Title: PHP8 errors?
Last modified: May 25, 2021

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# PHP8 errors?

 *  Resolved [lupker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lupker/)
 * (@lupker)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/)
 * Hi! I love the duplicator plugin, but I have problems working with it on my new
   PHP 8 server. Everything works fine using PHP 7.3, making a new package gives
   me a critical error:
 * Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function shell_exec() in …/wp-content/plugins/
   duplicator/classes/utilities/class.u.php:428
 * My admin tells me shell_exec() is not used at all on my server (also in PHP 7.3,
   which does work fine with Duplicator) and he does not understand why it’s being
   used because of security risks.
 * Any clue???
 * Thanks,
    Mark

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

 *  [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/)
 * (@corylamleorg)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14482009)
 * Hey [@lupker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lupker/),
 * Since your host doesn’t support that PHP method then you will need to switch 
   the database build mode to PHP. Goto Settings > Packages Tab > SQL Mode > PHP
   Code. That should allow you to get around the error.
 * As far as a security risk it’s only a security risk if the hosting provider doesn’t
   know how to properly secure it. Dozens of major hosts have it enabled and know
   how to properly implement security around it. It’s a very common method used 
   by many developers and it’s the only way a user can access mysqldump from the
   plugin.
 * Hope this helps~
 *  Thread Starter [lupker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lupker/)
 * (@lupker)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14482117)
 * Thanks for your reply! I am unable to see the config settings for packages because
   it results in a critical failure as well… Going back to php 7.3 and it works 
   just fine. Also in this version the shell_exec is disabled. Is it possible to
   enable mysql mode somewhere else?
 * Thanks for your help!
 *  [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/)
 * (@corylamleorg)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14482580)
 * Hey [@lupker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lupker/),
 * Ok thanks for the update, we’ll have to see if we can reproduce the issue. If
   we can we’ll try and add a fix, so that you can at least navigate to the settings
   page.
 * > Update:
   >  After doing some testing the plugin should work fine if shell_exec
   > is disabled. I’m not sure why you would see issues in your UI. If you would
   > like to submit a support ticket we can have a closer look at your setup.
 * As far as using mysqldump mode the only way to use that with PHP is through shell_exec.
   You might mention to your host that hundreds of other hosts support it…
 * Thanks~
 *  Thread Starter [lupker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lupker/)
 * (@lupker)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14483745)
 * Hi, I went back to PHP 7.3 and turned on the MySQL mode to PHP. Then went back
   to PHP8, the config setting is still unreachable, but I am one step further in
   the process of making a new package into the setup. Now I get the error after
   when I press next.
 * I am also using UpDraft Plus Backups, which seems to work fine on my server…
 * Thanks,
    Gr, Mark
 *  [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/)
 * (@corylamleorg)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14486215)
 * Hey [@lupker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lupker/)
 * If you would like to submit a [support ticket](https://snapcreek.com/ticket) 
   for this issue we can have a closer look at your setup. Please provide a link
   to this forum thread when submitting the ticket.
 * Cheers~
 *  Thread Starter [lupker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lupker/)
 * (@lupker)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14489200)
 * Ok, thanks. I made a ticket.
 * Gr,
    Mark
 *  [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/)
 * (@corylamleorg)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14495180)
 * This issue will be resolved in 1.4.2
 * Thanks~
 *  Thread Starter [lupker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lupker/)
 * (@lupker)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14510272)
 * Hi! I found the same issue in the installer.php, you might check this one as 
   well:
 *     ```
       [PHP ERR][FATAL] MSG:Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function shell_exec() in /var/www/vhosts/xxx/installer.php:1230
       Stack trace:
       #0 /var/www/vhosts/xxx/installer.php(1244): DUPX_Bootstrap->hasShellExec()
       #1 /var/www/vhosts/xxx/installer.php(123): DUPX_Bootstrap->getUnzipFilePath()
       #2 /var/www/vhosts/xxx/installer.php(1662): DUPX_Bootstrap->__construct()
       #3 {main}
         thrown [CODE:1|FILE:/var/www/vhosts/xxx/installer.php|LINE:1230]
       ```
   
 * Gr,
    Mark
 *  [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/)
 * (@corylamleorg)
 * [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14512814)
 * Hey [@lupker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/lupker/),
 * Thanks for the feedback, this is now fixed and will be in 1.4.2 as well. If you
   would like a copy of the most recent version, just shoot us a request through
   the Snapcreek help ticket system.
 * Thanks

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

The topic ‘PHP8 errors?’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 9 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Cory Lamle](https://wordpress.org/support/users/corylamleorg/)
 * Last activity: [5 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php8-errors-4/#post-14512814)
 * Status: resolved