Can’t save code (html, script, php) in widgets, it used to work

Hello!

I’m in the process of testing the migration of my hosting from php 7.4 to 8.1, as 7.4 isn’t maintained anymore, however I stumbled upon an issue I can’t quite figure out. May I humbly ask for help or tips, please? Thanks so much!

The context:

I observed it on a clone (files + database, just editing the settings path to its test subdirectory) of an active 6.1 wordpress blog fully working in a php 7.4 environment…

BUT I also observed it on a brand new wordpress, installed on an empty directory with a freshly downloaded wordpress zip archive, using a brand new freshly created database. Only 1 plugin was added, Classic Widgets (to avoid the subjectively cumbersome block editing from the widgets management.)

Environment: Debian Buster, webmin+virtualmin, the panel allows to fine-tune, directory per directory, which php execution mode is to be used, with a “default for everyone, save [chosen folders: php version x.y]” principle. The php versions used to test are 8.1.13 and (the default) 7.4.33.

Final bit of context: I use the oh-so-precious Classic Widgets plugin, to avoid block editing thrown into the widgets menu (https://wordpress.org/plugins/classic-widgets/).

The bug:

Saving the text contents of widgets only works when this is basic html content. (Think p, center.)

Anything more complex, a script, a form, or php, it won’t be saved. I click the “Save” button, a spinning wheel icon starts rotating left of the Save button… and nothing more happens. if I come back five actual minutes later to check, the button is still spinning, if I refresh the page, the change hasn’t been saved.

A screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/cS8hCzQ

An example of the code that won’t be saved into a widget area, this is, plainly, a search form, no more, no less:

<div class="search_main">
<form method="get" class="searchform" action="/" autocomplete="off">
<input type="text" class="field s" name="s" value="Search..." onfocus="if (this.value == 'Search...') {this.value = '';}" onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Search...';}" autocomplete="off">
<button type="submit" class="fa fa-search submit" name="submit" value="Search"></button>
</form>
<div class="fix"></div>
</div>

I do possess a plugin for enhanced widgets, that allow php code to run, but I can assure you, if I deactivate this plugin and run the test again, the problem hasn’t gone. (The problem is also present on a fresh wordpress with default plugins and settings, save for the addition of Classic Widgets.)

I tried without the “Classic widgets” feature that I use to disable block editing in wordpress widgets, went to create a “Code” widget, pasted inside the code I quoted above, and it gave “There was an error. The response is not a valid JSON response.”. No idea if that’s the same issue or not, though.

I checked the website’s apache error log, without a risk of false positives as it was a test ground: nothing is recorded, at all, when I click the “Save” button and nothing happens.

… And at this point, I’m at my wit’s end.

Please, would anyone know what may be causing it, or how I may further debug it to find what may be causing it?

All help and suggestions will be more than welcome, thank you!

• This topic was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Sabinooo.
• This topic was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Sabinooo.