diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/credits.php b/wp-admin/includes/credits.php
index 907ee93c0b..1ad2a37c2b 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/credits.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/credits.php
@@ -19,10 +19,7 @@
  */
 function wp_credits( $version = '', $locale = '' ) {
 	if ( ! $version ) {
-		// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-		require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
-		$version = $wp_version;
+		$version = wp_get_wp_version();
 	}
 
 	if ( ! $locale ) {
diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php b/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
index 2aeaa24e46..022a00174c 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
@@ -1819,13 +1819,10 @@ function wp_check_browser_version() {
 	$response = get_site_transient( 'browser_' . $key );
 
 	if ( false === $response ) {
-		// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-		require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
 		$url     = 'http://api.wordpress.org/core/browse-happy/1.1/';
 		$options = array(
 			'body'       => array( 'useragent' => $_SERVER['HTTP_USER_AGENT'] ),
-			'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . $wp_version . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
+			'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . wp_get_wp_version() . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
 		);
 
 		if ( wp_http_supports( array( 'ssl' ) ) ) {
diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/import.php b/wp-admin/includes/import.php
index 87ee00e5f7..530045894c 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/import.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/import.php
@@ -136,22 +136,19 @@ function wp_import_handle_upload() {
  * @return array Importers with metadata for each.
  */
 function wp_get_popular_importers() {
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
 	$locale            = get_user_locale();
-	$cache_key         = 'popular_importers_' . md5( $locale . $wp_version );
+	$cache_key         = 'popular_importers_' . md5( $locale . wp_get_wp_version() );
 	$popular_importers = get_site_transient( $cache_key );
 
 	if ( ! $popular_importers ) {
 		$url     = add_query_arg(
 			array(
 				'locale'  => $locale,
-				'version' => $wp_version,
+				'version' => wp_get_wp_version(),
 			),
 			'http://api.wordpress.org/core/importers/1.1/'
 		);
-		$options = array( 'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . $wp_version . '; ' . home_url( '/' ) );
+		$options = array( 'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . wp_get_wp_version() . '; ' . home_url( '/' ) );
 
 		if ( wp_http_supports( array( 'ssl' ) ) ) {
 			$url = set_url_scheme( $url, 'https' );
diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/plugin-install.php b/wp-admin/includes/plugin-install.php
index 59537e21df..38c4b50e7d 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/plugin-install.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/plugin-install.php
@@ -100,9 +100,6 @@
  *         for more information on the make-up of possible return values depending on the value of `$action`.
  */
 function plugins_api( $action, $args = array() ) {
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
 	if ( is_array( $args ) ) {
 		$args = (object) $args;
 	}
@@ -118,7 +115,7 @@ function plugins_api( $action, $args = array() ) {
 	}
 
 	if ( ! isset( $args->wp_version ) ) {
-		$args->wp_version = substr( $wp_version, 0, 3 ); // x.y
+		$args->wp_version = substr( wp_get_wp_version(), 0, 3 ); // x.y
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -168,7 +165,7 @@ function plugins_api( $action, $args = array() ) {
 
 		$http_args = array(
 			'timeout'    => 15,
-			'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . $wp_version . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
+			'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . wp_get_wp_version() . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
 		);
 		$request   = wp_remote_get( $url, $http_args );
 
diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/theme.php b/wp-admin/includes/theme.php
index 64ef380fc4..8fc9c00f14 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/theme.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/theme.php
@@ -493,9 +493,6 @@ function get_theme_feature_list( $api = true ) {
  *         for more information on the make-up of possible return objects depending on the value of `$action`.
  */
 function themes_api( $action, $args = array() ) {
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
 	if ( is_array( $args ) ) {
 		$args = (object) $args;
 	}
@@ -511,7 +508,7 @@ function themes_api( $action, $args = array() ) {
 	}
 
 	if ( ! isset( $args->wp_version ) ) {
-		$args->wp_version = substr( $wp_version, 0, 3 ); // x.y
+		$args->wp_version = substr( wp_get_wp_version(), 0, 3 ); // x.y
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -562,7 +559,7 @@ function themes_api( $action, $args = array() ) {
 
 		$http_args = array(
 			'timeout'    => 15,
-			'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . $wp_version . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
+			'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . wp_get_wp_version() . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
 		);
 		$request   = wp_remote_get( $url, $http_args );
 
diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/translation-install.php b/wp-admin/includes/translation-install.php
index ef9fcc6065..f18bbecd9c 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/translation-install.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/translation-install.php
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@
  * @return array|WP_Error On success an associative array of translations, WP_Error on failure.
  */
 function translations_api( $type, $args = null ) {
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
 	if ( ! in_array( $type, array( 'plugins', 'themes', 'core' ), true ) ) {
 		return new WP_Error( 'invalid_type', __( 'Invalid translation type.' ) );
 	}
@@ -46,7 +43,7 @@ function translations_api( $type, $args = null ) {
 		$options = array(
 			'timeout' => 3,
 			'body'    => array(
-				'wp_version' => $wp_version,
+				'wp_version' => wp_get_wp_version(),
 				'locale'     => get_locale(),
 				'version'    => $args['version'], // Version of plugin, theme or core.
 			),
@@ -128,10 +125,7 @@ function wp_get_available_translations() {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
-	$api = translations_api( 'core', array( 'version' => $wp_version ) );
+	$api = translations_api( 'core', array( 'version' => wp_get_wp_version() ) );
 
 	if ( is_wp_error( $api ) || empty( $api['translations'] ) ) {
 		return array();
diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/update.php b/wp-admin/includes/update.php
index 312289f78e..629c1be1cc 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/update.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/update.php
@@ -264,10 +264,7 @@ function core_update_footer( $msg = '' ) {
 		$cur->response = '';
 	}
 
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
-	$is_development_version = preg_match( '/alpha|beta|RC/', $wp_version );
+	$is_development_version = preg_match( '/alpha|beta|RC/', wp_get_wp_version() );
 
 	if ( $is_development_version ) {
 		return sprintf(
@@ -854,8 +851,6 @@ function wp_theme_update_row( $theme_key, $theme ) {
  * @return void|false
  */
 function maintenance_nag() {
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
 	global $upgrading;
 
 	$nag = isset( $upgrading );
@@ -873,7 +868,7 @@ function maintenance_nag() {
 		 * This flag is cleared whenever a successful update occurs using Core_Upgrader.
 		 */
 		$comparison = ! empty( $failed['critical'] ) ? '>=' : '>';
-		if ( isset( $failed['attempted'] ) && version_compare( $failed['attempted'], $wp_version, $comparison ) ) {
+		if ( isset( $failed['attempted'] ) && version_compare( $failed['attempted'], wp_get_wp_version(), $comparison ) ) {
 			$nag = true;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/wp-includes/functions.php b/wp-includes/functions.php
index e821f6f2b0..91afbecf96 100644
--- a/wp-includes/functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/functions.php
@@ -9006,3 +9006,21 @@ function wp_admin_notice( $message, $args = array() ) {
 
 	echo wp_kses_post( wp_get_admin_notice( $message, $args ) );
 }
+
+/**
+ * Returns the current WordPress Version.
+ *
+ * Returns an unmodified version of `$wp_version`. Some plugins modify the
+ * global in an attempt to improve security through obscurity. This
+ * practice can cause errors in WordPress so the ability to get an
+ * unmodified version is needed.
+ *
+ * @since 6.7.0
+ *
+ * @return string The current WordPress Version.
+ */
+function wp_get_wp_version() {
+	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
+
+	return $wp_version;
+}
diff --git a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-pattern-directory-controller.php b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-pattern-directory-controller.php
index 41f37c9f1d..3345ea0aa1 100644
--- a/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-pattern-directory-controller.php
+++ b/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-pattern-directory-controller.php
@@ -87,13 +87,6 @@ class WP_REST_Pattern_Directory_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 	 * @return WP_REST_Response|WP_Error Response object on success, or WP_Error object on failure.
 	 */
 	public function get_items( $request ) {
-		/*
-		 * Include an unmodified `$wp_version`, so the API can craft a response that's tailored to
-		 * it. Some plugins modify the version in a misguided attempt to improve security by
-		 * obscuring the version, which can cause invalid requests.
-		 */
-		require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
 		$valid_query_args = array(
 			'offset'   => true,
 			'order'    => true,
@@ -106,7 +99,7 @@ class WP_REST_Pattern_Directory_Controller extends WP_REST_Controller {
 		$query_args       = array_intersect_key( $request->get_params(), $valid_query_args );
 
 		$query_args['locale']             = get_user_locale();
-		$query_args['wp-version']         = $wp_version;
+		$query_args['wp-version']         = wp_get_wp_version();
 		$query_args['pattern-categories'] = isset( $request['category'] ) ? $request['category'] : false;
 		$query_args['pattern-keywords']   = isset( $request['keyword'] ) ? $request['keyword'] : false;
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/script-loader.php b/wp-includes/script-loader.php
index b73f12b9cc..121adc646e 100644
--- a/wp-includes/script-loader.php
+++ b/wp-includes/script-loader.php
@@ -684,7 +684,13 @@ function wp_scripts_get_suffix( $type = '' ) {
 	static $suffixes;
 
 	if ( null === $suffixes ) {
-		// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
+		/*
+		 * Include an unmodified $wp_version.
+		 *
+		 * Note: wp_get_wp_version() is not used here, as this file can be included
+		 * via wp-admin/load-scripts.php or wp-admin/load-styles.php, in which case
+		 * wp-includes/functions.php is not loaded.
+		 */
 		require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
 
 		/*
@@ -1522,7 +1528,13 @@ function wp_default_scripts( $scripts ) {
 function wp_default_styles( $styles ) {
 	global $editor_styles;
 
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
+	/*
+	 * Include an unmodified $wp_version.
+	 *
+	 * Note: wp_get_wp_version() is not used here, as this file can be included
+	 * via wp-admin/load-scripts.php or wp-admin/load-styles.php, in which case
+	 * wp-includes/functions.php is not loaded.
+	 */
 	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
 
 	if ( ! defined( 'SCRIPT_DEBUG' ) ) {
diff --git a/wp-includes/update.php b/wp-includes/update.php
index d521913bb9..f8aa27bd8d 100644
--- a/wp-includes/update.php
+++ b/wp-includes/update.php
@@ -31,22 +31,20 @@ function wp_version_check( $extra_stats = array(), $force_check = false ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
 	$php_version = PHP_VERSION;
 
 	$current      = get_site_transient( 'update_core' );
 	$translations = wp_get_installed_translations( 'core' );
 
 	// Invalidate the transient when $wp_version changes.
-	if ( is_object( $current ) && $wp_version !== $current->version_checked ) {
+	if ( is_object( $current ) && wp_get_wp_version() !== $current->version_checked ) {
 		$current = false;
 	}
 
 	if ( ! is_object( $current ) ) {
 		$current                  = new stdClass();
 		$current->updates         = array();
-		$current->version_checked = $wp_version;
+		$current->version_checked = wp_get_wp_version();
 	}
 
 	if ( ! empty( $extra_stats ) ) {
@@ -95,7 +93,7 @@ function wp_version_check( $extra_stats = array(), $force_check = false ) {
 	$extensions = get_loaded_extensions();
 	sort( $extensions, SORT_STRING | SORT_FLAG_CASE );
 	$query = array(
-		'version'            => $wp_version,
+		'version'            => wp_get_wp_version(),
 		'php'                => $php_version,
 		'locale'             => $locale,
 		'mysql'              => $mysql_version,
@@ -191,7 +189,7 @@ function wp_version_check( $extra_stats = array(), $force_check = false ) {
 
 	$options = array(
 		'timeout'    => $doing_cron ? 30 : 3,
-		'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . $wp_version . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
+		'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . wp_get_wp_version() . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
 		'headers'    => array(
 			'wp_install' => $wp_install,
 			'wp_blog'    => home_url( '/' ),
@@ -266,7 +264,7 @@ function wp_version_check( $extra_stats = array(), $force_check = false ) {
 	$updates                  = new stdClass();
 	$updates->updates         = $offers;
 	$updates->last_checked    = time();
-	$updates->version_checked = $wp_version;
+	$updates->version_checked = wp_get_wp_version();
 
 	if ( isset( $body['translations'] ) ) {
 		$updates->translations = $body['translations'];
@@ -315,9 +313,6 @@ function wp_update_plugins( $extra_stats = array() ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
 	// If running blog-side, bail unless we've not checked in the last 12 hours.
 	if ( ! function_exists( 'get_plugins' ) ) {
 		require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/plugin.php';
@@ -423,7 +418,7 @@ function wp_update_plugins( $extra_stats = array() ) {
 			'locale'       => wp_json_encode( $locales ),
 			'all'          => wp_json_encode( true ),
 		),
-		'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . $wp_version . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
+		'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . wp_get_wp_version() . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
 	);
 
 	if ( $extra_stats ) {
@@ -590,9 +585,6 @@ function wp_update_themes( $extra_stats = array() ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
 	$installed_themes = wp_get_themes();
 	$translations     = wp_get_installed_translations( 'themes' );
 
@@ -705,7 +697,7 @@ function wp_update_themes( $extra_stats = array() ) {
 			'translations' => wp_json_encode( $translations ),
 			'locale'       => wp_json_encode( $locales ),
 		),
-		'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . $wp_version . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
+		'user-agent' => 'WordPress/' . wp_get_wp_version() . '; ' . home_url( '/' ),
 	);
 
 	if ( $extra_stats ) {
@@ -989,14 +981,11 @@ function wp_get_update_data() {
  * @global string $wp_version The WordPress version string.
  */
 function _maybe_update_core() {
-	// Include an unmodified $wp_version.
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
-
 	$current = get_site_transient( 'update_core' );
 
 	if ( isset( $current->last_checked, $current->version_checked )
 		&& 12 * HOUR_IN_SECONDS > ( time() - $current->last_checked )
-		&& $current->version_checked === $wp_version
+		&& wp_get_wp_version() === $current->version_checked
 	) {
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 5877f19465..c594ee2975 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.7-alpha-58812';
+$wp_version = '6.7-alpha-58813';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.