[Support request] Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue

[Tom]

Hi,
Why am i receiving this auto email and should i do anything to it?
Howdy!

Since WordPress 5.2 there is a built-in feature that detects when a
plugin or theme causes a fatal error on your site, and notifies you
with this automated email.

In this case, WordPress caught an error with your theme, GeneratePress.

First, visit your websiteand check for
any visible issues. Next, visit the page where the error was caught
and check for any
visible issues.

Please contact your host for assistance with investigating this issue further.

If your site appears broken and you can’t access your dashboard
normally, WordPress now has a special “recovery mode”. This lets you
safely login to your dashboard and investigate further.

To keep your site safe, this link will expire in 1 day. Don’t worry
about that, though: a new link will be emailed to you if the error
occurs again after it expires.

When seeking help with this issue, you may be asked for some of the
following information:
WordPress version 6.0
Active theme: GeneratePress (version 3.1.3)
Current plugin: (version )
PHP version 7.4.29

Error Details
=============
An error of type E_PARSE was caused in line 136 of the file
/var/www/vhosts/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/generatepress/functions.php.
Error message: syntax error, unexpected ‘-‘, expecting ‘(‘

[Fernando]

Hi Tom,

Have you added code in the functions.php file of GeneratePress?

The functions.php file of GeneratePress is this: https://github.com/tomusborne/generatepress/blob/master/functions.php

You can check this by going to Appearance > Theme File Editor > functions.php.

Check if the functions.php file in the link I sent is identical to the one you have in yours.

Kindly let us know.

[Tom]

Hi Fernando,

There have errors appear when I add in the code from the link you share to my functions.php.
Warning: exif_read_data(LC-563-COMBO.jpg): Incorrect APP1 Exif Identifier Code in /var/www/vhosts/colourink.com.my/httpdocs/wp-admin/includes/image.php on line 846

What can i do to it?

[Fernando]

Hi Tom,

I came across this thread which tackles a similar issue: https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-warning-exif_read_data/

It says there are three potential causes for such an issue:

1) Corrupted/unsupported EXIF data in the LC-563-COMBO.jpg file
2) Malicious EXIF data in the LC-563-COMBO.jpg file
3) A bug in the PHP EXIF extension (could be related to both of the above)

Did you make changes to the files of GeneratePress? If not, and the files were changed suddenly, can you try installing a fresh copy of GeneratePress theme again? I’m thinking that if files in your site are corrupted/altered, it could be that you were hacked or there’s a malicious plugin or something else that caused this.

Do you have a backup of your site? If so, you could also try restoring a previous version of your site.

Hope this helps!

[Tom]

Hi Fernando,

I didnt have a backup. I copy back the previous code in functions.php, but the website still showing that error.
How can i install a fresh copy? Bcs i cant deactivate and install back right? bcs once i deactivate, the website layout will cause issue?

Im now sure what is the things u mention as below.
1) Corrupted/unsupported EXIF data in the LC-563-COMBO.jpg file
2) Malicious EXIF data in the LC-563-COMBO.jpg file
3) A bug in the PHP EXIF extension (could be related to both of the above)

[Fernando]

Perhaps you can ask your hosting provider if they have a backup of your site? Hosting providers sometimes do backups depending on the hosting package their customers have.

Those just mention that the file LC-563-COMBO.jpg, an image in your site, may be corrupted or something else.

Are you able to locate this image? If so, try deleting it.

Yes, you’ll need to delete GeneratePress, and install it again. Data should be stored in the database so re-installing the theme should be safe. However, can you also test if the issue exists when using a different theme like WP twenty twenty one?

It would be good to take a backup first before doing this just to be sure, and take a copy of your customizer settings: https://docs.generatepress.com/article/import-export-overview/

Lastly, have you ever directly made changes to the theme files? If not, then your site may be corrupted(not sure). Re-installing the theme might not help unless you find what’s causing the changes in your website’s files. Maybe you can use a security plugin to scan your site.

[Tom]

Hi,

But other than that image, others image of some products also have the same issue.

Why the code in the link cause the issue happen?

[Fernando]

There shouldn’t be a line 136 in functions.php. Not sure why yours had one. GP functions.php is only up to line 122.

Not sure what code was in there. Where you able to check before modifying?

Can you try using a different theme to check if this indeed is a theme related issue?

Kindly take a backup before doing so.

[Tom]

Hi,

But if I try to change use different theme, the website will have issue right? bcs currently the website is on live.

[Fernando]

I see. Perhaps you can you create a staging site and test there?

Kindly let us know how it goes.

[Tom]

Hi,

Okay will try on that.
Can go back to the first question?
Why am i receiving this auto email and should i do anything to it?
Howdy!

Since WordPress 5.2 there is a built-in feature that detects when a
plugin or theme causes a fatal error on your site, and notifies you
with this automated email.

In this case, WordPress caught an error with your theme, GeneratePress.

First, visit your websiteand check for
any visible issues. Next, visit the page where the error was caught
and check for any
visible issues.

Please contact your host for assistance with investigating this issue further.

If your site appears broken and you can’t access your dashboard
normally, WordPress now has a special “recovery mode”. This lets you
safely login to your dashboard and investigate further.

To keep your site safe, this link will expire in 1 day. Don’t worry
about that, though: a new link will be emailed to you if the error
occurs again after it expires.

When seeking help with this issue, you may be asked for some of the
following information:
WordPress version 6.0
Active theme: GeneratePress (version 3.1.3)
Current plugin: (version )
PHP version 7.4.29

Error Details
=============
An error of type E_PARSE was caused in line 136 of the file
/var/www/vhosts/httpdocs/wp-content/themes/generatepress/functions.php.
Error message: syntax error, unexpected ‘-‘, expecting ‘(‘

[Tom]

Why am i receiving this auto email?

[David]

Hi there,

it looks like changes have been made to the parent theme functions.php file that is resulting in an error.
You can see the themes original functions.php here:

https://github.com/tomusborne/generatepress/blob/master/functions.php

It ends on line 122. But the error you’re receiving is pointing to line 136:

An error of type E_PARSE was caused in line 136 of the file

Do you know if anyone made changes to the theme files ?

Simple fix is to download and re-install the theme. But it would be good to understand what changes and why they were made.

[Author]

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