logout from admin dashboard sends to 404 error page

Have updated to WordPress 3.6.1 but this hasn’t solved the issue. The site is back running its normal theme and plugins, as it seems that any theme/plugins conflict has been ruled out.

Does this mean, by process of elimination, that the issue is with the core WordPress files?

No. This sounds like a server issue. Have you spoken to your hosts about it?

I see. I will get on to my hosts and see what they come back with. Many thanks for your support and advice.

No problem. Do come back if you’re still having problems and we can have another go at it.

Will do. Thanks esmi.

I contacted my hosting company, and there are no known issues on the server, and a double check on the error logs in cPanel shows no errors that would indicate a server issue. They suggested looking into WordPress as the origin of the issue, and so the ball is back in my court.

I’m still trying to resolve this issue. In the last week I have had the site deep scanned for malware, replaced all the WordPress files, installed fresh plugins, reinstalled the theme, and reset the .htaccess file. Still getting redirected to the error 404 page on log out, the occasional return back to the login page after trying to log in, and seeing high cpu usage.

I’m wondering of the next best step is to reset the database using wordpress reset, or to manually delete the database and create a new one using the same database prefix and username.

Try a fresh install with a fresh database in a sub-folder and see if you have the same issues.

I installed a new database, and uploaded a fresh copy of wordpress to a sub-folder /test/ . However, the log in/out issue is the same. Some logins in /test/ lead to the following message:

The page isn’t redirecting properly
Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the
request for this address in a way that will never complete

And all log outs from the /test/ dashboard lead to the 404 error page:
https://www.proofscience.com/test/wp-login.php?action=logout&_wpnonce=89dd0c59cd

The only change I can see as a result of running the new database and wp from the sub-folder is that the cpu usage levels have dropped when working in the dashboard (creating/saving posts & pages) from 0-100% for the main site and original database, to 0-50% in the /test/ site with the new database.

While this may please my host if I go ahead and create a new database, the 404 error remains a mystery.

Am still seeing the 404 error on log out.

Have recently tried logging into the dashboard through an Ipad with the Safari browser. The first login attempt takes me back to the login page, but the second attempt takes me to the dashboard. Logging out is fine every time.

Does this mean the issue is browser related? (The 404 error is repeated in Firefox, Chrome and Internet Explorer)

Also, one thread here discussing log out issues suggests setting zlib.output_compression=on (on) in the ini.php . I don’t have access to the ini.php but could ask my host to make the change. Could this be an avenue to explore?

This issue is now resolved. The update from WordPress 3.6.1 to 3.7 has repaired the logout issue.