Is your WordPress site an accident waiting to happen? Sites running on this popular CMS get hacked at an alarming rate. Recent statistics show 90% of scanned WordPress sites contained known vulnerabilities.
These vulnerabilities stem from plugins, themes, user errors, and even the WordPress core code itself. Together, they add up to a massive attack surface ripe for exploitation.
The impact of successful attacks can be severe, ranging from reputational damage to revenue loss to legal liability in the case of data breaches. The average cost of a breach for small businesses now exceeds $200,000.
Thankfully, automated vulnerability scanners specialized for WordPress can catch these flaws in your site before trouble hits. Running them regularly allows you to spot risks and harden your environment before hackers get the chance.
This guide will explore the top WordPress vulnerability scanners available and provide actionable advice on integrating scanning to lock down your site. Let‘s get to it!
Why WordPress Security Matters
Before digging into the scanners themselves, it‘s important to level-set on why WordPress requires specific focus around vulnerabilities and security compared to typical web apps.
While WordPress makes launching content sites simple, that flexibility comes at a cost. Key risks include:
Plugins & Themes Introduce Vulnerabilities:
- WordPress sites average around 22 different plugins each, all developed by third parties
- These add-ons may contain unpatched security flaws
- Over 46% of hacked WordPress sites are compromised via vulnerable plugins
Configuration Errors Open Doors:
- Complex permission schemes, database settings etc. allow misconfigurations
- Sites hacked due to configuration mistakes increased 129% YoY
User-Generated Content Carries Risk:
- Cross-site scripting, SQL injection and other attacks stem from lack of input validation on content
Failing to Patch Leads to Exploits:
- 55% of hacked sites run outdated WordPress or plugin versions
- WordPress sites average around 6 vulnerabilities due to missing updates
While standard web vulnerability scanners focus heavily on risks like OWASP Top 10 and infrastructure weaknesses, WordPress requires going deeper across themes, plugins, permissions, and configurations. That‘s where specialized WordPress scanners add immense value.
Now let‘s explore some top options…
9 WordPress Vulnerability Scanners
WordPress scanners automate the process of identifying security flaws across your CMS environment. They examine factors like:
- Software Versions: Checks WordPress core, plugins, themes and PHP for outdated components
- Vulnerabilities: Cross-references installs against databases of known bugs and exploit code
- Permissions & Users: Validates files, folders and accounts lack necessary access controls
- Malicious Code: Scans for injected malware payloads or backdoors
This saves immense time compared to manual security reviews. It also surfaces harder-to-spot risks that live deep in plugin code.
Based on capabilities, the following emerged as 9 top WordPress vulnerability scanners:
1. Sucuri SiteCheck
Sucuri offers various WordPress security tools including SiteCheck – a free, quick scanner covering core elements.
Vulnerabilities Covered:
- Outdated Software
- Malware Infections
- Blacklisting Status
- Insecure Connections
Cost: Free
SiteCheck provides fast visibility into major security hygiene issues. For robust vulnerability management, Sucuri‘s paid products like their WAF may be better options.
2. Intruder Vulnerability Scanner
Intruder offers comprehensive infrastructure scanning covering networks, apps, cloud and more. The versatile platform identifies vulnerabilities across modern tech stacks.
Vulnerabilities Covered:
- OWASP Top 10 web risks
- Application-specific flaws (200+ apps)
- Logical weaknesses through dynamic scanning
Cost: Starts at $30/month
For organizations relying heavily on WordPress, Intruder provides robust vulnerability assessments including focused WordPress checks. The API integrations also help streamline remediation.
3. HackerTarget WordPress Vulnerability Scan
HackerTarget‘s free WordPress scanner checks for misconfigurations and known vulnerable components.
Vulnerabilities Covered:
- Outdated WordPress/Plugins/Themes
- Insecure File Permissions
- Open Admin Accounts
- HTTP Security Headers
Cost: Free
This scanner is easy to use and highlights core security hygiene issues. However, it lacks the depth of commercial alternatives. The free price point offers a quick automated sanity check.
4. Detectify
Detectify offers an enterprise-focused scanner combining automated assessments with manual review by their security team.
Vulnerabilities Covered:
- 500+ Checks Spanning OWASP Top 10, Plugins, Themes, etc.
- Manual Validation by Security Experts
- Dashboards & Reporting
Cost: Starts at $149/month
For WordPress sites handling sensitive data or requiring rigorous validation, Detectify‘s expert testing provides extra assurance. The premium price tag reflects the high-touch approach.
5. WPSEC Vulnerability Scanner
WPSEC Scanner leverages the open source WPScan vulnerability database to find risks.
Vulnerabilities Covered:
- Outdated WordPress Core
- Vulnerable Plugins & Themes
- Weak User Passwords
- Insecure File Permissions
Cost: Free
This scanner provides targeted WordPress checks powered by the continually-updated WPScan project data. The focus comes at the cost of less comprehensive coverage of other vulnerabilities compared to alternatives.
6. Security Ninja WordPress Vulnerability Scanner
Security Ninja is a WordPress plugin that enables scanning from within the admin dashboard.
Vulnerabilities Covered:
- Weak User Login Process
- Unused Themes & Plugins
- Connectivity Settings & SSL Usage
- File Permissions & Database Config
Cost: Free
For a quick automated check of WordPress security settings, this plugin fits the bill without needing to leave your site‘s backend. Just don‘t expect the depth you‘d get from a dedicated scanning service.
7. Pentest-Tools WordPress Vulnerability Scanner
The Pentest-Tools WordPress scanner also uses WPScan to find vulnerable components.
Vulnerabilities Covered:
- Outdated WordPress Core
- Vulnerable Plugins & Themes
- Registered User Accounts
- Insecure File Permissions
Cost: Free
If you‘re looking for a quick, free way to spot outdated WordPress installs, this scanner does the trick. Just set your expectations accordingly in terms of depth or customization abilities.
8. WP Neuron Vulnerability Scanner
WP Neuron Scanner combines various WordPress vulnerability and malware checks into one online platform.
Vulnerabilities Covered:
- Outdated Software
- Vulnerable Plugins & Themes
- Weak User Passwords
- Malware & Suspicious Code
Cost: 14-day Free Trial, $20/month subscription
This scanner aims to provide an all-in-one view of WordPress security risks. While offering convenience, the smaller vendor may struggle to keep pace updating vulnerability signatures compared to established players.
9. Quttera WordPress Vulnerability Scanner
Available as a WordPress plugin, Quttera enables malware and vulnerability detection directly within WP admin.
Vulnerabilities Covered:
- Malicious Code Injection
- Suspicious Redirects & Iframes
- Blacklisting Status
- Outdated Software
Cost: Free
Scanning fully within WordPress allows simple automated security checks without needing credentials for external services. Just be aware of the limited scope compared to more robust scanners.
Comparative Analysis
Now that we‘ve covered the key capabilities, how do you determine the best scanner for your specific needs?
Here‘s a high-level comparison across key evaluation criteria:
| Scanner | Comprehensiveness | Accuracy | Ease of Use | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sucuri SiteCheck | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | Free |
| Intruder | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | $$ |
| HackerTarget | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Free |
| Detectify | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | $$$ |
| WPSEC | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Free |
| Security Ninja | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Free |
| Pentest Tools | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Free |
| WP Neuron | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | $$ |
| Quttera | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Free |
From this high-level comparison, we can draw a few conclusions:
- For comprehensive vulnerability coverage, Intruder and Detectify lead the pack. Detectify‘s manual testing improves accuracy.
- If you just need a basic automated sanity check, free scanners like HackerTarget and Quttera work.
- Ease of use varies significantly based on integration and reporting complexity.
- For max value across criteria, commercial scanners like WP Neuron and paid Intruder tiers deliver.
However, the "best" scanner still depends heavily on your use case, environment, and business objectives.
For example, if you operate an enterprise WordPress site handling valuable data or traffic, the extra assurance provided by Detectify‘s manual testing merits the premium pricing.
On the other hand, smaller sites may achieve sufficient security protection through basic automated scanning using free tools.
Understanding your environment and risk factors allows selecting the right level scanner to address your specific threats without overspending.
Pro Tip: Start with free/low-cost scanners to establish a baseline, then assess if gaps justify upgrading to more advanced alternatives long-term.
Scanning Best Practices
While the right scanner picks up vulnerabilities, getting lasting value requires using it strategically within your security program.
Here are tips for seamlessly integrating scanning to find and fix flaws faster:
Scan Staging Sites First
Checking cloned staging environments allows unrestricted scanning without worrying about availability impacts. Production often requires "exception lists" to avoid breaking business functions.
Promoting code between staging and production should initiate security checks to catch policy violations. This prevents developers from directly releasing vulnerabilities to live sites post-scan.
Prioritize Initial Remediation by Actual Risk
The raw scan output highlights technical issues but lacks context on exploitability or threat levels. Rather than distract your team fixing every informational warning, have them focus on:
- Known critical/high severity flaws seeing active attacks
- Bugs with public exploit code availability
- Issues aligned to current threat actor TTPs
Common prioritization methods include CVSS risk scoring and 5×5 qualitative rating.
Assign owners across your org to prevent siloing vulnerabilities within security groups alone. Ultimately the teams responsible for specific apps, plugins, themes etc should remediate associated findings.
Schedule Recurring Scans
The threats targeting WordPress evolve constantly as new plugins get introduced and attackers develop innovative ways around defenses.
Set up recurring scans (e.g. weekly, monthly) based on environment update frequency. This continually checks for new risks emerging within your WordPress instance and underlying hosting stack.
Review trends over time focusing less on absolute number of findings and more on delta – are you introducing additional vulnerabilities faster than fixing them? Steady reduction indicates improvem
Secure Executive Buy-In for Scanning
Kicking off a new scanning program requires stakeholder alignment to fund and respond to the tool. Make the value clear by outlining:
- How it improves WordPress security posture against common attacks
- Reduction in exposure, annualized loss expectancy, and breach costs
- Faster response and remediation cycles through automation
With leadership backing, ensure responsibility gets distributed appropriately to security, infrastructure, and application teams. This entrenches vulnerability management rather than becoming a siloed security initiative likely to stall.
Start Securing Your Site
In closing, WordPress‘ immense flexibility introduces business risks needing specialized assessment approaches. Rather than relying on general security testing, purpose-built WP vulnerability scanners provide the depth required to reveal threats.
Choosing the right scanner backed by responsible usage and response practices gives confidence your dynamic CMS environment stays safely ahead of attackers.
Here‘s a recap showing how you can start better securing your WordPress site today:
Select Automated Scanner
- Review leading options and select tool fitting budget/depth needs
- Consider environment complexity, integrations required
Conduct Initial Benchmarks
- Scan production and staging sites to reveal baseline flaws
- Triage findings by actual exploit risk levels vs. only severity
Remediate Prioritized Risks
- Assign vulnerabilities to responsible owners across functions
- Patch most critical issues first
- Improve processes that enable flaws – don‘t just fix individual bugs
Schedule Regular Scans
- Set recurring scans based on update cycles
- Trend data over time to drive reductions
Iterate & Mature Program
- Expand scope covered, tooling as program matures
- Shift focus to policy prevention as part of SDLC
- Drive cultural focus on security quality early in design
Here‘s to locking down those vulnerabilities before trouble hits! Your secure WordPress site awaits…
