PLUGIN SECURITY
Is Meta Box safe?
Meta Box plugin is a powerful, professional developer toolkit to create custom meta boxes and custom fields for your custom post types in WordPress.
What this plugin does
- Slug:
meta-box - Author: Meta Box
- 500000+ active installs
- 96/100 rating (165 reviews on wordpress.org)
- 24563474 all-time downloads
- On WordPress.org since 2011-11-07
custom fieldscustom post typesCustom Taxonomiesmeta boxpost type
Maintenance status
- Latest known version: 5.14.0
- Last updated: 2026-08-17 4:56am GMT
- Tested up to WordPress: 7.0.4
- Requires PHP: 7.4+
- Max supported PHP (analyzed): 8.4
Known vulnerabilities
8 known CVEs on file for Meta Box. Reported between 2024 and 2026.
| CVE | Vulnerability | Type | Severity | Affected | Fixed in | Published | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-15248 | Meta Box [meta-box] < 5.13.1 | Missing Authorization | Unknown | < 5.13.1 | 5.13.1 | 2026-08-02 | ✓ fixed in latest |
| CVE-2026-39468 | Meta Box [meta-box] < 5.11.2 | Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') | Medium 6.8 | < 5.11.2 | 5.11.2 | 2026-04-13 | ✓ fixed in latest |
| CVE-2025-14675 | Meta Box [meta-box] < 5.11.2 | Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') | High 7.2 | < 5.11.2 | 5.11.2 | 2026-03-06 | ✓ fixed in latest |
| CVE-2024-43235 | Meta Box [meta-box] < 5.9.11 | Missing Authorization | High 7.1 | < 5.9.11 | 5.9.11 | 2024-08-09 | ✓ fixed in latest |
| CVE-2024-1204 | Meta Box [meta-box] < 5.9.4 | Improper Access Control | Medium 4.3 | < 5.9.4 | 5.9.4 | 2024-03-25 | ✓ fixed in latest |
| CVE-2023-6526 | Meta Box [meta-box] < 5.9.3 | Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') | Medium 5.4 | < 5.9.3 | 5.9.3 | 2024-02-05 | ✓ fixed in latest |
| CVE-2019-14794 | Meta Box < 4.16.2 - Mishandled Uploaded Files | — | Unknown | < 4.16.2 | 4.16.2 | — | ✓ fixed in latest |
| CVE-2019-14793 | Meta Box < 4.16.3 - Unauthorised File Deletion | — | Unknown | < 4.16.3 | 4.16.3 | — | ✓ fixed in latest |
How to fix it
Keep Meta Box updated — 5.14.0 is the latest version on wordpress.org, and each CVE above lists the exact release that fixed it ("Fixed in").
This is the plugin's full known vulnerability history, not a scan of any specific installation — run a free scan of your own site to check your exact installed version.
Safer / more established alternatives
- Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) — 2000000+ active installs — 90/100 (1438) — max PHP 8.4
- Custom Post Type UI — 1000000+ active installs — 92/100 (276) — max PHP 8.4
- Checkout Field Editor (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce — 400000+ active installs — 98/100 (1056) — max PHP 8.4
- Admin Columns — 100000+ active installs — 98/100 (1651)
- Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields — 100000+ active installs — 96/100 (418) — max PHP 8.4
Check your own WordPress site
Run a free passive scan now, or create a free account and install the WP Clinic plugin for a deep scan of your whole hosting account and AI-assisted repair.