securityninja_malware_exclude_paths

Use this filter to add or change path patterns that the Malware Scanner excludes from scans. Excluded paths are never scanned and never reported as malware.

Summary

Filter name

securityninja_malware_exclude_paths

Parameters

$paths (array). List of path/pattern strings currently used for exclusions.

Returns

Array of path/pattern strings (you can add, remove, or modify entries).

Used by

Malware Scanner (file scan and result filtering).

Usage

The filter runs when the scanner builds its ignore list. You receive the same array that is used for the “Exclude paths from scan” setting (per-file whitelist paths plus pattern lines). Return a modified array to add or remove exclusions without using the plugin UI.

Add one or more patterns

add_filter( 'securityninja_malware_exclude_paths', function ( $paths ) {
    $paths[] = '*/plugins/my-custom-plugin/*';
    return $paths;
} );

Add multiple patterns

add_filter( 'securityninja_malware_exclude_paths', function ( $paths ) {
    return array_merge( $paths, array(
        '*/plugins/leadpages/*',
        '*/plugins/accessally/*',
        '*/plugins/updraftplus/*',
        '*/themes/my-theme/vendor/*',
    ) );
} );

Remove a pattern

add_filter( 'securityninja_malware_exclude_paths', function ( $paths ) {
    return array_values( array_filter( $paths, function ( $p ) {
        return $p !== '*/plugins/some-plugin/*';
    } ) );
} );

Pattern format

Each entry is a single string (path or pattern).
Patterns are matched against the full server path to the file.
Use * as a wildcard (matches any characters).
Matching is case-insensitive.

Examples:

*/plugins/plugin-name/*. exclude an entire plugin folder
*/themes/theme-name/inc/*. exclude a subfolder of a theme
*/media/cache/*. exclude a cache directory

Where to add the code

Add the filter in your theme’s functions.php or in a small custom plugin. It runs during the malware scan, so it must be loaded before or when the scan runs (normal WordPress loading is sufficient).

You can also manage exclusions in the plugin: go to Security Ninja → Malware Scanner and use the “Exclude paths from scan” box. Paths added via this filter are applied in addition to those saved in the plugin and are included in the same ignore list used for scanning and result display.