Wordfence update fails over and over, every version

Hi,
Could you please let me know more details about what happens exactly when you try updating the plugin? any error message appears there? the browser stuck at this “Updating…” loading process?
Are those 15 WordPress sites hosted on the same server? can you update other plugins from WordPress repository without any problem?

Sorry for all these questions, just trying to figure out reasons behind this issue.

Thanks.

Hi

Yes they are on the same server. Other WP installs using Wordfence that I manage have no issue, so I assumed it might be a server issue. I did speak to my ISP (iPower) and I compared permissions against sites using WP and Wordfence on a different server (GoDaddy) with the ones on iPower and they seem the same. Not quite sure which permissions on which files or folders I should look though.

Every other plugin update fine.

The message I get (whether trying to install from the Plugins page – using the update link under the plugin OR from going to Updates Available) is:

Update Failed: The update cannot be installed because we will be unable to copy some files. This is usually due to inconsistent file permissions.

?

• This reply was modified 8 years, 5 months ago by ukrefugee.

p.s. Just updated the plugin on a new client site hosted by BlueHost and it worked. I guess it MUST be a server thing then.

Any thought?

Actually. At least one of the sites on the iPower server updated fine automatically.

Now I am confused.

Any help appreciated

Hi,
I agree with you it could be a directory permissions or user and group owner issue, I suggest checking this comprehensive article about permissions in WordPress and of course taking a look at “Changing File Permissions” article on WordPress codex should be helpful.

You may want to get in contact with your web host about this issue, because I’ve seen a similar one where the host has SELinux enabled, disabling this module fixed the problem (however, it was happening to all the plugins, not only a specific one).

I hope this helps!
Thanks.

Thanks

I’ve read those but I still have questions that these don’t answer specifically for WF.

There are hundreds of thousands of files in any WP install, each with permissions. Do you KNOW which files or folders that directly relate to WF and updating I should look at.

Given that:

A: I administer client and personal sites across three main ISPs – iPower, BlueHost and GoDaddy. The iPower sites are the ones having issues updating. I pointed out in an update above, while many of the sites are with iPower are affected, not ALL of them have the update issue. The sites are also all on the same node according to my ISP.

B. I have no issues across any sites on any of these servers updating other plugins

C. Since I can delete and reinstall the WF plugin with no issues I am assuming the permissions issue I get is related specifically to the process of updating WF.

D. Since the whole point of the plugin is site security, I am a little reluctant to start playing with potentially executable files and folders and opening up vulnerabilities in the plugin itself by randomly changing permissions on files or folders.

I assume again that you might have a better idea of what files or folders your plugin accesses or edits when an update is performed. I would be helpful if you could perhaps point me in a direction so that I am not having to comb through (randomly and in an uninformed fashion) potentially hundreds of potential files and folders – clicking away like a woman possessed!

Really love your plugin and the info and updates you share, any help would be gratefully received.

Thanks

FYI
Server Logs

/* =====

ns1.ipower.com
ns2.ipower.com
CGI:
Active
FrontPage Extensions:
No
Document Root:
/home/users/web/b582/ipw.ribbansc/public_html
Platform Type:
Debian
MySQL Version:
5.6.32
Perl Version:
5.8.8
PHP Version:
5.5.22
Path to SendMail:
/usr/sbin/sendmail
Path to Perl:
/usr/bin/perl
Path to PHP:
/usr/local/bin/php
Secure FTP (SFTP) Port:
Port 2222

UPDATE:

I spoke to my ISP again. Here’s a highlight of the chat

3:28:18 PM Varun P Hello Kim, How are you today?
3:28:31 PM Kim Ribbans Hi. Good thanks. I would like to ask whether SELinux is enabled on my server. Having issues with updating 1 plugin on multiple WP installs on ns1.ipower.com and ns2.ipower.com. The plugin developer suggested I ask you this specifically.
3:31:23 PM Kim Ribbans Here is what the developer of Wordfence Security told:
3:31:36 PM Kim Ribbans “You may want to get in contact with your web host about this issue, because I?￠????ve seen a similar one where the host has SELinux enabled, disabling this module fixed the problem (however, it was happening to all the plugins, not only a specific one).”
3:32:42 PM Varun P Okay. Please be on hold for 2-3 minutes.
3:36:22 PM Varun P Yes. I checked with our specialists and told its Linux kernel security module and it should be enabled.
3:37:09 PM Kim Ribbans So, SELinux IS enabled…?
3:37:21 PM Varun P Yes. It is enabled.
3:37:25 PM Kim Ribbans Is it a changeable setting – either permanently or temporarily for testing?
3:38:30 PM Varun P Unfortunately it is not possible to change it.
3:38:40 PM Kim Ribbans Can you check please?
3:38:52 PM Varun P Okay. Please be on hold for 2-3 minutes.
3:40:12 PM Varun P Yes. I checked with our specialists again and they confirm that this is not a configurable option on our servers, because of security concerns.

So I’ll just go back to Deactivate>Delete>Search>Install>Activate>Configure> x 10 It’s OK Just not an expert and frustrated when I can’t figure something out. I’ve got a pretty good workflow on multiple browser tabs ??

Best wishes with the plugin and I’ll still use it.