Security Audit of WordPress Applications
WordPress is the most popular Content Management System (CMS) framework and is used by thousands of content creators. Inherently, WordPress is secure by design. But if you have not configured it securely, your blog may be hacked by bad people.
This article goes through the simple security audit method that helps you secure your precious blog.
- Security Audit of WordPress Application
- (1) Update Update Update
- (2) WordPress Security Scanner
- (3) Backup
- (4) Change the "admin" username
- (5) Users Accounts
- (6) Enable two-factor authentication
- (7) Use available genuine security plugins
- (8) Enable secure communication (HTTPS/TLS)
- (9) Add necessary HTTP security headers
- (10) Automatic log-out idle sessions
- (11) Disable Directory Indexing and Browsing
- (12) Hire an external agency for deep security scan against OWASP Top 10 (optional)
- Conclusion
Security Audit of WordPress Application
Security Audit is a process of identifying vulnerabilities in web applications. It also takes care of known and unknown vulnerabilities if performed correctly.
(1) Update Update Update
Always update plugins and themes to the latest versions.
(2) WordPress Security Scanner
You can use different WordPress security scanners to identify vulnerabilities. Search for a free WordPress security scanner on google and you will identify a bunch of scanners. Read Teams and Conditions before shooting a scan on your website.
(3) Backup
Always take backups before a major change in the website. Also, it is recommended to schedule the periodic backup of the WordPress site.
(4) Change the "admin" username
It is recommended to create a user-defined username instead of the default username "admin".
(5) Users Accounts
Create user accounts on the principle of least privilege. Give user rights when only needed.
(6) Enable two-factor authentication
Enable two-factor authentication to enhance the security of user accounts.
(7) Use available genuine security plugins
Always use genuine security plugins to enhance the security of the website.
(8) Enable secure communication (HTTPS/TLS)
Always use a secure connection for communication.
(9) Add necessary HTTP security headers
Add security headers to increase security against common vulnerabilities.
(10) Automatic log-out idle sessions
If the user is not used the dashboard for some time, log out the user from that account.
(11) Disable Directory Indexing and Browsing
It is recommended to disable directory indexing and browser. Many online tools are available for identifying hidden directories.
(12) Hire an external agency for deep security scan against OWASP Top 10 (optional)
If your website is big and generates a lot of revenue, you can think of hiring an external agency to check the website for OWASP Top 10 issues. I am listing out the Top 10 security risks below:
- Injection
- Broken Authentication
- Sensitive Data Exposure
- XML External Entities (XXE)
- Broken Access Control
- Security Misconfiguration
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Insecure Deserialization
- Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities
- Insufficient Logging & Monitoring
Conclusion
It is highly recommended to secure websites against security vulnerabilities. To summarize, always use genuine plugins and themes, update them, enable secure communication, and backup content periodically and whenever plan any major changes to the website.
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Disclaimer: This tutorial is for educational purpose only. Individual is solely responsible for any illegal act.
