Looking for WordPress vulnerabilities with WPScan
Word Alert
© Lead Image © pnphoto, 123RF.com
The number of potential WordPress vulnerabilities is stunning. WPScan scans your site to find the problems that could lead to compromise.
When software becomes uber-popular, attackers spend much more time trying to find security holes. WordPress [1], an extremely popular content management system (CMS), is built on the PHP [2] language. WordPress also hooks into a relatively small database back end, such as MariaDB. I always advise very large commercial organizations to avoid using WordPress due to the constant battle of patching and checking for security issues, even when using some of the excellent automation which is now provided. Smaller businesses might be tempted to use WordPress because of its simplicity, but they need to be vigilant about staying up to date.
In a previous article [3], I introduced WPScan [4] and described how an attacker can use the powerful service to look for vulnerabilities in a WordPress website. The good news is that WordPress webmasters can also use WPScan to close any gaps before an intruder finds them.
Start at the Beginning
Security professionals have spent a long time trying to make life easier for those running WordPress sites. WPScan, in particular, has excelled and created a genuinely invaluable tool to check your site's security. WPScan helps users find every possible (currently) known issue present on a WordPress site in a fully automated fashion.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Reaches EOL
Linux kernel 6.16 has reached its end of life, which means you'll need to upgrade to the next stable release, Linux kernel 6.17.
-
Amazon Ditches Android for a Linux-Based OS
Amazon has migrated from Android to the Linux-based Vega OS for its Fire TV.
-
Cairo Dock 3.6 Now Available for More Compositors
If you're a fan of third-party desktop docks, then the latest release of Cairo Dock with Wayland support is for you.
-
System76 Unleashes Pop!_OS 24.04 Beta
System76's first beta of Pop!_OS 24.04 is an impressive feat.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 is Available
Linus Torvalds has announced that the latest kernel has been released with plenty of core improvements and even more hardware support.
-
Kali Linux 2025.3 Released with New Hacking Tools
If you're a Kali Linux fan, you'll be glad to know that the third release of this famous pen-testing distribution is now available with updates for key components.
-
Zorin OS 18 Beta Available for Testing
The latest release from the team behind Zorin OS is ready for public testing, and it includes plenty of improvements to make it more powerful, user-friendly, and productive.
-
Fedora Linux 43 Beta Now Available for Testing
Fedora Linux 43 Beta ships with Gnome 49 and KDE Plasma 6.4 (and other goodies).
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.