WordPress Security Vulnerabilities : WordPress Version 4.9.8
WordPress is arguably the most hacked content management system. If your site runs on WordPress version 4.9.8 or older than that, you need to get the patch. You can fix such WordPress Security Vulnerabilities, but for that, it is essential to update to WordPress 5+.
This article will discuss the Remote Code Execution vulnerability, remove this vulnerability, and more.
Table of Contents
What is a Remote Code Execution vulnerability ?
How to tell if your website has been hacked?
How to fix a Remote Code Execution vulnerability?
Closing Thoughts
What is a Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Tech experts at RIPS Technologies GmbH revealed that a critical remote code execution vulnerability affects the WordPress version before 5.4.2.
As per RCE (remote code execution) cyber-attack, a hacker gains access to the computer, regardless of the computer’s location. This vulnerability allows hackers to take complete control over a computer or a server by running random malicious Malware. Once the hacker gains access to the computer, he often attempts to elevate his privileges.
How to Tell if Your Website Has Been Hacked
Lately, if you have seen the "Red Screen of Death" on your screen, it is a clear indication that your site has been hacked. Make sure you take this seriously, as this means your site has been infected for quite some time.
Without adequate security measures, every website is vulnerable to being hacked. Security is an ongoing process, and no website is 100% secured. You can secure your site once you know how to identify & find hacked WordPress site files?
Let us get to know how you can discover a hacked site -
Look for the notifications from browsers, hosting providers, and more -
Various notifications can also make you aware of the WordPress hack. Let us understand this with the help of notification sources -
1. Browser Can Help You Notify of a Hacked Site
Your browser can help you notify of a hacked site. For instance, if you are using Google Chrome, and you have visited an unsafe website, Google Chrome will display a red screen, also known as "Red Screen of Death." The browser will notify you that the site is malicious and return to the previous page.
2. Google Search Console Security Alerts
It is important to have a Google Search Console account. If you have an account, you get to receive security alerts related to your site. Depending on the settings you have set, the console may automatically send you emails if any website security issue is detected. Make sure you check your website’s inbox regularly for any security alert.
3. Internet Users Inform You About Website Security Issues
At times, users of your site will inform you about website security issues. They may call or share some unnatural behavior, redirects, requests, or content on the site. Make sure you address their concerns and check your website. If you find any such issue, make sure you fix them right away.
4. Hosting Providers Notify You if Your Website Gets Hacked
Your hosting provider will also notify you if your website gets hacked. When the site gets hacked, the provider will take the site offline and inform you about the WordPress hack. You should check your inbox regularly for notifications from your hosting provider.
5. Examine Search Results on Google
You can also find a hacked WordPress site by checking Google search results. You can check a hacked site in Google search results by following these steps -
First, go to www.google.com
Second, you need to enter "site:domainname.com" and search.
Take a look at the results.
Have a closer look, make sure that all the results must come from your site. If they are not, make sure you use the search operator (site:) and check that you have correctly entered your domain's spelling.
If you see the following message under any search result, Google has found some malicious activity or Malware. Then in such case you should know how to remove “this site may be hacked” from WordPress in Google
6. The Website is Slow and Shows Error Messages
If your website has suddenly become slow and you come across WordPress Error messages quite often, probably the Malware is using your server resources. The Malware usually targets payment, login, and sign up pages. Typically, a web page loads in 2-4 seconds; if it takes more than that, something is wrong.
7. Look for Important Website Files
You can also be made aware of your site's important files such as .htaccess and .php files. If you notice that some of your system essential files have been modified recently, make sure you compare them with your previous data. It will give you a better idea of what has changed.
There is a possibility that the hacker has used the modified files to run malicious code or create a backdoor to your WordPress website. If you have found files with suspicious file names such as - .php, .py. or .aspx, you have become a hacking victim. If this is the case, you should know how to find & fix a backdoor in hacked wordpress site?
8. Use the Safe Browsing Tool
You can use the Safe Browsing Tool to check if your site's been hacked. Using the tool, you will come to know the status of your site instantly. You need to follow these steps -
First, you need to go to Google's Transparency Report
Second, enter the URL of your site
Thirdly, view your results
Google checks its index of sites daily to scan & detect malware in WordPress Website . If your site has appeared in Google Safe Browsing, make sure you start fixing the issue. Once you have resolved the issue, make sure you again check your site through Google Search Console.
9. Use a Malware Removal Scanner
If you don't want to toil hard, then one of the uncomplicated ways to find out if your site is hacked is to scan it. You can find several malware scanners, but not every scanner can find a hack.
Best WordPress Security Scanners for Detecting Malware and Hacks -
WordPress Versions Statistics
The below statistics are based on 42,106 WordPress websites found in Alexa’s top 1 million websites.
74 different versions of WordPress were identified.
11 of these versions are invalid. For example version 6.6.6.
18 websites had an invalid non-existing version of WordPress.
769 websites (1.82%) are still running a subversion of WordPress 2.0.
Only 7,814 websites (18.55%) upgraded to WordPress 3.6.1.
1,785 websites upgraded to version 3.6.1 between the 12th and the 15th of September.
13,034 websites (30.95%) are still running a vulnerable version of WordPress 3.6.
You must be curious and Wants to know WordPress site hacked how to fix it? Though we have discussed things earlier what you should do if your WordPress site is hacked? Still, I feel I must tell you what you need to do to fix your hacked site, but of course in short :)
Step 1. Identify the Hack
Step 2. Check With Your Web Hosting Company
Step 3. Restore Your WordPress Site From Backup
Step 4. Take Help of WordPress Security Scanner
Step 5. Check User Permissions of Your WordPress Site
Step 6. Change Your Security Keys
Step 7. Change Your Passwords Again
How to Fix a Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
RCE vulnerability is quite complicated, but it is possible to protect your website from this vulnerability. Make sure you follow these methods -
First and foremost, make sure you fix all the loopholes that could allow hackers to access your data.
You should update the WordPress version. It is important to have the latest version, i.e., 5.4.2.
If the server uses a vulnerable software to Remote Code Execution, it is important to apply the latest security patch. Make sure you automate server patching.
Avoid opening any file or folder shared by an anonymous source.
You should avoid using functions such as Eval. Don't permit anyone to make changes to the content of your files.
It would be best if you do not allow anyone to decide your files' names and extensions.
Avoid blacklisting any special character or function names.
It is essential to test and validate the code.
Make sure you limit access to the interpreter.
You should avoid broadcasting server details.
Closing Thoughts
As a rule of thumb, you must gather, study, and act on the latest threat intelligence. There are major threats to your WordPress Websites and you should know how to identify & remove common WordPress security vulnerabilities in 2020. Ensure you are equipped with the advanced tools to apply patches, thus reducing the odds of a data breach. Both the workstation and the server should be automated and updated as it will offer protection against Remote Code Execution and other cyber attacks.
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