Wordpress Denial of Service Scanner
Detects 'Denial of Service (DoS)' vulnerability in WordPress.
Short Info
Level
Low
Single Scan
Single Scan
Can be used by
Asset Owner
Estimated Time
10 seconds
Time Interval
10 days 2 hours
Scan only one
URL
Toolbox
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WordPress is a widely used content management system (CMS) that powers millions of websites globally, from small blogs to large corporate sites. It is popular due to its ease of use, flexibility and vast library of plugins and themes that enable extensive customization. Developers and website administrators utilize WordPress to manage web content, offering a user-friendly platform to upload, edit, and organize content efficiently. Given its accessibility, it is chosen by individuals, companies, and organizations to establish an online presence. WordPress serves as a crucial tool for managing dynamic content and is frequently updated to improve functionality and security. However, its broad usage also makes it a target for various vulnerabilities.
A Denial of Service (DoS) attack aims to make a website or service unavailable to its users by overwhelming it with a flood of illegitimate requests. In this case, the vulnerability lies in WordPress’s wp-cron.php file, which can be exploited by attackers to initiate a heavy MySQL query. This process can saturate the server's resources, causing slow response times or complete unavailability. DoS vulnerabilities cause interruption, potentially leading to downtime, loss of customer trust, and financial repercussions.
The vulnerability can be triggered through multiple requests to the wp-cron.php endpoint. Attackers can automate these requests, significantly increasing server load and leading to denial of service. Technical details include exploitation through tools that repeatedly call the vulnerable endpoint. The WordPress installation should be configured to minimize such risks, ensuring that requests to wp-cron.php are controlled and authenticated properly.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in the WordPress website experiencing outages or becoming unresponsive. Malicious actors can disrupt business operations, leading to loss of revenue and customer dissatisfaction. Prolonged downtime may impact SEO and site ranking adversely, causing longer-term visibility issues. Additionally, it could give a negative perception of brand reliability and security standards, leading to a loss of trust.
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