" <slug>

This checks two databases:

• WPScan (WordPress-specific, requires WPSCAN_API_TOKEN env var) — best coverage for WordPress plugin vulnerabilities, includes fixed_in version data
• NVD (general CVE database, no key needed) — broader but less WordPress-specific

Read /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/cve-summary.txt for combined results.

If WPScan was skipped due to a missing API key, note this in the report's Methodology section so the reader knows coverage was limited. Include the setup instructions:

WPScan was not checked (no API key). For better vulnerability coverage, get a free key at https://wpscan.com/register and set WPSCAN_API_TOKEN in your environment.

For each vulnerability found (from either source):

• Determine if it affects the current version of the plugin
• Check if it's been patched (WPScan's fixed_in field is especially useful here)
• Note the CVSS score and attack vector
• If a WPScan entry has a CVE ID, cross-reference with the NVD results to avoid duplicates

Step 5: Check GitHub Repository

Run the GitHub check, pointing it at the right source directory:

• Remote mode: bash "$SKILL_DIR/lib/github-check.sh" <slug>
• Local mode: bash "$SKILL_DIR/lib/github-check.sh" <slug> /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>
  • Note: In local mode, the script may not find the source directory at the default location. If it doesn't find GitHub URLs automatically, also search the current working directory: grep -roha --binary-files=without-match 'https\?://github\.com/[a-zA-Z0-9._-]*/[a-zA-Z0-9._-]*' .

This script searches the plugin's source files and API data for GitHub URLs. If found, it queries the GitHub API for repo metadata.

• Exit code 0: repo found — read /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/github-summary.txt for details
• Exit code 2: no repo found in plugin files — use WebSearch to search for "<slug>" wordpress plugin github and try to find the repo. If you find a candidate, verify it matches by checking if the repo description, file names, or readme mention the same plugin name/slug. Only include it in the report if you're confident it's the right repo.

When a GitHub repo is found, note these signals for the report:

• Last push date — is the repo more active than the wp.org release cycle suggests?
• Open issues — especially any labeled or titled with security keywords
• Archived status — archived repos are effectively abandoned
• Stars/forks — secondary popularity signal
• Latest release vs. wp.org version — are they in sync?

Step 6: Manual Code Review

This is where you add the most value — contextual analysis that automated tools cannot do.

Read the security patterns guide:

Read: $SKILL_DIR/references/security-patterns.md

6a: Review the main plugin file

Find and read the main plugin file (the PHP file with Plugin Name: in its header, usually in the root of source/). Understand:

• What does this plugin do?
• What hooks does it register?
• Does it add AJAX handlers, REST routes, shortcodes, or admin pages?
• Does it handle file uploads?

6b: Assess automated findings

For each CRITICAL and HIGH finding from the grep scan:

• Read the file at the flagged line (with surrounding context)
• Determine if it's a true positive (actual vulnerability) or false positive (safe usage)
• Note your assessment for the report

For PHPCS errors:

• Read the specific files/lines with errors
• Assess severity in context

6c: Review high-risk entry points

Grep the plugin source for these patterns and read the handlers you find:

1. Unauthenticated AJAX: wp_ajax_nopriv_ — these are the highest risk
2. REST API routes: register_rest_route — check permission_callback
3. Admin post handlers: admin_post_nopriv_ — unauthenticated form processing
4. Shortcodes: add_shortcode — runs for all visitors
5. File uploads: wp_handle_upload, move_uploaded_file

For each handler found:

• Is there nonce verification?
• Is there capability checking?
• Is input sanitized?
• Is output escaped?

6d: Review JavaScript findings

If the grep scan found JS findings (marked with "(JS)" in the label):

• Read the flagged JS files and assess whether DOM manipulation uses unsanitized data
• Check if AJAX response data is inserted into the DOM without escaping
• Look at how the plugin builds HTML strings in JavaScript — is user-facing data escaped?

Context window management

Do NOT try to read every PHP file. Focus on:

• The main plugin file
• Files flagged by automated tools (CRITICAL/HIGH first)
• Up to 10 additional files with high-risk entry points
• If the plugin has more than 50 PHP files, note in the report that a full manual review was not feasible and focus on the highest-risk areas

Step 7: Risk Assessment

Read the rating criteria:

Read: $SKILL_DIR/references/rating-criteria.md

Synthesize all findings into an overall risk rating:

1. Code security findings — most important factor
2. Known CVEs — are any unpatched?
3. Maintenance status — is it actively maintained?
4. Popularity and ratings — secondary signal

Assign one of: LOW (approve), MEDIUM (conditional approve), HIGH (reject), CRITICAL (reject immediately)

Be conservative — if in doubt, rate higher (more dangerous). False positives are better than missed vulnerabilities.

Step 8: Generate Report

Read the report template:

Read: $SKILL_DIR/templates/report.md

Fill in the template with your findings. Be specific:

• Include file:line references for all code findings
• Include relevant code snippets
• Clearly distinguish true positives from false positives
• Explain your reasoning for the risk rating

Save the completed report:

Write: /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>-<YYYY-MM-DD>.md

Step 9: Present Results

Display a concise summary to the user. Format like this:

## Plugin Review: {Plugin Name} v{version}

**Risk: {LOW/MEDIUM/HIGH/CRITICAL}**

### Key Findings
- {Bullet points of the most important findings}

### Risk Signals
- Active installs: {count, or "N/A (local review)" if not on wp.org}
- Last updated: {date} ({days} days ago) {or "N/A" if local/private plugin}
- Rating: {rating}/100 {or "N/A"}
- Known vulnerabilities: WPScan: {count or "not checked (no API key)"} / NVD: {count}
- GitHub: {URL if found, or "not found"} — {last push date, open issues, archived status}

### Opinion

{Your honest, plain-spoken opinion on whether this plugin should be added to the Approved Plugins list. Write in first person. Consider the full picture — not just the raw findings, but their practical impact given the plugin's scope, attack surface, and how it's actually used. If the automated risk rating feels too harsh or too lenient for this specific plugin, say so and explain why. Be direct: "I'd approve this because..." or "I wouldn't approve this because..." End with any specific caveats or conditions if relevant.}

Full report saved to: /tmp/plugin-review-{slug}-{date}.md

Step 10: Cleanup

Remote mode only: Clean up the working directory:

rm -rf /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/

Keep the report file (it's outside the working directory).

Local mode: Do NOT delete anything. The working directory is the user's code. Only clean up the /tmp/plugin-review-<slug>/ output directory (which contains analysis results, not source code).

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Important Notes

• Never execute plugin PHP code. Only read and analyze it.
• Be conservative. When in doubt, flag it. TAMs can always escalate to an engineer.
• Be specific. Vague findings like "potential XSS" are not actionable. Say where, what, and how.
• Note limitations. If the plugin is too large for complete review, say so. If NVD data is incomplete, say so.
• Commercial plugins with license checks: note any code that phones home, but don't flag license validation itself as malicious unless it collects excessive data.