Website Security is one of the most important and highly discussed topics in the world. On the other hand wordpress being the most popular and widely used CMS (Content Management System), hence connected with the website security issue. Do you know wordpress powers 40% of websites on the internet, which is obviously a very big number. Due to which wordpress sites become the biggest and top prioritised target for hackers and cybercriminals in order to fulfil their malicious purposes by exploiting the vulnerabilities existing in the wordpress sites. So, remember it is very significant to take and apply proper security measures in order to protect your site from these malicious attacks. Those attacks have already done a lot of damage to various wordpress sites.

If you are getting worried by what you read above, then know that we have created this informative, easy to understand and simple to follow article to help you to secure your wordpress site from malicious attacks. Whether your site has been hacked or you just simply want to remain secure from the attacks, these steps will help you throughout that process. It is a complete list of steps to highly secure your site.

Common Vulnerabilities Affecting WordPress Sites and Their Prevention

1. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

XSS attacks occur when attackers inject malicious scripts into a website, typically into input fields like login forms, contact forms, or search boxes. When a user visits the affected page, the malicious code executes automatically in their browser, potentially compromising sensitive data.

Prevention:

• Clean user inputs using the function sanitize_text_field().
• Avoid displaying user-generated content unless it’s escaped using esc_html() or wp_kses_post().
• Install security plugins like Wordfence to scan for vulnerabilities and protect against XSS attacks.

2. SQL Injection (SQLi)

SQL injection allows hackers to inject malicious SQL code into your website’s database. Once successful, attackers can gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or modify the database.

Prevention:

• Use prepared statements like $wpdb->prepare() to separate SQL queries from user input, preventing malicious code injection.
• A Web Application Firewall (WAF), such as the one included with Wordfence, can block malicious SQL queries before they reach your database.

3. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

CSRF attacks trick users into performing unintended actions on a website where they are authenticated, such as changing passwords or making purchases. Attackers use phishing emails or malicious links to exploit this.

Prevention:

• Implement nonces (single-use tokens) using wp_nonce_field() to validate that form submissions come from authenticated users.
• Verify nonces before processing form data:

  if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] === 'POST') {
      if (!isset($_POST['my_nonce_field']) || !wp_verify_nonce($_POST['my_nonce_field'], 'my_action')) {
          die('Security check failed.');
      }
  }

• Wordfence also helps mitigate CSRF attacks through its comprehensive security measures.

4. Brute Force Attacks

In brute force attacks, hackers systematically attempt multiple password combinations to gain unauthorized access. Weak passwords are particularly vulnerable.

Prevention:

• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of security. Wordfence includes 2FA to prevent unauthorized logins.
• Use plugins like Limit Login Attempts Reloaded to limit failed login attempts from a single IP address.
• Set strong passwords that include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

5. File Inclusion Vulnerabilities

File inclusion vulnerabilities occur when user input is not properly sanitized, allowing attackers to include and execute malicious files on your site. For example, attackers can specify paths that lead to sensitive server files.

Prevention:

• Disable PHP file execution in directories like /wp-content/uploads/ to block malicious scripts.
• Ensure that all uploaded files are validated for type, size, and content before being accepted.

6. Insecure Plugins and Themes

Insecure or outdated plugins and themes can expose your site to malware, unauthorized access, and data breaches.

Prevention:

• Avoid using pirated or nulled plugins and themes, as they often contain malicious code.
• Only download themes and plugins from trusted sources, and keep them regularly updated.
• Enable auto-updates in WordPress or use Wordfence’s automatic updates feature for themes and plugins.

7. Outdated WordPress Core

Running an outdated version of WordPress leaves your site vulnerable to known security flaws that hackers can exploit.

Prevention:

• Regularly update WordPress to the latest version. You can do this from your WordPress dashboard or through an FTP client.
• Wordfence can also automatically update your WordPress core to ensure it is always running the latest version.

8. Insecure Admin Access (Default Login URL)

If your site uses the default /wp-admin URL, it becomes an easy target for brute force attacks.

Prevention:

• Change the default login URL using plugins like WPS Hide Login to make it harder for attackers to locate your login page.
• Use IP address restrictions to limit access to the login area. Wordfence’s login security feature can restrict login access based on IP.

9. Outdated PHP Version

An outdated PHP version opens your site to serious security risks, including vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.

Prevention:

• Update to the latest PHP version. Ensure that your WordPress site and plugins are compatible with the new version.
• Contact your hosting provider or use the tools provided in your hosting account to upgrade PHP.

10. Directory Listing Enabled

If directory listing is enabled, hackers can access a list of files stored in your WordPress directories, potentially exposing sensitive information.

Prevention:

• Disable directory listing by adding Options -Indexes to your .htaccess file.

11. XML-RPC Exploitation

XML-RPC is a feature in WordPress that allows remote access. Hackers can exploit this feature to send multiple login requests and carry out brute force attacks.

Prevention:

• Disable XML-RPC if it’s not needed by adding the following to your .htaccess file:

  <Files xmlrpc.php>
  Order Deny,Allow
  Deny from all
  </Files>

• Alternatively, you can use the Disable XML-RPC plugin to block XML-RPC functionality. Wordfence also has the option to disable XML-RPC.

12. Malware Infections (Backdoors, Phishing, etc.)

Malware infections typically occur when insecure plugins, themes, or outdated WordPress files are exploited. This can result in backdoors, phishing pages, or data breaches.

Prevention:

• Use security plugins like Wordfence to scan your site regularly for vulnerabilities, malware, and suspicious activities.
• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to block malicious traffic before it reaches your site. Wordfence includes a powerful WAF.
• Ensure that your hosting provider offers malware detection and removal services for comprehensive protection.

13. Privilege Escalation

Privilege escalation happens when attackers gain higher user privileges than intended, such as elevating their role from a subscriber to an admin.

Prevention:

• Limit user roles and permissions based on necessity.
• Regularly review and adjust user roles and permissions.
• Keep all plugins and themes updated to their latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities. Wordfence ensures your plugins and themes remain up to date.

14. Unvalidated Redirects and Forwards

When a website allows users to be redirected to different URLs without proper validation, attackers can exploit this to send users to malicious sites.

Prevention:

• Always validate and sanitize URLs used for redirection.
• Use wp_safe_redirect() to ensure the redirection is secure.

15. Weak Default Configurations (wp-config.php)

The wp-config.php file contains sensitive information such as database credentials and secret keys. Exposed or weak configurations in this file can lead to data breaches and unauthorized access.

Prevention:

• Move the wp-config.php file above the public_html directory to prevent direct access via the web.
• Regularly review and secure sensitive information in the wp-config.php file.

Wordfence Security Plugin for Enhanced Protection

Wordfence is one of the most powerful security plugins available for WordPress, offering comprehensive protection for your site. It includes:

• Firewall Protection: Blocks malicious traffic before it reaches your site, preventing SQL injection, XSS, and other attacks.
• Login Security: Provides Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), limits login attempts, and tracks failed logins to prevent brute force attacks.
• Malware Scanner: Regularly scans your site for malware, vulnerabilities, and suspicious files, alerting you immediately when an issue is detected.

Conclusion

Cyber threats are always changing. To keep your website safe, you should always stay updated on new security threats and best practices.

May Be You Are Also Interested In:

• An Introduction to WordPress
• Stay updated on the latest vulnerabilities by visiting CVE Details, a comprehensive resource for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures.