The most common WordPress security issues occur before or just after your site has been compromised. The goal to hack a website is to the gain unauthorized access on an administrator-level, either from the front end (your WordPress dashboard) or on the server side (by inserting scripts or files).
ISSUE #1. Brute Force Attacks
WordPress brute force attacks are the trial and error method of trying multiple usernames and password combinations again and again until a successful combination is found. The brute force attack method is the simplest way to get access to your website: your WordPress login screen.
WordPress itself doesn’t limit login attempts, so hackers can attack your WordPress login page using the brute force method. Even if a brute force attack is unsuccessful, it can still affect your server, as login attempts can overload your system. While you’re under a brute force attack, some hosts may suspend your account, especially if you’re on a shared hosting plan, due to system overloads.
ISSUE #2. SQL Injections
Your WordPress website uses a MySQL database to handle the backend of your site. SQL injections occur when an attacker gains access to your WordPress database and to all of your website data.
With an SQL injection, an attacker will be able to create a new admin-level user account which further can be used to login and get full access to your WordPress website. SQL injections can also be used to insert new data into your database, including links to malicious or spam websites.
ISSUE #3. File Inclusion Exploits
File Inclusion Exploits are also the way to get access to your WordPress. WordPress website’s PHP code can be used to exploit your website by attackers.
File inclusion exploits occur when the vulnerable code is used to load remote files that allow attackers to gain access to your website. File inclusion exploits are one of the most common ways an attacker can gain access to your WordPress website’s wp-config.php file, one of the most important files in your WordPress installation.
ISSUE #4. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Around 80% of all security vulnerabilities on the entire internet are called Cross-Site Scripting or XSS attacks. Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities are the most common vulnerability found in Nulled WordPress plugins or Nulled WordPress Themes.
The basic working procedure of Cross-Site Scripting works like this: an attacker finds a way to get a victim to load web pages with insecure javascript scripts. These scripts load without the knowledge of the visitor and are then used to steal data from their browsers. An example of a Cross-Site Scripting attack would be a hijacked form that appears to reside on your website. If a user inputs data into that form, that data would be stolen.
ISSUE #5. Malware
Malware is the code that is used to gain unauthorized access to a website to gather sensitive data. A hacked WordPress site usually means malware has been injected into your website’s files, so if you suspect malware on your site, take a look at recently changed files.
Although there are many types of malware infections on the web, WordPress is not vulnerable to all of them. The four most common WordPress malware infections are:
- Backdoors
- Drive-by downloads
- Pharma hacks
- Malicious redirects
Each of these types of malware can be easily identified and cleaned up either by manually removing the malicious file, installing a fresh version of WordPress or by restoring your WordPress site from a previous, non-infected backup.
