WordPress Exploitation 2025: The Ultimate Guide#

WordPress powers over 40% of the web, making it the #1 target for cyberattacks. In 2025, the landscape of WordPress security has evolved, but the core issues remain: outdated plugins, poorly coded themes, and weak configurations. This guide is designed for penetration testers looking to master CMS exploitation.

Top WordPress Vulnerabilities in 2025#

1. Plugin Zero-Days#

The vast ecosystem of 60,000+ plugins is the weakest link. We'll explore how to fuzz plugins to find:

• Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Uploads: The holy grail of WP hacking.
• SQL Injection in Custom Tables: How developers bypass WP's built-in sanitization.
• Privilege Escalation: Turning a Subscriber into an Administrator.

2. REST API Abuse#

The WordPress REST API (/wp-json/) is often left wide open.

• User Enumeration: wp-json/wp/v2/users is still a goldmine.
• Content Injection: modifying posts via unauthenticated endpoints.

3. XML-RPC Attacks#

Despite being "deprecated," xmlrpc.php is enabled by default on millions of sites, allowing for:

• Brute Force Amplification: Trying hundreds of passwords in a single request.
• DDoS via Pingback: Using the site to attack others.

Exploitation Tools#

• WPScan: The industry standard. wpscan --url target.com --enumerate p
• WPSeku: A newer, faster alternative for 2025.
• Burp Suite Pro: Essential for manual plugin analysis.

Hardening WordPress#

If you are a defender, you must:

1. Disable XML-RPC.
2. Restrict REST API access.
3. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF).
4. Never use nulled themes.

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Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Hacking WordPress sites without permission is illegal.