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November 17, 2025 15 min read

WordPress Security: Securing your WordPress Website

In my previous post on Securing Your Website, I covered why strong security isn't just a "nice to have" — it's a core part of every organization's IT and SOC strategy. If a website is the front door to your business, then weak security is like leaving that door slightly cracked open with a neon sign that says free stuff inside.

My goal with this series is simple: help business owners, developers, sysadmins, and anyone who touches a web server understand how dangerously easy it is to build something insecure — and how to fix it.

And today's topic?

The internet's favorite website builder: WordPress.

WordPress is the most widely-used CMS on the planet. Your friend, your coworker, your aunt, the bakery down the street — and yes, probably even their dog — has used WordPress at some point. It's popular because it's simple:

  1. Download WordPress
  2. Extract it into your web directory
  3. Create a database
  4. Run the installer
  5. Boom. You've got a website.

Sounds great, right?

And honestly, that's the beauty of WordPress: it lowers the barrier to entry.

But here's the catch nobody talks about when they're clicking through the installation wizard:

That convenience comes with vulnerabilities — some built right into WordPress itself, others introduced the second you add themes, plugins, or a misconfigured server.

If you deploy WordPress with default settings and call it a day, you're practically inviting bots, scanners, and script kiddies to break in. The moment your site goes live, automated attacks start knocking. Directory brute-forcing, login spraying, plugin exploitation, XML-RPC abuse, backup scraping — it all happens fast.

So in this post, we're going to break down:

Because WordPress isn't the problem — the problem is treating WordPress like a plug-and-play toy instead of the full-blown web application it actually is.

Let's get into it.

Why WordPress Is Such a Big Target

WordPress runs over 40% of the entire internet. That means attackers don't need to reinvent the wheel — if they learn how to compromise one WordPress site, they effectively know how to compromise millions.

Hackers love WordPress for three main reasons:

1. Predictable Structure

Every WordPress site has the same core file structure, the same database schema, the same login URL (unless you hide it).

To an attacker, that's like having the blueprint to every house in a neighborhood.

2. Plugins and Themes Are a Goldmine

The ecosystem is huge, and unfortunately, not every plugin developer thinks about security. Vulnerabilities in popular plugins become instant mass-exploit opportunities.

The math looks like this:

A flaw in a plugin with 1 million installs = 1 million vulnerable sites.

And hackers absolutely scan the internet for these things.

3. Users Assume WordPress Is "Secure Enough" By Default

It isn't.

WordPress is secure-ish out of the box, but not hardened. Like buying a house with doors and windows — sure, it stands, but you're the one responsible for adding locks, alarms, and cameras.

Built-In Weaknesses Most People Don't Know About

Even a clean, fresh WordPress install has risks:

📂 1. File and Directory Exposure

By default, many WordPress directories can be browsed if not configured properly.

Hackers often look for:

These may not seem dangerous, but exposed directories can leak:

And when a hacker knows exactly what version you're running? They just go look up the known exploits.

🪪 2. User Enumeration

By default, WordPress exposes usernames through:

Once an attacker has a valid username, they only have half the credentials left to brute-force.

🔌 3. Plugin Auto-Discovery

Attackers run automated scans to list every plugin installed on your site — even if the plugins aren't visible to visitors.

They then compare version numbers to public vulnerability databases.

If you're running:

You're already compromised — you just don't know it yet.

Plugins and Themes: The #1 Source of WordPress Breaches

I've seen this over and over: people install one vulnerable plugin, and maybe nothing happens for months… until one day their site is selling crypto scams or redirecting users to sketchy ads.

Here's the breakdown of WordPress breaches:

And it's not even your fault half the time — a plugin you installed two years ago and forgot about might be wide open.

Some common plugin-based attacks include:

If a plugin lets an attacker upload even a single PHP file, it's game over.

What Attackers Do Once They Get Access

Let's be real: attackers don't break in just to look around.

They will:

And once they're in, removing them isn't easy — even after cleaning, many attackers leave hidden persistence mechanisms like:

How to Actually Harden Your WordPress Site

Here's the part nobody actually does — but if you do, you'll be ahead of 99% of WordPress owners.

1. Disable directory browsing

Add this to your .htaccess:

Options -Indexes

2. Block PHP execution in uploads

Create or modify .htaccess inside wp-content/uploads:

deny from all
<Files *.php>
    deny from all
</Files>

3. Move or hide your admin URL

Change /wp-admin and /wp-login.php

Tools like WPS Hide Login make this painless.

4. Disable XML-RPC

Unless you specifically use it for Jetpack or remote publishing, disable it. It's one of the most abused endpoints in WordPress.

5. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Cloudflare, Wordfence, or Sucuri can block most automated attacks before they even hit your PHP stack.

6. Keep everything updated

And I mean everything:

If you're not updating weekly, you're living dangerously.

7. Remove what you don't use

Old themes, deactivated plugins, example files — all of these are liabilities.

If it's not required, delete it.

8. Least-privilege user accounts

No, your content writer does not need Administrator privileges.

9. Turn off file editing in WP Admin

Drop this in wp-config.php:

define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

This stops attackers from injecting malicious code through the built-in theme/plugin editor.

Wordfence: Your WordPress Security Bouncer

If you're running a WordPress site and you're not using some form of WAF (Web Application Firewall), you're basically letting every bot and script kiddie on the internet knock on your door whenever they feel like it. And when it comes to WordPress-specific protection, Wordfence is one of the strongest tools you can deploy.

Here's why Wordfence is such a big deal:

1. A Firewall Designed Specifically for WordPress

Most firewalls are generic. They filter traffic using broad rules that apply to any PHP site. Wordfence is different — its firewall understands:

It's not just blocking suspicious requests; it's actively detecting and stopping known WordPress-specific attacks.

2. Real-Time Malware Scanning

Wordfence can scan your entire installation and compare your core files, plugins, and themes against the official WordPress repository. If anything looks modified, infected, or suspicious, it flags it.

That means:

All get caught early.

3. Massive Threat Intelligence Backing It

Wordfence has a full-time research team tracking new vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem. Every time a popular plugin or theme gets hit with a new CVE, their firewall rules get updated.

If you have the paid version, you get those rules in real time.

If you're on the free version, you get them after a short delay — still extremely useful for most sites.

4. Bruteforce Protection That Actually Works

Hackers love hammering WordPress login pages because:

Wordfence steps in and:

Even just enabling 2FA through Wordfence cuts off an entire category of attacks.

5. Live Traffic Monitoring (The Eye-Opener)

Wordfence's live traffic view is the moment most people realize their site is under constant attack.

You literally see:

It's the digital version of watching someone jiggle your door handle every 30 seconds.

6. Country Blocking (Paid Feature)

If you only do business in specific regions, you can block entire countries known for malicious traffic patterns.

This cuts down noise dramatically.

7. Easy Cleanup Tools

If you ever do get hacked, Wordfence helps:

It basically takes the panic out of cleanup.

How Wordfence Fits Into Your Overall Security Plan

Wordfence isn't magic — it won't save you from:

But as part of a layered security approach, it's one of the strongest defenses you can deploy on a WordPress site.

Think of it like this:

When you combine them? You're covering both the edge and the application level — which is exactly where WordPress sites get attacked the most.

Cloudflare: Your First Line of Defense (Before WordPress Even Loads)

If Wordfence is your on-site security guard, then Cloudflare is the giant, heavily-armored fortress wall surrounding your entire property. It sits in front of your hosting server — acting as a shield — and filters out malicious traffic long before WordPress has to deal with it.

Why Cloudflare Is a Game-Changer for WordPress Security

1. Stops Attacks Before They Touch Your Server

Most WordPress attacks are automated:

Cloudflare blocks a huge chunk of this garbage at the DNS level.

Your hosting server never sees it, Wordfence never sees it — it just gets dropped instantly.

This alone massively reduces:

Basically, WordPress gets to breathe.

2. Built-In DDoS Protection

A DDoS attack can knock a small WordPress site offline instantly. Cloudflare eats that for breakfast.

They have:

Even sudden traffic bursts or bot floods get absorbed automatically.

3. WAF (Web Application Firewall) for WordPress

Cloudflare's firewall isn't WordPress-specific by default — but it does have rule sets designed for CMS platforms.

When you enable Cloudflare's WAF you get:

If your website has a vulnerable plugin, Cloudflare can often block the exploit even before you update it.

4. Bot Management (Paid, But Worth It)

Even the free bot protection is decent, but with paid plans:

It cuts down on noise dramatically.

5. Rate Limiting

This is huge for WordPress:

One well-configured rate limit rule can shut down 90% of brute-force attempts.

6. Hides Your Server's Real IP

This is underrated.

Cloudflare masks your origin server IP, which prevents:

If an attacker can't find your server, they can't target it directly.

7. Automatic HTTPS & SSL Management

Cloudflare gives you:

Even if your hosting provider is a dumpster fire, Cloudflare adds modern encryption.

8. CDN Speed Boosts Are a Security Boost Too

A faster site = fewer timeouts, fewer bottlenecks, less server load, fewer openings for abuse.

Cloudflare optimizes:

Speed + security go hand-in-hand.

The Bottom Line

WordPress is incredibly powerful — but only if you treat it like the application it is, not a disposable website toy.

A default WordPress install is the equivalent of:

It works, but you're asking for trouble.

Secure WordPress, and it'll serve you for years. Ignore it, and automated attackers will gladly turn your site into their playground.

About the Author

Austen Young

Austen Young

IT Specialist & Cybersecurity Enthusiast

Austen is an Information Technology Specialist and Cybersecurity enthusiast with a strong foundation in server environments, IT infrastructure, and web development. I specialize in leading IT initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and security, with hands-on experience in managing physical and cloud-based systems, optimizing networks, and ensuring robust data protection.