WordPress security analysis: how secure is it really?

Is WordPress secure? Many new users ask this question, especially when they know that WordPress is an open source platform, there will inevitably be concerns in their minds. Well, we're answering that question today with data.

I'll be looking at statistical information and reports on the security of the WordPress core, themes and plugins, the protection of login information, and the security of hosting services.

My goal is for you to not only understand the overall security posture of WordPress, but also to understand where the potential risks are so you can take steps to address them.

WordPress: a preferred target for hackers?

groundW3TechsAccording to the data, WordPress has a usage rate of 43.31 TP3T, a number that represents the percentage of websites that use WordPress worldwide. Note that this percentage refers not to WordPress' share of the content management system market (that would be higher), but to its share of all websites across the web.

Of course, WordPress websites are a major target for hackers because of their sheer number. According toSucuri The 2022 study reported that 96.21 TP3T of almost all infected websites are running WordPress. This means that the security of WordPress websites needs extra attention to protect from attacks.

WordPress itself is not secure?

When you hear such statistics about WordPress sites being the main target of hackers, you might think that WordPress is not secure enough. But the truth is that WordPress has been the focus of attacks mainly because it is very popular and widely used, which makes it a much more popular target for hackers. After all, it's much more efficient to attack a platform with hundreds of millions of websites than it is to attack a platform with much smaller usage. It's true that many WordPress sites are hacked every year, but many of these attacks are actually avoidable. The problem is not that WordPress itself is insecure, but that many webmasters do not take the necessary security measures to protect their sites. Simply put, by knowing how to protect your website, you can effectively prevent these attacks.

1.WordPress version problem analysis

To understand WordPress security, let's start with the security statistics of the core WordPress software itself. It turns out that a large number of hacked WordPress sites are not updated to the latest version. According to a report by Sucuri, by 2022, more than half of WordPress sites infected with malware will be running on outdated versions. This highlights the importance of keeping WordPress sites updated to prevent known vulnerabilities.

Older versions of content management systems are known to have publicly disclosed security vulnerabilities. Therefore, if you continue to run your website on one of these versions, it is as if you are inviting someone to exploit these security vulnerabilities.

In fact, the most security issues in WordPress occurred in versions prior to 4.0. Since then, the number of vulnerabilities has steadily decreased, highlighting the importance of updating your WordPress site.

groundWordPress.org The versions of WordPress running on the tracked sites that use the latest version account for about 67%, which shows that the vast majority are running on WordPress 4.0 or later.

The automatic update feature introduced in WordPress version 5.6 has changed the way websites are maintained. Users no longer need to manually click the update button as the website automatically installs the latest WordPress version. This change helps to keep websites secure as it ensures that the website is always running the latest and most secure version of the software, thus reducing the risk of security breaches.

2. WordPress Security Infrastructure Analysis

While some users may not update their WordPress sites as often as they would like, the WordPress security team remains productive, quickly identifying and fixing security issues in each release. 2022 saw the release of 4 security releases that addressed a total of 26 security vulnerabilities, and in January 2024 alone, WordPress version 6.4.3 had a fix of 23 vulnerabilities.

Plugins and themes in the WordPress ecosystem have also remained vigilant, quickly fixing security vulnerabilities. For example, the page builder Elementor fixed a serious security issue, the forms plugin Ninja Forms received a mandatory update from WordPress.org, and the backup plugin BackupBuddy resolved a high-risk security vulnerability and pushed out an update to users. These actions demonstrate the WordPress community's quick response and commitment to maintaining security.

Just like any other software, WordPress also faces security issues, but it has a powerful mechanism to resolve them quickly. Nonetheless, the biggest challenge remains getting users to adopt these security updates and solutions.

3. WordPress Theme and Plugin Security Analysis

The vast majority of vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem originate from plugins, with 92% of the reported vulnerabilities originating from plugins. In contrast, WordPress core and themes account for only a small portion of the problem. As the most popular website building platform, WordPress offers many plugins, many of which are free. This highlights the importance of careful plugin management and adherence to security best practices by website owners (Hostinger ).

As a result, every plugin and theme you add to your website can be a gateway for hackers. These extensions are made by different developers, and they may not undergo the same rigorous security testing as the WordPress core, which means they are more likely to contain security vulnerabilities. Also, sometimes developers may no longer update their products, making these plugins and themes outdated and an increased security risk.

So, plugins and themes play a big part in WordPress security issues, especially plugins. According to theWPScandata, they constitute the vast majority of WordPress' security vulnerabilities.

Obviously, free plugin security is an issue.

How can these problems be avoided?

Keeping plugins and themes up to date and maintained Popular plugins and themes are often the cause of many hacking attacks as well. For example, the Sucuri report shows that some of the most vulnerable WordPress components include older versions of Contact Form 7, Freemius Library, and WooCommerce.This illustrates the importance of updating and maintaining plugins and themes to prevent security breaches.

4. Security analysis of login information

The security of login information is an important aspect of preventing websites from being hacked. Simple usernames and passwords increase the risk of being cracked and make websites vulnerable to brute force and crash attacks. Even if the site itself and plugins are updated to the latest, if hackers gain full access to the site, they can operate at will.Sucuri's research shows that implanted malicious WordPress administrator accounts were found on more than a third of infected websites in 2022, revealing the importance of login security.

One area where users have direct control is the security of login information. WordPress, for example, offers a feature that automatically generates secure passwords that is well worth using. In addition, the same security measures should be taken for other accounts on the site, such as hosting and FTP. The security of login pages can also be further enhanced by limiting the number of login attempts and using two-factor authentication. These are simple but effective ways to improve the security of your website.

5. Hosting security analysis

The hosting environment and the technologies within it also play an important role in security, especially the version of PHP that runs WordPress. For example, PHP 7 introduces better security features than its predecessor, PHP 5, the vast majority of PHP versions that run higher.

WordPress performs better with newer versions of PHP in different version speed tests.

WordPress security summary:
While there is no such thing as a completely secure CMS system, WordPress security is generally pretty good. There are some issues, but many are being actively addressed. To further enhance your site's security, you can follow best practices such as keeping WordPress, plugins, and themes up-to-date, using only extensions from trusted sources, using strong passwords, considering using a firewall or CDN, restricting login attempts, using SSL certificate encryption for site traffic, and choosing hosting that will keep your PHP version up-to-date. By following these recommendations, your WordPress website will have a better security performance.

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