Today, more than 40% of all web resources on the Internet are built with WordPress, making it one of the most popular platforms for creating websites. In this article, we’ll explore WordPress and figure out why this CMS is at risk. We will look at where WordPress vulnerabilities come from and what threats they pose to your website. VPS-UP specialists will also analyze recently discovered vulnerabilities and show you how to use online services to check your website for vulnerabilities.
What is WordPress and why is it vulnerable
WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to create, manage, and publish websites and blogs. It has become popular due to its ease of use and scalability.
But on the other hand, accessibility comes with vulnerability. Each installed plugin is a set of files with program code that accesses your site and its data. Despite all the useful features that plugins can provide, they can also contain potentially dangerous code such as viruses, Trojans, or other security threats. It cannot be guaranteed that every plugin available on the Internet is completely safe.
WordPress vulnerabilities – where do they come from and how do they threaten the site
When working with themes and plugins in WordPress, we often download and activate additional functionality, but rarely examine the code of these extensions. This can lead to serious vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers by injecting malicious code, hacking into your site, and using it for malicious purposes.
There are several ways malicious code can threaten your website:
- Viruses and malware can infect your website and visitors’ devices or be used to attack other web resources.
- Administrator password reset and unauthorized access – attackers can gain full control over the site, including access to important data.
- Phishing – malicious code can be used for fraudulent activities that can damage your reputation and financial position, especially if you have an online store.
- Automatic redirects and view spinning can affect website traffic by redirecting visitors to other resources or artificially increasing views.
- DDoS attacks – malicious code can be used to organize attacks on your server, which can lead to the inaccessibility of the site.
To demonstrate the scale of the problem, it is worth mentioning that in just one week in April 2023, 70-80 vulnerabilities were discovered in WordPress themes and plugins affecting millions of sites on this platform. These vulnerabilities can become a key entry point for attacks and lead to serious consequences.
Recently discovered WordPress vulnerabilities
WordPress vulnerabilities are a phenomenon that manifests itself with some regularity. For example, in a recent case, a popular plugin was found to be vulnerable to a reflexive cross-site scripting attack. This type of attack allows attackers to inject malicious code into users’ browsers, which can lead to the theft of sensitive information. Another example is the popular Essential Addons plugin for Elementor, which contains a vulnerability with CVE-2023-32243, allowing an attacker to reset the password and gain access to the site.
It is important to understand that vulnerabilities can also be discovered and exploited by attackers in the WordPress engine itself. They infect websites with malicious code and redirect users to fraudulent pages to boost ad impressions. These cases emphasize the importance of regular updates and constant monitoring of the security of your WordPress site.
Read also: Key indicators of website loading speed
Vulnerability scanners for website scanning
Since a WordPress site may have its own vulnerabilities by default, it is important to learn how to detect and fix them. To do this, there are many online services that offer both free and paid security features. These services specialize in finding WordPress vulnerabilities, and below is a list of some of them:
- Hacker Target WordPress Security Scan. This service conducts extensive testing of your site, starting with identifying the CMS, themes, and plugins used, and determines whether your site needs to be updated. It also checks for possible problems with user records.
- Scanurl. This service allows you to assess the reputation of your website on the web. It checks whether your site passes Google Safe Browsing, whether it has negative ratings, and whether it has been marked as unsafe, including by WebTrust.
- Sucuri Website Malware and Security Scanner. Sucuri is a company specializing in website security. Their product searches for malicious scripts on your site, firewall issues, and checks if your site is blacklisted and much more.
- UpGuard. This service not only scans your website for vulnerabilities, but also provides results in an interactive form. It looks for malicious code, as well as problems with antivirus protection and much more.
Regular use of vulnerability scanners will help make your WordPress security more robust. It is recommended that you scan at least once a month to quickly identify and eliminate potential threats.
Steps to secure your WordPress site – a roadmap
To ensure the security of your website, you need to take a number of specific steps.
Protecting the administrative panel
Most attacks are aimed at gaining access to the administrative panel of the site. To protect yourself:
- Install two-factor authentication (2FA) using plugins such as Jetpack or Google Authenticator. This will add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of identification after entering your password.
- Limit the number of password attempts by using plugins such as Loginizer or Limit Login Attempts. This will help prevent password brute-force attacks.
- Create separate accounts for editors and content managers, limiting their access rights to only those necessary to work with the content.
Choose proven themes and plugins
Choosing the right themes and plugins is a key point in ensuring the security of your website:
- has been tested for security.
- Update your themes and plugins regularly, as developers are constantly releasing updates that include vulnerability fixes.
Using security plugins
Choose security plugins that meet your needs and provide an extra layer of protection:
- Sucuri. This plugin scans your site for viruses, protects against DDoS attacks, and maintains a security certificate.
- All in One WP Security & Firewall. Includes a firewall and other features such as IP address blocking and visit logging.
- Wordfence. Scans site files for threats, monitors traffic, and provides a firewall to prevent hacking attempts.
General tips
Additional measures to ensure the security of your website:
- Make regular backups of your website to restore it in case of failure.
- Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
- Install an SSL certificate to ensure secure data exchange between your site and users.
- Remove the standard “admin” account and create unique logins for users to make hacking attempts more difficult.
By following these recommendations and regularly updating your site and plugins, you can significantly improve the security of your WordPress site. Don’t forget to keep up to date with security news and implement the latest security practices. It may take a little effort, but it’s well worth it to ensure the security of your site and user data.
