Guide to WordPress Security Best Practices for the Year 2023

WP is a popular platform for managing web services. According to some estimates, WordPress is now the engine that drives about 40% of the Internet, up from 30% only a few years ago. The CMS’s popularity stems from its user-friendliness, low barrier to entry for new users, and extensive ecosystem of plugins and themes. WordPress is user-friendly enough for novices, but it comes at the cost of safety for more advanced users. Subjects discussed in the article include:

Are there any known hacks for WordPress?

Any web app is vulnerable to hacking, but WordPress is especially popular and so more likely to be attacked. While WordPress itself is fairly safe, third-party add-ons and styles are often the cause of security issues. The new feature provided by themes and plugins requires the addition of code to the WordPress core; nevertheless, it is this code that may pose risks. Content providers are not typically privacy professionals and hence lack the knowledge to perform code reviews or vulnerability scans on third-party plugins. Because of this, relying solely on widely-used plugins and themes is not a foolproof security measure (even plugins with millions of downloads may contain undisclosed flaws).

There are a number of potential dangers that could affect a WordPress website, not the least of which is the use of malicious third-party code. A hacker could compromise the targeted website or the WordPress server if it is set up (for example, if it allows unauthorized access to essential files or folders) or exploit software uploaded to the server. Even with its safe code, WordPress is subject to compromise due to any misconfiguration or insecure code.

Due to WordPress’s widespread adoption, it is not uncommon for hackers to employ automated vulnerability detection and exploitation techniques. Anyone who keeps an eye on a WordPress website will tell you about the regular barrage of scans from bots and other forms of malicious software. Here is a rundown of some of the more typical dangers that could jeopardize your WordPress site.

Irregular Authentication

There are often attempts made to get access to the administrator account for a WordPress blog by using brute force. Protect yourself from brute-force authentication by choosing a different administrator login if you notice a monitoring application that bans and logs these bots. Although this won’t stop all brute-force assaults, it will stop those that target the two most common administrator passwords.

Antiquated backend code

Up until the release of WordPress Security Fundamentals: Ultimate Guide 2021, the core code of WordPress is safe to use.

According to some estimates, WordPress is now the engine that drives about 40% of the Internet, up from 30% only a few years ago. The content management system’s popularity stems from its user-friendliness, ease of installation, and extensive theme and plugin community. WordPress is accessible to users with minimal familiarity with the inner workings of web applications, yet this accessibility comes at the sacrifice of security. Subjects discussed in the article include:

Core Applications with Outdated Technology

Until a security hole is discovered, WordPress’s core code is safe to use. The flaw may have been introduced in freshly added code to WordPress’ core source, or it may have been present for some time but only recently been detected.

WordPress is constantly evolving, with new versions being released by developers at any time of the year. WordPress users should always install the most recent update as soon as it becomes available to protect against security flaws caused by insecure or out-of-date core software. Furthermore, WordPress includes an integrated mechanism for updating the core software to the most recent version whenever an update is released.

Older PHP Releases

There have been several revisions to the PHP programming language since its first release, and as a result, earlier versions are no longer maintained. Security upgrades for PHP 8.0 are planned through 2023, according to the PHP website. However, PHP 7.3 will no longer be maintained after December 2021. Running WordPress on an out-of-date version of PHP leaves the site vulnerable to attacks without a reliable means of addressing the problem.

Hosting an out-of-date version of PHP is typical since whenever new software is introduced to the site, the new configuration should be evaluated before it is implemented. There are minor changes between releases, and if you install without testing, your site could be broken. This added complexity causes a delay, giving attackers a chance to strike at a vulnerable time. There should be a rush to test and upgrade the WordPress site to the latest supported version whenever a previously supported version of PHP is declared obsolete.

Roles of Users Not Yet Defined

During the initial WordPress installation process, you will be prompted to establish an administrator account. The application can be fully managed from this account. In addition to the Administrator, there are also Editors, Writers, and Subscribers in WordPress. When a new user account is made, it is granted the minimum set of privileges required by the role assigned to that account.

Strict vigilance over user permissions is required, as is the implementation of clear guidelines for assigning appropriate responsibilities to each new user. New users are automatically assigned a role. This should be the role with the fewest privileges, with more coming later as needed.

Outdated Themes & Plugins for WordPress

When new vulnerabilities are discovered, they must be patched in the same way that the core WordPress software is. Site owners should only install plugins and themes from developers who are still actively updating and maintaining their code, as this mandate increases the burden on software makers to release patches.

Popular plugins are not immune to security flaws, but users may rest assured that most plugin developers will continue to provide security patches. When looking for a plugin or theme, make sure the creator is still working on it and that it receives regular updates, especially security upgrades.

Injection of SQL Code

It is essential to evaluate SQL queries before sending them to the backend database, as this helps prevent SQL injection. With the help of badly written plugins or themes, hackers can inject malicious SQL statements into the database and carry out an attack. With these statements, the attacker can run queries, remove records, and possibly get administrative access. The biggest problem is that malicious actors can plant malware inside the database and then use that to reinvest the system and keep the danger alive.

In order to ensure that their SQL statements are correct before being sent to the database, WordPress site owners rely significantly on developers. To create queries more efficiently, programmers should use prepared statements instead of strings and user input. Any data entered by a user should be considered “unsafe” until it has been confirmed.

Malware

In order to find vulnerabilities in which they might upload malicious software, attackers will often build scripts. When malware is successfully installed, it can compromise the site in a number of ways, including defacement, ransomware download, and code injection into WordPress files. Any WordPress site owner who isn’t experienced with monitoring and identifying malware risks leaving malicious code running, giving the attacker a free pass to steal data. When a site is compromised, the owner experiences worry and must hire a professional to identify the weakness and fix it.

There are a number of entry points for malware. Malware can be deployed on a WordPress site due to a number of security flaws, including vulnerable plugin and theme codes and improper site setups. Malware uploads can be prevented or detected with regular site updates and comprehensive activity monitoring.

Inter-Site Scripting

Attackers launch cross-site scripting (XSS) assaults when they discover vulnerable plugin code that permits them to insert their own malicious content into the communication between the client and the server. XSS attacks might be either reflected or persistent. Reflected XSS occurs when an attacker injects malicious code into user input that is then displayed in the victim’s browser. For example, a GET query that includes text from a text box must be validated before it is sent to the browser. Otherwise, a hostile actor might inject scripts into the user’s browser and steal cookies or access tokens.

When an attacker transmits malicious data to a web server, and that data is subsequently stored in the database by the application, we have a case of persistent XSS. Malicious content is stored and displayed in a user’s browser at a later time. Furthermore, this malicious content may steal cookies or access tokens, send users to a malicious website, or collect sensitive information.

“Distributed Denial of Service” (DDoS)

A distributed denial of service (DDoS) assault occurs not because of faulty programming but because of an overwhelming volume of traffic caused by malicious actors. Rapid identification of a Distributed Denial of Service attack is essential to prevent the site from becoming inaccessible during the attack. DDoS attacks can arise seemingly out of nowhere and involve a deluge of traffic being sent to the server from multiple devices in different geographic regions. It’s important for admins to keep an eye out for this kind of attack so they can respond if it happens.

Different from a denial-of-service attack, a distributed denial-of-service.  Inadequately tested software can also expose users to distributed denial-of-service attacks. The attacks occur when malevolent actors prevent legitimate users from accessing the site’s resources. They can be promptly detected and stopped through careful monitoring of site activity, error messages, and server resources.

Search Engine Optimization Spam

A number of attacks incorporate the use of injectable keywords, links, and redirects. The purpose is to use highly ranked pages on other sites to improve the visibility of the attacker’s site in search engine results. To promote their pharmaceutical items, “pharma hackers” bury keywords and links in the code of their victims’ websites. However, the site owner is blind to the terms and links that search engines use to determine a page’s ranking.

Users are sent from high-ranking pages to malicious sites via conditional redirects. Users might enter credentials or other sensitive information into the attacker-controlled site without realizing they’ve been redirected. Site owners may find that their pages unexpectedly gain or lose prominence for unexpected search terms as a result of using conditional redirection.

Brute-Force Assault

Brute-force attacks frequently target the administrator account. Common passwords are loaded into scripts, and thousands of WordPress sites are attacked in a single automated attack. Two-factor authentication (2FA) and cryptographically secure passwords for all accounts, especially the Administrator, can prevent brute-force assaults. Passwords of at least 12 characters, mixed case letters, lower case letters, numbers, and special characters are considered cryptographically secure. If you want to know more about the development of brute force attacks, see our post about brute force WordPress.

How do I ensure the safety of my WordPress website?

When it comes to the safety of your WordPress site, you may do a lot to rely on developers to create secure code, but you can also do things on your own. In addition to maintaining code security by keeping WordPress and all plugins up-to-date, there are a number of other measures you may take to lessen the danger.

Discover a Trustworthy WordPress Hosting Service.

Use a secure server to host your website. When it comes to WordPress, you can trust that the host provider’s administrators will have it set up securely. To choose dependable WordPress hosting, one should consult evaluations, seek out comments from existing customers, and pose relevant inquiries. Find a host that includes security tools, and you’ll have a much easier time keeping your WordPress site safe.

Have Complete Command  Who Can Access Your WordPress

Pages storing credentials or other private information are prime targets for hackers. The wp-admin, wp-login.php, and xmlrpc.php files are what you need to access these areas. If these files are given the wrong permissions, hackers might steal credentials from the site or inject their own, giving them full access to the database and all of the site’s information.

Protecting these files won’t stop hackers from stealing passwords via phishing, social engineering, or malware. Even if an attacker obtains your WordPress admin credentials, you can take further precautions to prevent them from authenticating.

To thwart brute-force assaults, you should employ cryptographically robust passwords. There should be at least one number, one capital letter, and one special character in a password of at least ten characters in length. Forgetful users of WordPress can keep their login information safe in a password vault.

Two-factor authentication must be utilized. Attackers still require the auth code supplied to your smartphone in order to log in to the WordPress admin panel. After a phishing assault, two-factor authentication can prevent further unauthorized access.

Lower the number of times you have to log in. While it is impossible to prevent bots from trying to log in, you may prevent brute-force attacks by limiting the number of attempts they are allowed to make. There are plugins available for WordPress that will cap the number of login attempts. If an incorrect password is entered a certain number of times, the user’s account will be disabled for that period of time.

Inactive accounts should be unauthenticated. Leaving inactive users online creates vulnerability for token theft or direct device access attacks. If the user logs in from a shared computer and then forgets to log out, a WordPress plugin can prevent unauthorized users from accessing the backend of the site.

Either make a new administrator account or modify the name of the existing one. The administrator account is made during the WordPress installation process. It’s possible to change the name of this account to something else, or you can make a new account and deactivate the primary Administrator one.

Never let WordPress get out of date!

Every year, the WordPress team puts out new versions. Several issues, including bugs and vulnerabilities, have been fixed in these releases. WordPress sites should be backed up before updates, but updates should be applied as quickly as possible, especially if they fix a known security hole.

Keep your plugins and themes up to date when they are released. Attackers can be stopped in their tracks if patches are applied fast, and since most vulnerability originates in plugin and theme code, this is usually the case. Whenever a new version of a plugin or theme is available, a notification appears on the WordPress dashboard.

In order to keep up with updates, you need to check the WordPress dashboard every day; however, if you install Imunify360, you won’t have to bother with this. If you use Imunify360, you can rest assured that your data is safe against breaches caused by out-of-date plugins or core code because the service does Real-time Virtual Patching. It also comes with a web application firewall (WAF) and proactive protection modules that can stop and alert you of suspicious behavior.

WordPress Security: Ten Simple Steps

A WordPress site’s security can only be guaranteed by running through a series of steps before it is released to the public. To assist you in establishing a foundation for protecting your WordPress installation, we’ve compiled a checklist.

Make duplicates

There is no disaster recovery plan without regular backups. When all else fails, you may restore your system to a point in time before the outage occurred, thanks to your backups. If your WordPress site has been compromised by ransomware, you should also have recent backups of the site. They need to be kept in a secure location and frequently examined to make sure they haven’t been compromised.

Put in place safety add-ons.

There are a number of security plugins that could be used to prevent intrusions. XSS, password brute-force attacks, file traversal and malicious uploads can all be prevented with the help of these plugins. While these plugins are helpful, keeping an eye on your WordPress installation for signs of intrusion is essential.

Web Application Firewalls Should Be Used (WAF)

Many attacks that exploit flaws in plugin and theme code can be thwarted by employing a WAF. XSS, malicious PHP scripts, brute-force password attacks, and SQL injection are all things that can be prevented with Imunify360’s WAF. Imunify360 will not only keep an eye out for suspicious activity but will also patch your WordPress installation in the event of security flaws.

Arrange an SSL/HTTPS Certificate

Secure your user connections with an SSL/TLS certificate and prevent data eavesdropping. You should prioritize installing an SSL/TLS certificate before releasing the WordPress installation to a production server because of its importance to search engine rankings.

Prevent Changing Existing Files

Users can modify material, including theme components, by using the WordPress app’s file-editing feature. Your site’s content could be tainted with malware, redirects, or external links if an attacker finds and exploits a security hole. Make sure only the Administrator may make changes to the system files and theme settings.

Turn Off PHP Scripts

To facilitate the upload of media files, plugins, and themes, WordPress sets up writable directories by default. As a result of security flaws in this feature, the site might be used to host malware or PHP programs if an attacker gains access to the code base. WordPress should be set up to prevent PHP script execution so that the site does not become a host for malicious scripts and code.

You can change the prefix of table names in your WordPress database.

SQL injection programs are written by attackers with the presumption that all WordPress tables will have the wp_ prefix. During setup, you’ll have the option to alter this prefix. The vulnerability to SQL injection is not completely fixed. However, any script relying on the assumption that WordPress tables use the default prefix will be blocked.

Turn Off Searching and Indexing Of Directories

Directory browsing exposes a site’s internal structure to scrutiny because search engines may scan the list of viewable files, and attackers can see any readable file. The following parameter in the file can be used to prevent directory browsing:

Conclusion

Protecting your users’ information and your brand’s standing on the web requires a secure WordPress installation. Sites running the WordPress content management system are a prime target for hackers because of the CMS’s widespread adoption. Website and server security may be made easier with Imunify360, allowing you to adopt a more preventative stance.