What are the steps to perform a WordPress penetration test?

Performing a WordPress penetration test involves a series of steps to comprehensively assess the security of a WordPress website. Firstly, information gathering is essential to identify the target and gather relevant details. This includes identifying the WordPress version, themes, and plugins being used. Secondly, vulnerability scanning is conducted using tools like WPScan to detect any known vulnerabilities in the website. Once vulnerabilities are identified, thirdly, penetration testers attempt to exploit these weaknesses using methods such as brute-forcing, SQL injections, or cross-site scripting attacks. This step aims to gain unauthorized access to the website or its underlying infrastructure. Following successful exploitation, the testers move on to privilege escalation, wherein they attempt to escalate their privileges within the WordPress system. Finally, a detailed report is prepared documenting the findings, vulnerabilities, and recommendations to improve the overall security posture of the WordPress website.

This mind map was published on 13 January 2024 and has been viewed 144 times.