[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #64078: Widgets screen fatal error in WordPress 6.8.3 (affects multiple themes) — caused by stray /wp-includes/class-IXR-comment.php redeclaring get_page()

[WordPress Trac]

#64078: Widgets screen fatal error in WordPress 6.8.3 (affects multiple themes) —
caused by stray /wp-includes/class-IXR-comment.php redeclaring get_page()
-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------
 Reporter:  Supracorona              |      Owner:  (none)
     Type:  defect (bug)             |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal                   |  Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  General                  |    Version:  6.8.3
 Severity:  normal                   |   Keywords:  needs-patch reporter-
  Focuses:  ui, performance, php-    |  feedback
  compatibility                      |
-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------
 Description:
 After updating to WordPress 6.8.3, the Appearance → Widgets page throws a
 critical error on every tested theme:
 - Twenty Twenty v2.9
 - Genesis Framework v3.6.0 (with clean child theme)
 - GeneratePress v3.6.0
 - Astra v4.11.12
 - Kadence v1.3.6

 Error log:

 {{{
 PHP Fatal error: Cannot redeclare get_page()
 (previously declared in /wp-includes/post.php:6048)
 in /wp-includes/class-IXR-comment.php on line 846
 }}}



 The file /wp-includes/class-IXR-comment.php is not part of the official
 WordPress core.
 It appears to be a leftover or injected file that redefines the core
 get_page() function.

 Fix:
 Renaming the file to class-IXR-comment.php.bak (or deleting it) resolves
 the problem — the Widgets screen and entire admin area then load normally
 with all tested themes.

 Environment:
 WordPress 6.8.3
 PHP 8.2.12
 Hosting: cPanel (Namecheap)
 Classic Widgets plugin active
 All other plugins disabled

 Suggestion:
 During upgrades, WordPress core could perform checksum verification of wp-
 includes and wp-admin folders to detect and flag unexpected files that
 redeclare core functions.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/64078>
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