Props @tweetsfromchris

Brad WilliamsCo-Founder of WebDevStudios.com

Organizer NJ WordPress Meetup

Co-Host SitePoint Podcast

Co-Author of Professional WordPress (http://bit.ly/pro-wp)

Who Am I?

The Goal of this Presentation…

The Goal of this Presentation…

…Is to scare the crap out of you!

The Goal of this Presentation…

…and then make everything betterwith the best security tips!

Example WordPress Hacks Securing Your WordPress Website How to Clean Up a Hacked Site Recommended Plugins

Topics

Who Do Hackers Target?

Who Do Hackers Target?

YOU

Who Is Safe?

Who Is Safe?

NO ONE

Scared Yet?

ExampleExample

WordPress

Hacker bot finds a security hole on your website

ExampleExample

Hacker bot hides a file in your WordPress installation

WordPress

Akismet.cache.php is NOT an Akismet file

ExampleExample

WordPress Hacker Bot

Hacker bot can now trigger this file/code remotely

ExampleExample

WordPress Hacker Bot

Common Hacker bot script jobs

• Add spam content and links to your websites theme files• Create posts and pages with spam content and links• Delete posts/pages/settings wreaking havoc on your site• etc, etc, bad stuff, etc, etc

<b style=“display:none”>Any text you want to hide</b>

CSS Hides the SpamCSS Hides the Spam

Hidden Spam LinksHidden Spam Links

Only Noobs Get HackedOnly Noobs Get Hacked

WRONG!

Scobleizer.com: HACKED

Scobleizer.com: HACKED

Scobleizer.com: HACKED

Pearsonified.com: HACKED

FeaturedContentGallery.com: HACKED

Make it Stop!

Palette Cleanser

Securing WordPress

Don’t use the admin account

UPDATE wp_users SET user_login='newuser' WHERE user_login='admin';

If you are using the admin account you are wrong!

Either change the username in MySQL:

Or create a new/unique account with administrator privileges.

1.Create a new account. Make the username very unique2.Assign account to Administrator role3.Log out and log back in with new account4.Delete admin account

Make it hard on the hacker! If they already know your username that’s half the battle

Don’t use the admin account

WordPress 3.0 lets you setthe administrator username

during the installation process!

The Great Permission DebateWhat folder permissions should you use?

Good Rule of Thumb:• Files should be set to 644• Folders should be set to 755

Start with the default settings above if you can’t upload increase privileges (ie 775, 777)

Permission levels vary depending on server configuration

The Great Permission Debate

Permissions can be set via FTP

find [your path here] -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;find [your path here] -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

Or via SSH with the following commands

Move the wp-config.php fileWordPress 2.6 added the ability to move the wp-config.php

file one directory above your WordPress root

This makes it nearly impossible for anyone to access your wp-config.php file as it now resides outside of your website’s root directory

You can move your wp-config.php file to here

WordPress automatically checks the parent directory if a wp-config.php file is not found in your root directory

public_html/wordpress/wp-config.php

If WordPress is located here:

public_html/wp-config.php

Move the wp-content DirectoryWordPress 2.6 added the ability to move the wp-content directory

1. Move your wp-content directory2. Make two additions to wp-config.php

define( 'WP_CONTENT_DIR', $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/blog/wp-content' );define( 'WP_CONTENT_URL', 'http://domain.com/blog/wp-content');

define( 'WP_PLUGIN_DIR', $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT'] . '/blog/wp-content/plugins' );define( 'WP_PLUGIN_URL', 'http://domain.com/blog/wp-content/plugins');

If you have compatibility issues with plugins there are two optional settings

If hackers can’t find your wp-content folder, they can’t hack it!

Remove WordPress Version from HeaderViewing source on most WP sites will reveal the version they are running

This helps hackers find vulnerable WP blogs running older versions

<meta name="generator" content="WordPress 2.9.2" /> <!-- leave this for stats -->

To remove find the code below in your header.php file of your theme and remove it

<meta name="generator" content="WordPress <?php bloginfo('version'); ?>" />

<!-- leave this for stats please -->

Themes and plugins might also display versions in your header.

The wp_head function also includes the WP version in your headerTo remove drop this line of code in your themes functions.php file

remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_generator');

Stay Current on UpdatesKeep WordPress core, plugins, and theme files up to date

The plugin Changelog tab makes it very easy to view what has changed in a new plugin version

Recent WordPress hack only affected outdated WordPress installs

Use Secure PasswordsUse strong passwords to protect your website from dictionary attacks

Not just for WordPress, but also FTP, MySQL, etc

BAD PASSWORD: bradrocks

Great resource: toughpassword.com

Creates random passwords

GOOD PASSWORD: S-gnop2D[6@8

WordPress will tell youwhen you have it right

Use Secret Keys

define('AUTH_KEY', 'put your unique phrase here');define('SECURE_AUTH_KEY', 'put your unique phrase here');define('LOGGED_IN_KEY', 'put your unique phrase here');define('NONCE_KEY', 'put your unique phrase here');define('AUTH_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');define('SECURE_AUTH_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');define('LOGGED_IN_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');define('NONCE_SALT', 'put your unique phrase here');

1. Edit wp-config.php

A secret key is a hashing salt which makes your site harder to hack by adding random elements to the password.

2. Visit this URL to get your secret keys: https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt

BEFORE

define('AUTH_KEY', '*8`:Balq!`,-j.JTl~sP%&>@ON,t(}S6)IG|nG1JIfY(,y=][-3$!N6be]-af|BD');define('SECURE_AUTH_KEY', 'q+i-|3S~d?];6$[$!ZOXbw6c]0 !k/,UxOod>fqV!sWCkvBihF2#hI=CDt_}WaH1');define('LOGGED_IN_KEY', 'D/QoRf{=&OC=CrT/^Zq}M9MPT&49^O}G+m2L{ItpX_jh(-I&-?pkeC_SaF0nw;m+');define('NONCE_KEY', 'oJo8C&sc+ C7Yc,W1v o5}.FR,Zk!J<]vaCa%2D9nj8otj5z8UnJ_q.Q!hgpQ*-H');define('AUTH_SALT', 'r>O/;U|xg~I5v.u(Nq+JMfYHk.*[p8!baAsb1DKa8.0}q/@V5snU1hV2eR!|whmt');define('SECURE_AUTH_SALT', '3s1|cIj d7y<?]Z1n# i1^FQ *L(Kax)Y%r(mp[DUX.1a3!jv(;P_H6Q7|y.!7|-');define('LOGGED_IN_SALT', '`@>+QdZhD!|AKk09*mr~-F]/F39Sxjl31FX8uw+wxUYI;U{NWx|y|+bKJ*4`uF`*');define('NONCE_SALT', 'O+#iqcPw#]O4TcC%Kz_DAf:mK!Zy@Zt*Kmm^C25U|T!|?ldOf/l1TZ6Tw$9y[M/6');

AFTER

You can add/change secret keys at anytime. This will invalidate all existing cookies and require your users to login again

Change WordPress Table Prefix

/** * WordPress Database Table prefix. * * You can have multiple installations in one database if you give each a unique * prefix. Only numbers, letters, and underscores please! */$table_prefix = ‘drupal_';

1. Edit wp-config.php before installing WordPress

All database tables will now have a unique prefix (ie drupal_posts)

2. Change the prefix wp_ to something unique:

Force SSL Login and Admin Access

define('FORCE_SSL_LOGIN', true);

Set the below option in wp-config.php to force SSL (https) on login

Set the below option in wp-config.php to force SSL (https) on all admin pages

define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);

.htaccess lockdown

AuthUserFile /dev/nullAuthGroupFile /dev/nullAuthName "Access Control"AuthType Basicorder deny,allowdeny from all#IP address to Whitelistallow from 67.123.83.59allow from 123.123.123.123

1. Create a .htaccess file in your wp-admin directory

Only a user with the IP 67.123.83.59 or 123.123.123.123 can access wp-admin

2. Add the following lines of code:

Clean Up a Hacked Site

Step 1: Delete Everything and Start Over!

OR

Step 1: Do a Fresh Install of WordPress

• Delete, don’t overwrite, all original WordPress files• Upload fresh copies of all WordPress core files

Be sure to backup your theme, plugins, media, etc

Step 2: Re-install All Plugins

• Install fresh copies of all WP plugins need• DON’T use the same plugin files from the hacked site

Step 3: Re-install Your Theme

• If possible install a fresh copy of your theme• If using the old theme be sure to inspect every file for hack code

Step 4: Change all Passwords and Keys

• Change your passwords: WordPress, FTP, MySQL• Verify the hacker didn’t create another user, if so delete it• Update your secret keys in wp-config.php (as shown earlier)

Step 5: Scan Database for Malicious Code

• Look for common hack keywords: • eval, base64, strrev, iframe, noscript, display

• Use WordPress Exploit Scanner plugin (discussed later)

Example SQL: SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE post_content LIKE '%eval%'

Step 6: Verify folder/file permissions

• Check all folder and file permissions are correct• Reset to 755 on folders and 644 on files if needed

Step 7: Pray

Recommended Security Plugins

WP Security Scan

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-security-scan/

WP-MalWatch

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-malwatch/

• Nightly security scan• Detects files based on configurable file patterns• Detects hidden files•

ServerBuddy

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/serverbuddy-by-pluginbuddy/

WordPress Exploit Scanner

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/exploit-scanner/

WordPress File Monitor

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wordpress-file-monitor/

Login Lockdown

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/login-lockdown/

Security Related Codex Articles› http://codex.wordpress.org/Hardening_WordPress› http://codex.wordpress.org/Changing_File_Permissions› http://codex.wordpress.org/Editing_wp-config.php› http://codex.wordpress.org/htaccess_for_subdirectories

Blog Security Articles› http://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/11-vital-tips-and-hacks-to-protect-your-

wordpress-admin-area/› http://www.growmap.com/wordpress-exploits/› http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/firewalling-and-hack-proofing-your-

wordpress-blog/› http://semlabs.co.uk/journal/how-to-stop-your-wordpress-blog-getting-hacked/› http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/18-useful-plugins-and-hacks-to-protect-your-

wordpress-blog/› http://www.catswhocode.com/blog/10-easy-ways-to-secure-your-wordpress-blog

Clean A Hacked Site› http://codex.wordpress.org/FAQ_My_site_was_hacked› http://ottodestruct.com/blog/2009/hacked-wordpress-backdoors/› http://ocaoimh.ie/did-your-wordpress-site-get-hacked/› http://smackdown.blogsblogsblogs.com/2008/06/24/how-to-completely-clean-

your-hacked-wordpress-installation/› http://blog.sucuri.net/2010/02/removing-malware-from-wordpress-blog.html

WordPress Security Resources

Brad Williamsbrad@webdevstudios.com

Blog: strangework.com

Twitter: @williamsba

IRC: WDS-Brad

http://www.slideshare.net/williamsba

Contact

Tweet: @williamsba WordPress Security Rocks! #wcchicago

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