Uncovering a PHAR Deserialization Vulnerability in WP Meta SEO and Escalating to RCE

During an internal audit, the WPScan team found a vulnerability in the WP Meta SEO plugin. This vulnerability allows attackers with at least Author privileges to upload and deserialize a PHAR file, leading to arbitrary PHP object deserialization. We were able to escalate this vulnerability to remote code execution, without the need for additional code…More

What is a brute force attack?

A brute force attack is a type of cyberattack where the attacker uses an automated system to try different combinations of username and password until they find the correct combination. This can be done by using a dictionary of common words or by using a list of common passwords. The attacker will keep trying different…More

SQL Injection Found And Fixed In Slimstat Analytics and Paid Memberships Pro

During an internal audit of the Slimstat Analytics and Paid Memberships Pro plugins, The WPScan research team uncovered two SQL Injection vulnerabilities that could allow low-privileged users like subscribers to leak sensitive information from a site’s database. If exploited, the vulnerability might grant attackers access to privileged information from impacted sites’ databases, such as usernames…More

WordPress Black Box Testing Basics

If you’re a security researcher looking for a thorough testing method, black box testing should be at the top of your list. Involving an outside perspective to test an application’s or system’s core functionality and security, black box testing is becoming increasingly popular among organizations that need to ensure their infrastructure can withstand any breach…More

WordPress VIP Adds WPScan to Codebase Manager

WordPress VIP, Automattic’s managed WordPress hosting platform for enterprise and large-scale websites, is excited to announce they have incorporated WPScan into the WordPress VIP Codebase Manager. WPScan’s market-leading security technology brings enhanced, proactive protection and threat detection for WordPress VIP enterprise customers, including continuous monitoring of existing plugins and alerts for potential vulnerabilities. Improved security…More

Protecting your WordPress website against SQL injection attacks

If you own a WordPress website, then chances are you’ve heard of SQL injections in WordPress. These malicious attacks can wreak havoc on your website and leave it vulnerable to hackers. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your website from the threat of a WordPress SQL injection attack. Let’s explore what is…More

What to do about a blind SSRF vulnerability affecting WordPress Core

We have been hearing questions from WPScan clients about a long-standing vulnerability that has been present in the WordPress software for some time, but we only recently added it to our threat database, so that’s why it has just appeared in results. However, the vulnerability is not new. There is not currently a fix or…More