If you have recently updated to WordPress version 4.2.0 and try to update to version 4.2.1+ or try to updates your plugins through the CMS, the “update” status and the is spinning forever and do not complete/stuck.
I have noticed the following in the Web server error logs :
PHP Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 268435456 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 523800 bytes) in /wp-admin/includes/file.php on line 159, referer: http://www.domain.tld/wp-admin/update-core.php?action=do-core-upgrade
This is a code related issue located in “file.php”. To resolve this matter, simply edit the following file (please backup the original first!) :
/wp-admin/includes/file.php
Then go to line number 149 and locate the following :
if ( empty( $filename ) || '.' == $filename ) {
Completely delete that line and replace with :
if ( empty( $filename ) || '.' == $filename || '/' === $filename ) {
Save the file and your WordPress and plugins should work again.