How to Scan Vulnerabilities on WordPress Using VirtualBox: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Introduction

Did you know that WordPress is the most targeted CMS by hackers due to its popularity? Whether you run a personal blog or an e-commerce store, your site is a potential target for cyberattacks. Security vulnerabilities can result in data breaches, malware infections, or even full site compromise. There are many disadvantages of using WordPress one of them is security vulnerability

How can you test your site’s security without risking it?

That’s where VirtualBox comes in. By setting up a safe, controlled WordPress testing environment, you can scan for vulnerabilities and fix security flaws before they become a real problem. This guide will walk you through three powerful methods to identify and fix WordPress vulnerabilities—all in a structured, easy-to-follow format.

Common WordPress Vulnerabilities Hackers Exploit

Before scanning your WordPress site, it’s essential to understand what you’re looking for. Here are the most common vulnerabilities attackers exploit:

• Outdated Plugins and Themes – Many security breaches occur due to unpatched vulnerabilities in outdated plugins and themes.
• Weak Passwords and Default Admin Usernames – Hackers use brute-force attacks to guess simple passwords and common usernames like admin.
• Unsecured File Permissions – Poorly configured file permissions can allow unauthorized users to modify critical files.
• XML-RPC Attacks – The XML-RPC feature in WordPress can be exploited for DDoS attacks and brute-force attempts.

Understanding these vulnerabilities helps you proactively secure your site and prioritize scanning efforts.

Method 1: Scanning WordPress Vulnerabilities Using WPScan, Nikto, and Burp Suite

Step 1: Setting Up VirtualBox for a WordPress Security Lab

Before scanning for vulnerabilities, set up a controlled environment to ensure testing doesn’t affect your live site.

1. Install VirtualBox and Create a Virtual Machine

First, download VirtualBox from Oracle’s official website and install it on your computer. You’ll also need a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu to act as your web server.

• Open VirtualBox and click “New” to create a virtual machine.
• Name it something meaningful like “WordPress Security Lab”.
• Choose Linux (Ubuntu 64-bit) as the OS type.
• Allocate at least 2GB RAM and 20GB of disk space.
• Click “Create” and proceed to install Ubuntu.

2. Install the LAMP Stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)

Once your virtual machine is running, update your system and install the necessary software:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql -y

This sets up a local web server where WordPress can run.

3. Install and Configure WordPress

Now, download and install WordPress:

cd /var/www/html
sudo wget https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz
sudo tar -xvzf latest.tar.gz
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data wordpress

Log into MySQL before creating a database:

mysql -u root -p

Create a database for WordPress:

CREATE DATABASE wp_security_lab;
CREATE USER 'wpuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'SuperSecurePass123';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wp_security_lab.* TO 'wpuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Update the WordPress configuration file:

sudo nano /var/www/html/wordpress/wp-config.php

4. Scanning WordPress for Vulnerabilities

WPScan – WordPress Security Scanner

WPScan is a command-line security tool that detects vulnerabilities in WordPress, including outdated plugins and weak credentials.

wpscan --url http://localhost/wordpress --enumerate p,u

Nikto – Web Server Security Scanner

Nikto scans for web server vulnerabilities:

nikto -h http://localhost

Burp Suite – HTTP Interception and Security Analysis

Burp Suite helps analyze web traffic and uncover vulnerabilities:

• Install Burp Suite and configure your browser to use it as a proxy.
• Intercept and analyze HTTP requests from your WordPress site.

Alternative Security Tools:

• MalCare – A cloud-based malware scanner that detects threats without slowing down your server.
• Astra Security – Offers a web firewall and vulnerability scanning.
• Wordfence – A plugin that performs live security scanning on WordPress sites.

Real-World Examples of WordPress Security Breaches

Security vulnerabilities are not just theoretical. Here are some real-world cases:

• The Panama Papers Leak (2016): This massive data breach stemmed from a vulnerability in a WordPress plugin, leading to the exposure of 11.5 million confidential documents.
• The Revolution Slider Hack: A widely exploited plugin vulnerability allowed hackers to compromise thousands of WordPress sites.
• E-Commerce Malware Attack: A WordPress-based online store suffered a revenue loss due to an undetected malware infection redirecting customers to phishing sites.

Hardening WordPress Security: Additional Best Practices

After running these scans, it’s time to fix any security weaknesses:

1. Keep Everything Updated

wp plugin update --all

Keeping WordPress, themes, and plugins up to date prevents vulnerabilities.

2. Use Stronger Authentication Methods (2FA + Secure Passwords)

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) in addition to using strong passwords.

3. Secure File Permissions

sudo chmod 755 /var/www/html/wordpress
sudo chmod 644 /var/www/html/wordpress/wp-config.php

This prevents unauthorized file modifications.

4. Restrict Unauthorized Admin Access

<Files wp-login.php>
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
    Allow from 192.168.1.100
</Files>

5. Disable XML-RPC to Prevent Attacks

Edit your .htaccess file to disable XML-RPC, which is commonly targeted for DDoS and brute-force attacks:

<Files xmlrpc.php>
    Order Deny,Allow
    Deny from all
</Files>

6. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

Consider enabling a WAF like Cloudflare WAF or Wordfence Firewall to block malicious traffic before it reaches your site.

7. Disable Directory Listing

Prevent attackers from viewing sensitive files:

Options -Indexes

Conclusion: Secure Your WordPress Site Like a Pro

By following these methods, you’ve built a solid security foundation for your WordPress site. Here’s a security checklist to keep your site secure:

✅ Regularly update WordPress, themes, and plugins.
✅ Change default usernames and use strong passwords.
✅ Perform security scans weekly.
✅ Monitor file integrity for unexpected changes.
✅ Use a web application firewall (WAF).
✅ Disable unnecessary WordPress features like XML-RPC.

Cyber threats evolve constantly—make security a routine, not a one-time task. Regular testing and proactive security measures will keep your WordPress site resilient against attacks.