How to Check WordPress Website Security: Free Online Vulnerability Scanner

WordPress powers 43.4% of all websites on the internet — making it the biggest target for hackers, bots, and automated attacks. Every day, thousands of WordPress sites are compromised due to preventable security misconfigurations.

The WordPress Security Checker by Jayax.dev is a free online tool that scans your WordPress website for 18+ common security vulnerabilities — no installation, no login, no technical expertise required.

In this guide, you'll learn exactly what the tool checks, why each check matters, and how to fix every issue it finds.

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Why WordPress Security Matters More Than You Think

The Real Cost of a WordPress Hack

A compromised WordPress site isn't just inconvenient — it's expensive:

• Google blacklisting — your site gets flagged with "This site may be hacked" in search results, destroying your SEO rankings
• Data breach — customer information, passwords, and payment data stolen
• SEO spam injection — hackers insert pharmaceutical links, gambling content, or Japanese keyword hack
• Server resource abuse — your site becomes part of a botnet, sending spam or mining cryptocurrency
• Revenue loss — average cost of a WordPress security breach: $10,000-$50,000 for small businesses

Common WordPress Attack Vectors

| Attack Type | Frequency | Impact | |-------------|-----------|--------| | Brute force login | 90% of sites see attempts | Account takeover | | Plugin vulnerabilities | 60% of compromises | Full site compromise | | Theme exploits | 25% of compromises | Defacement, malware | | XML-RPC attacks | Very common | DDoS, brute force | | File inclusion | Moderate | Remote code execution | | SQL injection | Moderate | Database compromise | | XSS (Cross-site scripting) | Common | Session hijacking |

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What the WordPress Security Checker Scans

Our tool performs 18 comprehensive security checks organized into 5 categories:

1. Authentication & Access Control

Default Admin Username Check

• What it checks: Whether the default "admin" username still exists
• Why it matters: "admin" is the #1 target for brute force attacks. Bots try "admin" + common passwords first
• How to fix: Create a new admin user with a unique username, then delete the old "admin" account

Login Page Accessibility

• What it checks: Whether /wp-login.php is directly accessible without protection
• Why it matters: Exposed login pages invite brute force attacks
• How to fix: Install a security plugin like Wordfence or limit login attempts

XML-RPC Status

• What it checks: Whether XML-RPC (/xmlrpc.php) is enabled
• Why it matters: XML-RPC allows bots to try thousands of passwords in a single request
• How to fix: Disable XML-RPC unless you need it for pingbacks or remote publishing

REST API Exposure

• What it checks: Whether the WordPress REST API (/wp-json/) is publicly accessible
• Why it matters: Leaked user data, enumeration of usernames, potential attack surface
• How to fix: Restrict REST API access to authenticated users only

2. File & Directory Security

wp-config.php Protection

• What it checks: Whether wp-config.php is accessible from the web
• Why it matters: This file contains database credentials, authentication keys, and salts
• How to fix: Add blocking rules in .htaccess or nginx config

Directory Listing

• What it checks: Whether directory browsing is enabled (e.g., /wp-includes/ shows file list)
• Why it matters: Exposes your file structure, plugin versions, and potential attack vectors
• How to fix: Add Options -Indexes to .htaccess

Sensitive File Exposure

• What it checks: For exposed files like readme.html, license.txt, debug.log, .htaccess
• Why it matters: Leaks WordPress version, server configuration, and debug information
• How to fix: Delete readme.html and license.txt, disable debug logging in production

Upload Directory Execution

• What it checks: Whether PHP files can be executed in /wp-content/uploads/
• Why it matters: If a hacker uploads a PHP file through a plugin vulnerability, they can execute it
• How to fix: Add .htaccess with php_flag engine off in the uploads directory

3. Headers & Configuration

Security Headers Check

• What it checks: For presence of critical security headers:
  • X-Content-Type-Options: nosniff
  • X-Frame-Options: DENY or SAMEORIGIN
  • X-XSS-Protection: 1; mode=block
  • Content-Security-Policy
  • Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS)
  • Referrer-Policy
  • Permissions-Policy
• Why it matters: Security headers prevent clickjacking, MIME-type sniffing, XSS, and other browser-based attacks
• How to fix: Add headers via .htaccess, functions.php, or a security plugin

SSL/TLS Certificate

• What it checks: Whether the site uses HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate
• Why it matters: Google Chrome flags non-HTTPS sites as "Not Secure," and all data is transmitted in plaintext
• How to fix: Install a free SSL certificate via Let's Encrypt through your hosting provider

Cookie Security

• What it checks: Whether WordPress cookies have secure and HttpOnly flags
• Why it matters: Without Secure flag, cookies are sent over HTTP; without HttpOnly, JavaScript can steal them
• How to fix: Configure in wp-config.php with define('FORCE_SSL_ADMIN', true);

4. Version & Update Status

WordPress Version Disclosure

• What it checks: Whether the WordPress version is visible in the HTML source or RSS feed
• Why it matters: Attackers search Shodan/Censys for specific vulnerable versions
• How to fix: Remove version meta tag with remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_generator');

Plugin Version Detection

• What it checks: Whether plugin versions are visible in the source code
• Why it matters: Known vulnerabilities are tied to specific plugin versions
• How to fix: Some security plugins can hide this information

Theme Information Leakage

• What it checks: Whether theme name and version are disclosed
• Why it matters: Themes with known vulnerabilities can be targeted
• How to fix: Remove theme meta tags from header

5. Performance & Hardening

CORS Configuration

• What it checks: Whether Cross-Origin Resource Sharing headers are properly configured
• Why it matters: Misconfigured CORS can allow malicious sites to access your data
• How to fix: Only allow specific origins, not *

Server Information Disclosure

• What it checks: Whether server software and version are disclosed in HTTP headers
• Why it matters: Attackers can target known server vulnerabilities
• How to fix: Configure your web server to hide version information

DNS Security

• What it checks: For DNSSEC and proper DNS configuration
• Why it matters: DNS spoofing can redirect your visitors to malicious sites
• How to fix: Enable DNSSEC through your domain registrar

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How to Use the WordPress Security Checker

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Go to jayax.dev/tools/wordpress-security-checker
2. Enter your WordPress website URL (e.g., https://yoursite.com)
3. Click "Scan Now" — the tool begins analyzing your site
4. Wait 30-60 seconds — the scan checks 18+ security points
5. Review your results — each check shows Pass ✅, Warning ⚠️, or Fail ❌
6. Follow the fix recommendations — each failed check includes specific remediation steps
7. Re-scan after fixes — verify that your changes resolved the issues

Understanding Your Security Score

The tool provides a composite security score from 0-100:

| Score | Grade | Meaning | |-------|-------|---------| | 90-100 | A | Excellent — minimal risk | | 80-89 | B | Good — minor improvements needed | | 70-79 | C | Fair — several issues to address | | 60-69 | D | Poor — significant vulnerabilities | | Below 60 | F | Critical — immediate action required |

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WordPress Security Best Practices (Beyond the Scanner)

Essential Hardening Checklist

1. Keep everything updated — WordPress core, plugins, and themes
2. Use strong passwords — minimum 16 characters with mixed case, numbers, symbols
3. Enable two-factor authentication — use a plugin like Wordfence Login Security
4. Limit login attempts — prevent brute force attacks
5. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) — Cloudflare, Sucuri, or Wordfence
6. Schedule automatic backups — daily database, weekly full backup
7. Remove unused plugins and themes — reduce attack surface
8. Use SFTP instead of FTP — encrypt file transfers
9. Change the database prefix — from default wp_ to something unique
10. Disable file editing — add define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); to wp-config.php

Recommended Security Plugins

| Plugin | Free Tier | Best For | |--------|-----------|----------| | Wordfence | Yes | Comprehensive security with WAF | | Sucuri | Limited | Malware scanning and cleanup | | iThemes Security | Yes | Hardening and 2FA | | All In One Security | Yes | Beginner-friendly hardening | | Shield Security | Yes | Silent CAPTCHA and login protection |

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FAQ — WordPress Security Checker

Is the WordPress Security Checker safe to use?

Yes. Our tool performs non-invasive checks — it only looks at publicly accessible information that any visitor (or attacker) could see. It does not attempt to exploit vulnerabilities, modify files, or access your admin panel.

Does the tool work with WordPress.com sites?

The scanner is designed for self-hosted WordPress.org sites. WordPress.com sites have limited customization and are managed by Automattic's security team, so many checks may not apply.

How often should I scan my WordPress site?

We recommend scanning at least once a month and immediately after:

• Installing new plugins or themes
• Updating WordPress core
• Making changes to your server configuration
• Any suspected security incident

Can the scanner detect malware?

The WordPress Security Checker focuses on configuration vulnerabilities and hardening issues. For malware detection, we recommend using a dedicated malware scanner like Wordfence, Sucuri SiteCheck, or Quttera.

What if I can't fix an issue myself?

If you're not comfortable making the changes yourself, consider:

• Contacting your hosting provider's support team
• Hiring a WordPress security professional
• Using a security plugin that automates many fixes

Does the tool store my scan results?

Scan results are not permanently stored. They are generated in real-time and only visible to you during your session. We do not share results with third parties.

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Start Securing Your WordPress Site Now

Don't wait until your site gets hacked. Run a free security scan today and identify vulnerabilities before attackers do.

→ Scan Your WordPress Site Now

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• Laravel Security Audit: Free Online Scanner
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• Free Website Security Checker: Scan Any Site
• React Security Audit: Free Online Scanner
• Essential Web Development Security Tools

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Secure your WordPress site in 60 seconds with the free WordPress Security Checker by Jayax.dev.