Is your WordPress website secure? A recent report by WPScan exposes vulnerabilities that could leave your site exposed. We'll break down the key findings of the 2024 WordPress Vulnerability Report and provide actionable steps to keep your website safe from cyberattacks.
WordPress Vulnerability Severity Distribution
Let's talk about website security for a sec. The good news is that super serious security holes, called critical vulnerabilities, are pretty rare in WordPress, only making up about 2.38% of all threats. Sujee thinks that's a good sign!
But here's the thing: there are other types of security problems that are more common. These are rated as "high" threats, and they make up about 17.68% of vulnerabilities. When you add those up with the critical ones, that's almost 20% of vulnerabilities that could still cause trouble.
So, even though the most serious threats are uncommon, it's still important to keep your WordPress site up-to-date and secure.
Authenticated Versus Unauthenticated
There are two main types of security vulnerabilities, kind of like two ways a thief might try to break into your house.
- Locked Door Vulnerabilities (Authenticated): Imagine a robber who needs a key to get in. These vulnerabilities require an attacker to have a username and password (like a key) to exploit them. In Sujee's experience, vulnerabilities that only regular users can exploit are more concerning because attackers can potentially create fake accounts to launch these attacks. Thankfully, admin-level vulnerabilities, requiring the highest access,are rarer.
- Open Door Vulnerabilities (Unauthenticated): This is like a wide-open door anyone can walk through. These vulnerabilities are the easiest to exploit because anyone can try to attack them, without needing any special login information.
Sujee recommends keeping your WordPress software up-to-date to patch these vulnerabilities, no matter what kind they are. It's like fixing your locks and making sure all the doors are closed tight!
Permission Levels Required For Exploits
Different Keys, Different Risks: Just like there are different levels of keys for your house, there are different user permissions on your WordPress site. Here's how they affect security:
- High Access Hacks (Admin): These are the most common, but require full admin access, like a master key. Be careful who has admin privileges!
- Sneaky Tricks (CSRF): Watch out for CSRF attacks! Hackers can trick admins into clicking bad links and steal their admin rights.
- Lower-Level Loopholes: Lower permissions (editor, contributor) can also be exploited. Keep software updated to patch these.
The key takeaway? Sujee recommends keeping your WordPress software up-to-date and only giving admin access to people you trust completely. This helps keep those security doors locked tight!
Website Security Should Be Considered As Technical SEO
Sujee thinks website security is like a secret weapon for SEO (search engine optimization). Most website checkups don't look at security, but they really should! Here's why:
Imagine a hacker breaks into your site and messes things up. Search engines might flag your site as unsafe and remove it from search results. Ouch! That's why keeping your site secure is crucial.
