SQL Injection – One of the Top WordPress Security Vulnerabilities and How to Prevent Them

SQL injection is a critical security vulnerability that allows attackers to execute malicious SQL commands on a website's database, potentially exposing or modifying sensitive data. Here's an overview of how SQL injection works in WordPress:

An attacker injects malicious SQL code through user input fields like comment forms, login pages, or search bars[1][2][3]. For example, entering `' OR '1'='1` in a login form could bypass authentication by making the SQL query always evaluate to true[4].

The injected code gets executed by the database, enabling the attacker to perform actions like:

– Viewing private data like user emails, passwords, etc.[1][2][3]

– Modifying or deleting database tables and content[1][3]

– Installing rogue plugins/themes to gain further access[3]

Common entry points include search forms, comment sections, user registration pages – anywhere user input is accepted and not properly sanitized[1][2][3][4].

Preventing SQL injection requires:

– Input validation to remove malicious code[1][2][3]

– Using WordPress' prepared statements for database queries[4]

– Keeping WordPress, themes, and plugins updated[4]

– Implementing a web application firewall (WAF) to monitor and filter requests[1][5]

A WAF like Cloudflare or Sucuri or WP-Firewall can detect and block SQL injection attempts in real-time, providing an essential layer of protection for WordPress sites[1][5].

Sources

[1] Protecting your WordPress website against SQL injection attacks https://wpscan.com/blog/protecting-your-wordpress-website-against-sql-injection-attacks/

[2] WordPress SQL injection – SQL Attack Prevention GUIDE [2024] https://secure.wphackedhelp.com/blog/wordpress-sql-injection-hack/amp/

[3] How to Protect Against WordPress SQL Injection Attacks – MalCare https://www.malcare.com/blog/how-sql-injection-attack-works-on-wordpress-sites/

[4] SQL Injections And WordPress – Pressidium https://pressidium.com/blog/sql-injections-and-wordpress/

[5] How to Prevent WordPress SQL Injection (9 Methods) – Hostinger https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/wordpress-sql-injection