One of the most common vulnerabilities in WordPress websites arises from the unintended disclosure of default pages. These default pages, if not properly secured, can be accessed by attackers, providing them with potential clues for exploiting other vulnerabilities.
By default, WordPress installations come with several pages that serve as templates, such as the wp-login.php, wp-admin and the default theme files. While these pages themselves may not always contain exploitable content, they can give attackers valuable insights into the structure of the website. Attackers can use this information to craft more targeted attacks. For example, the disclosure of default pages like wp-config.php (if not properly secured) can allow attackers to view sensitive database configuration details. Other disclosures may expose unused or outdated plugins or themes, which are vulnerable to exploitation.
Security Risks Associated with Default Page Disclosure: Foot printing: Attackers can use disclosed pages to gather critical details about the CMS version, server type and hosting environment. Target Identification: Default pages help hackers identify sites using outdated WordPress versions or vulnerable themes and plugins. Weak Link Detection: The presence of default pages can hint at poor overall security hygiene, prompting further exploitation attempts.
To mitigate the risks associated with default page disclosures, follow these steps:
Use plugins such as WPS Hide Login or iThemes Security to change the default login URL from wp-login.php to something unique. This will make it more difficult for attackers to locate the login page and attempt brute-force attacks.
Enforce the use of strong passwords for all users, especially admins. Use tools like Wordfence or iThemes Security to mandate strong passwords and consider implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) to further secure logins.
Limit access to the wp-admin and wp-login.php pages based on IP address ranges or allow only certain trusted IPs to access these critical areas. You can do this by adding rules to the .htaccess file.
Example to limit access to wp-login.php: