Title: Plugin deactivated for security reasons Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # Plugin deactivated for security reasons * Resolved [Andreas](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sauerland/) * (@sauerland) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/) * Latest version seems to have some hickups. * This is what I get on activation: `Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image- optimizer.php on line 210 Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in/ www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer. php on line 212 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/ htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 210 Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /www/htdocs/boing/ wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 212 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp- content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 210 Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 212 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww- image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 219 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww-image- optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 219 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 219 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image- optimizer.php on line 226 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer. php on line 226 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/ htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 226 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/ boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 233 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/ wp-content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 233 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp- content/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 233 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/ plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 233 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ ewww-image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 233 Warning: exec() has been disabled for security reasons in /www/htdocs/boing/wp-content/plugins/ewww- image-optimizer/ewww-image-optimizer.php on line 233 * This is my system: Operating System : Linux Server : Apache Memory usage : 55.92 MByte MYSQL Version : 5.5.28-nmm3-log SQL Mode : Not set PHP Version : 5.4.9- nmm1 PHP Safe Mode : Off PHP Allow URL fopen : On PHP Memory Limit : 256M PHP Max Upload Size : 200M PHP Max Post Size : 200M PHP Max Script Execute Time : 30s PHP Exif support : Yes ( V1.4 ) PHP IPTC support : Yes PHP XML support : Yes * [http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/) Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total) * Plugin Author [nosilver4u](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nosilver4u/) * (@nosilver4u) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/#post-3666478) * That message means someone turned off the PHP exec() function on your server. This plugin requires exec() and there is no way around it. The timing with the plugin upgrade is pure coincidence. * [benfrain](https://wordpress.org/support/users/benfrain/) * (@benfrain) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/#post-3666535) * Interesting, I have exactly the same problem. I’m on a VPS so I’m pretty sure the server hasn’t had anything changed. Was fine before the upgrade, I now get the message: * `EWWW Image Optimizer requires exec(). Your system administrator has disabled this function.` * Thread Starter [Andreas](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sauerland/) * (@sauerland) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/#post-3666536) * The operator of my managed sever told me, that installing exec() would pose a severe security risk. So I’ll just have to do without this plugin. * Plugin Author [nosilver4u](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nosilver4u/) * (@nosilver4u) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/#post-3666538) * benfrain, the best you can do is ask your server operator to turn on exec(). If they won’t, you can’t use the plugin, just like Andreas said. * exec() can be a security risk, if not handled properly, and I suppose a lot of people aren’t very careful with it. I am, but for some server operators, it just isn’t worth the risk. * [benfrain](https://wordpress.org/support/users/benfrain/) * (@benfrain) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/#post-3666539) * Can you confirm – this was working fine in previous versions – didn’t get any message about exec() – was the requirement for exec a recent addition? * Plugin Author [nosilver4u](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nosilver4u/) * (@nosilver4u) * [13 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/#post-3666540) * The exec() function has been required since version 1.0 (the very first release). It is what allows us to use command line optimizers with PHP. * So your server operator probably went, “oh crap, someone is using exec(). I heard that was a security risk, better disable it…” * You can even try an older version to confirm it: [http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/developers/](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/developers/) * [ddibbz](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ddibbz/) * (@ddibbz) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/#post-3666571) * I am having the same issue, (EWWW Image Optimizer requires exec(). Your system administrator has disabled this function.) I have full control over my phpMyAdmin. What do i need to do to activate your plugin? Does it need permission settings? what file exactly is it trying to access? Can I upload it into my php? I’m getting frustrated. HELP ME! Please? * Plugin Author [nosilver4u](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nosilver4u/) * (@nosilver4u) * [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/#post-3666572) * ddibbz, please start a new thread. Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total) The topic ‘Plugin deactivated for security reasons’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/ewww-image-optimizer/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=1582276) * [EWWW Image Optimizer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/ewww-image-optimizer/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/ewww-image-optimizer/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/ewww-image-optimizer/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/ewww-image-optimizer/reviews/) * 8 replies * 4 participants * Last reply from: [nosilver4u](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nosilver4u/) * Last activity: [12 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-deactivated-for-security-reasons/#post-3666572) * Status: resolved