24 Feb 2025
11 significant types of attacks that targeted WordPress in 2024
Discover the 11 most significant types of attacks that targeted WordPress websites in 2024. Learn how these threats work and the best strategies to protect your site from vulnerabilities.
Powering over 40% of the websites on the internet, WordPress stands as one of the world's most popular content management systems (CMS). However, its widespread use also makes it a prime target for cyberattacks. As we move into 2025, attackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, developing new methods to exploit vulnerabilities and compromise WordPress sites. These attacks can lead to stolen data, unauthorized access, financial loss, and complete website takeovers.
Understanding the types of attacks that target WordPress is the first step in building a robust defense strategy. This article will explore 11 of the most significant attack types that threaten WordPress sites in 2024. We'll delve into how these attacks work and their potential impacts, from traditional methods like brute force and SQL injection to emerging threats such as AI-powered malware and zero-day exploits. This knowledge is crucial for your site's security.
Whether you're a site owner, developer, or IT professional, you play a critical role in ensuring the security and integrity of your WordPress site. Staying informed about these risks is not just important, it's essential. Let's dive in and uncover what 2024 holds for WordPress security, and how you can take proactive steps to protect your site.
Understanding the types of attacks that target WordPress is the first step in building a robust defense strategy. This article will explore 11 of the most significant attack types that threaten WordPress sites in 2024. We'll delve into how these attacks work and their potential impacts, from traditional methods like brute force and SQL injection to emerging threats such as AI-powered malware and zero-day exploits. This knowledge is crucial for your site's security.
Whether you're a site owner, developer, or IT professional, you play a critical role in ensuring the security and integrity of your WordPress site. Staying informed about these risks is not just important, it's essential. Let's dive in and uncover what 2024 holds for WordPress security, and how you can take proactive steps to protect your site.
1 - Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
This was the most common vulnerability, accounting for nearly half of all disclosed vulnerabilities. Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a security vulnerability that allows attackers to insert harmful code into trusted websites. These codes are often executed in a user's browser without their knowledge, enabling attackers to steal sensitive data, such as login credentials, session cookies, or personal information.
XSS attacks are typically carried out by exploiting input fields or URLs that fail to clean user input properly. Implementing strong input validation and output encoding practices is crucial to prevent them.
XSS attacks are typically carried out by exploiting input fields or URLs that fail to clean user input properly. Implementing strong input validation and output encoding practices is crucial to prevent them.
2 - Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
The second most prevalent vulnerability type. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is a web security vulnerability that tricks users into performing unintended actions on a trusted website where they are authenticated. By exploiting the user's active session, attackers can send malicious requests (such as form submissions or data changes) without the user's consent. CSRF attacks often rely on social engineering tactics, like clicking a malicious link or loading an embedded image.
Preventing CSRF typically involves using security measures such as CSRF tokens and same-site cookies and verifying request origins to ensure requests are intentional and authorized.
Preventing CSRF typically involves using security measures such as CSRF tokens and same-site cookies and verifying request origins to ensure requests are intentional and authorized.
3 - SQL Injection (SQLi)
A significant threat, representing a portion of disclosed vulnerabilities. SQL Injection (SQLi) is a web security vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate a website's database by injecting malicious SQL code into input fields or queries. This can lead to unauthorized access, data theft, modification, or even deletion of sensitive information stored in the database.
SQLi attacks often exploit poorly sanitized user inputs like login forms or search bars. To prevent SQL injection, developers should use prepared statements, parameterized queries, and input validation to ensure the database only processes valid data.
SQLi attacks often exploit poorly sanitized user inputs like login forms or search bars. To prevent SQL injection, developers should use prepared statements, parameterized queries, and input validation to ensure the database only processes valid data.
4 - Authentication Bypass
A critical vulnerability allows attackers to log in as registered users, including administrators. Authentication Bypass is a security vulnerability that allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to a system or application by circumventing authentication mechanisms. This can occur due to flaws such as weak credentials, misconfigured permissions, or vulnerabilities in login processes, like poorly implemented session management or input validation. By exploiting these weaknesses, attackers can impersonate legitimate users, often gaining access to sensitive data or administrative functions.
Preventing authentication bypass involves enforcing strong authentication methods, secure session handling, and regular security testing.
Preventing authentication bypass involves enforcing strong authentication methods, secure session handling, and regular security testing.
5 - Unauthenticated Stored XSS
Attackers exploited this to inject malicious scripts into WordPress databases. Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (Stored XSS) is a type of Cross-Site Scripting attack where an attacker injects malicious scripts into a website's database or backend without requiring the attacker to be logged in. When other users access the affected page, the malicious script is executed in their browsers, potentially stealing session data and login credentials or spreading malware. Since the script is stored on the server, it affects all users who visit the compromised page.
Preventing stored XSS involves properly sanitizing and escaping user input to ensure harmful scripts are not executed.
Preventing stored XSS involves properly sanitizing and escaping user input to ensure harmful scripts are not executed.
6 - Credential Stuffing
One of the most common attacks involves guessing multiple username and password combinations. Credential Stuffing is a cyberattack method where attackers use stolen username and password combinations from previous data breaches to gain unauthorized access to various accounts. Since many users reuse passwords across different sites, attackers automate login attempts on numerous platforms, hoping to find matches. Successful credential-stuffing attacks can lead to account takeovers, data theft, and fraud.
To defend against credential stuffing, websites should implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), rate limiting, and CAPTCHA challenges to block automated login attempts.
To defend against credential stuffing, websites should implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), rate limiting, and CAPTCHA challenges to block automated login attempts.
7 - Privilege Escalation
Attackers leveraged this to upload backdoors and add malicious admin users. Privilege Escalation is a security vulnerability where an attacker gains higher-level access or permissions than they are authorized to have, typically within an operating system or application. This can occur through exploiting system flaws or bypassing security measures. Privilege escalation allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions, such as accessing sensitive data, installing malware, or taking control of a system. It is typically classified into two types: vertical (gaining higher privileges, like from a regular user to an administrator) and horizontal (accessing another user's privileges).
Preventing privilege escalation requires implementing least-privilege access controls and regularly patching system vulnerabilities.
Preventing privilege escalation requires implementing least-privilege access controls and regularly patching system vulnerabilities.
8 - Broken Access Control
Exploited in popular plugins like Breeze – WordPress Cache Plugin. Broken Access Control is a security vulnerability when an application fails to properly enforce restrictions on what authenticated users can do or access. This can allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to restricted resources, data, or functionalities that should only be available to users with higher privileges. Broken access control can occur through flaws like insecure direct object references, insufficient role validation, or improper URL access management.
To mitigate this risk, it's essential to implement proper access control checks, regularly audit permissions, and ensure security configurations are correctly applied across the system.
To mitigate this risk, it's essential to implement proper access control checks, regularly audit permissions, and ensure security configurations are correctly applied across the system.
9 - Sensitive Data Exposure
Vulnerabilities found in multiple plugins, potentially leaking sensitive information. Sensitive Data Exposure is a security vulnerability when sensitive information, such as personal details, financial data, or authentication credentials, is not adequately protected during storage or transmission. This can lead to unauthorized access or leakage of private data, often due to weak encryption, improper data handling, or poor security practices. Attackers can exploit this exposure to steal, misuse, or compromise the data.
Organizations should use strong encryption and secure communication protocols (like HTTPS) to prevent sensitive data exposure and ensure proper access controls are in place to protect sensitive information.
Organizations should use strong encryption and secure communication protocols (like HTTPS) to prevent sensitive data exposure and ensure proper access controls are in place to protect sensitive information.
10 - Settings Change Attacks
High-severity vulnerabilities allow unauthorized changes to WordPress settings. Settings Change Attacks occur when attackers gain unauthorized access to a system or application and alter its settings or configurations to exploit vulnerabilities, disrupt operations, or escalate their privileges. These attacks include modifying security settings, disabling logging or alerts, or altering user permissions to facilitate further exploitation. By tampering with system settings, attackers can make their malicious actions harder to detect or prevent.
To defend against settings change attacks, organizations should implement strict access controls, monitor configuration changes, and regularly audit system settings for any unauthorized modifications.
To defend against settings change attacks, organizations should implement strict access controls, monitor configuration changes, and regularly audit system settings for any unauthorized modifications.
11 - Remote Access Trojan (RAT) Infections
Attackers tricked users into downloading RATs through compromised WordPress sites. Remote Access Trojan (RAT) Infections occur when malicious software is installed on a victim's system, allowing attackers to control the device remotely without the user's knowledge. RATs enable cybercriminals to perform various harmful activities, such as stealing sensitive information, monitoring user activity, installing additional malware, or using the system for further attacks. These infections are often spread through phishing emails, malicious downloads, or exploit kits.
To protect against RAT infections, using up-to-date antivirus software, avoiding suspicious links, and maintaining strong system security configurations are essential.
To protect against RAT infections, using up-to-date antivirus software, avoiding suspicious links, and maintaining strong system security configurations are essential.
Conclusion
To protect your website from these attacks, it's crucial to implement a comprehensive security strategy. Start by regularly updating and patching software, plugins, and themes to fix known vulnerabilities. Use strong authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), and ensure proper access controls are in place to limit user privileges. Protect sensitive data with encryption and secure communication protocols like HTTPS. Regularly monitor your website for suspicious activity and set up alerts for unauthorized changes or access attempts. Additionally, employ a Web Application Firewall (WAF), sanitize user inputs to prevent injection attacks, and back up your site frequently to ensure quick recovery in case of an attack. By staying proactive and following best security practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of attacks and safeguard your website and its users.
At Quttera, we provide robust protection for WordPress websites by offering advanced malware detection, real-time scanning, and proactive threat monitoring. Our tools help identify and block attacks, including XSS, SQL injection, and malware infections, ensuring that vulnerabilities are quickly detected and addressed. We also provide firewall solutions to block malicious traffic and prevent unauthorized access, along with security reports to inform website owners about potential threats. By integrating Quttera’s security solutions, WordPress websites benefit from comprehensive protection against common and emerging cyberattacks, helping maintain site integrity and user trust.
At Quttera, we provide robust protection for WordPress websites by offering advanced malware detection, real-time scanning, and proactive threat monitoring. Our tools help identify and block attacks, including XSS, SQL injection, and malware infections, ensuring that vulnerabilities are quickly detected and addressed. We also provide firewall solutions to block malicious traffic and prevent unauthorized access, along with security reports to inform website owners about potential threats. By integrating Quttera’s security solutions, WordPress websites benefit from comprehensive protection against common and emerging cyberattacks, helping maintain site integrity and user trust.