5 Best WordPress vulnerability scanner plugins compared

All software has some vulnerabilities. And this doesn’t necessarily mean that the software is bad or sub-standard. Rather, vulnerabilities can arise for all sorts of reasons. From failed QA processes to environmental incompatibilities or even misconfigurations.

Vulnerabilities are classified into two categories — known and unknown. Known vulnerabilities, like XSS (Cross-site scripting) and SQL injection, are what people typically think of when they hear about a website vulnerability. Reputable software vendors will always check for these vulnerabilities and try to eliminate them during QA and testing processes.

On the other hand, unknown vulnerabilities, as you might’ve guessed, aren’t known. These are caused by bugs in the code or something in the environment. The good news here is that since WordPress has such a large user base, vulnerabilities don’t stay unknown for long. Once a vulnerability is discovered, it is called a zero-day vulnerability until a patch is released.

With this context laid out, you can see why scanning for vulnerabilities might be a good idea. So today, we’ll take a deep look at website vulnerabilities, and some of the best WordPress vulnerability scanners available. We’ll also cover some of the things you should be on the lookout for when securing your WordPress website.

What is a WordPress vulnerability?

Before we get to our list of vulnerability scanners, let’s first take a look at what constitutes a WordPress vulnerability. Simply put, it’s a software vulnerability in WordPress that may be known or unknown.

WPScan, a free open-source WordPress vulnerability scanner that we’ll discuss in more detail later in this article, has close to 55,000 WordPress vulnerabilities in its database. They also offer up some interesting statistics:

WPScan has found 4,247 premium plugins to have some sort of vulnerability. This figure shoots up to 102,379 for free plugins. This does not mean that free plugins are bad. It’s just that premium plugins have more resources at their disposal to test and check plugins before they’re released. This is also why they — unsurprisingly — cost money.

Generally speaking, when paying for a plugin, you get additional safety and security in return. This is on top of the additional functionality provided.

Plugin vulnerabilities make up the largest percentage of vulnerabilities at 94%. Theme vulnerabilities come in at a distant second at 4% and WordPress itself last at 2%. 

To help you keep your site protected, we’ve collected some of the best WordPress vulnerability scanners to help you get started.

5 top WordPress vulnerability scanners

In this section, we will be looking at some of the top WordPress vulnerability scanners available on the market today.

1: Patchstack

Patchstack is a WordPress security solution focused on detecting vulnerabilities in WordPress core, plugins, and themes. It offers a range of features to proactively protect your site. For instance, it includes real-time vulnerability scanning and virtual patching (vPatching), which automatically applies security patches without requiring updates to the code. This makes it useful for high-risk vulnerabilities that need immediate attention.

Features of Patchstack: 

This security plugin offers several notable features too, like: 

• Automatic vulnerability detection: Scans WordPress sites to identify vulnerabilities in real-time.
• vPatching: Automatically applies virtual patches for known vulnerabilities, preventing exploitation.
• Custom protection rules: Configure custom security rules for more tailored protection.
• Remote hardening: Provides centralized security management, ideal for those managing multiple WordPress sites.

Plugin and theme vulnerability scanning: Identifies security risks in plugins and themes, which are often the primary sources of vulnerabilities​.

Pricing

Patchstack offers several pricing plans to cater to different types of users:

• Community: This is the free version of Patchstack that lets you manage up to 10 web applications. Individual protection, which includes all 4 protection modules, costs $5 per site per month. It’s ideal for small site owners and offers vulnerability detection for up to 10 sites.
• Developer: Priced at $89 per month, billed annually, this plan covers 50 sites and includes advanced features like vPatching. It also provides additional protection rules and real-time alerts.
• Business: Designed for agencies managing many sites, this plan starts at around $459 per month, billed annually. It covers up to 500 websites with 5 seats and priority support.

2: Sucuri

Well-known for its WAF (Web Application Firewall), Sucuri also offers a number of scanners for different purposes. It offers malware scanning, protection from DDoS attacks, and ongoing monitoring to prevent hacking attempts. It offers protection before an attack, clean-up after, and advanced hardening to reduce vulnerabilities

Features of Sucuri:

Key features of Sucuri’s scanning capabilities include:

• Malware detection: Sucuri actively looks for malware, indicators of compromise (IOCs), and phishing pages across your website.
• SSL certificate monitoring: Ensures your SSL certificates are properly configured and valid.
• Post-hack cleanup: If your site is compromised, it helps with malware removal, blocklist removal, and site recovery.
• DDoS protection: Advanced plans come with robust DDoS mitigation features to shield your site from malicious traffic.

Pricing

Sucuri’s pricing is structured across several plans, each offering varying levels of protection:

• Free: The free Sucuri Security plugin includes basic malware scanning and security alerts. It also includes security activity auditing.
• Basic: Priced at $199.99 per year, this plan includes malware removal, 12-hourly scans, and a basic firewall.
• Pro: This plan costs $299.99 per year and offers 6-hourly scans, DDoS mitigation, and enhanced malware protection.
• Business: At this tier, you can expect to pay $499.99 per year. It’s designed for large websites, with 30-minute scans, advanced DDoS protection, and priority support.

There are higher-tier plans available as well. 

3: WPScan

WPScan is a free security scanner specifically designed for WordPress. It checks for vulnerabilities, with close to 55,000 vulnerabilities in its database. New entries are added consistently, too. The tool scans for various issues like weak passwords, publicly accessible wp-config files, database dumps, and exposed error logs. It’s designed for security professionals and developers, offering detailed insights into the security posture of WordPress installations.

WPScan is available as a CLI (Command Line Interface) tool which may require some technical expertise to use effectively. Although it used to have its own plugin, WPScan has stopped offering its own plugin for WordPress users. Instead, the vulnerability data is now integrated into Jetpack Protect, which provides an easier-to-use interface for those who aren’t comfortable with command-line tools.

Features of WPScan:

WPScan’s capabilities extend beyond vulnerability detection, including:

• Scanning WordPress core, plugins, and themes for known vulnerabilities.
• Enumerating usernames and media files.
• Checking for accessible wp-config.php files and other sensitive data.
• Perform password strength checks against known usernames.

It can also be used in various modes (passive, aggressive, and mixed). This allows for different levels of detection intensity based on the server’s capacity and your security needs.

Pricing

WPScan offers a free plan called Researcher with up to 25 API requests per day, which should cover most small WordPress sites. This free plan allows the scanning of WordPress versions, themes, and plugins for vulnerabilities. For commercial users or sites with a large number of plugins, WPScan offers paid plans that provide higher limits on API requests. The specific pricing for enterprise users is custom and requires contacting WPScan directly.

For WordPress users looking for a more user-friendly approach, Jetpack Protect is a free alternative that leverages WPScan’s vulnerability data. This version includes daily automated scans and vulnerability alerts.

4: WPSec

WPSec is an automated vulnerability scanner designed specifically for WordPress websites. It uses advanced scanning technology, including WPScanner, to identify vulnerabilities. It also detects security issues in WordPress core, plugins, and themes.

One of its main benefits is the user-friendly dashboard. This allows you to manage scans, receive reports, and set up push notifications. WPSec’s automated scans ensure your WordPress sites are continuously monitored. This reduces the risk of falling behind on critical updates or security fixes.

Features of WPSec:

WPSec offers several scanning options, such as:

• Instant scans: Quick vulnerability checks that provide fast reports on a website’s security status.
• Deep scans: More comprehensive scans that dig into potential issues and vulnerabilities.
• Automatic scans: Scheduled scans that run daily, weekly, or monthly based on your preferences, ideal for maintaining long-term security monitoring.

Pricing

WPSec offers both free and premium plans:

• Free plan: Includes 1 website scan, with up to 20 reports and automated weekly scans. The free version is a great option for smaller sites or people who want to explore the tool’s features.
• Premium plan: Priced at €29 per month, this plan offers unlimited website scans, unlimited reports, and more frequent automated scans. It also provides advanced features like API access, webhook integration, and push notifications. This plan is ideal for those managing multiple WordPress sites or requiring more frequent security monitoring.
• White label plan: Priced at €295 per month, this option includes all Premium features plus a branded dashboard and reports with your own logo and domain. It’s geared toward agencies or businesses offering WordPress security services to clients.

5: Acunetix

Acunetix is a Web Application Security Testing solution that can also be used as a WordPress vulnerability scanner. Since it is not WordPress-specific, it can be used on different websites, applications, and APIs. It can do both SAST (Static Application Security Testing) and DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing).

Features of Acunetix:

This tool includes many features, but notably, it can scan for:  

• Out-of-date WordPress core files and plugins: This ensures your site is running the latest versions with all necessary updates.
• Malware: Identifies malicious code or threats hiding within WordPress themes and plugins.
• Weak passwords and vulnerable user names: Detects exploitable credentials.
• XML-RPC vulnerabilities: Scans for issues with this WordPress protocol, which could be used for brute-force attacks.

Acunetix is flexible though and works across different technologies and web frameworks. You can use it to detect vulnerabilities in WordPress as well as other CMS platforms like Joomla and Drupal​.

Pricing

Acunetix pricing is typically offered through annual subscription plans. The cost depends on the number of websites or web applications being scanned. high-end solution aimed at enterprises or businesses with serious security needs, providing continuous scanning, extensive reporting, and integration options for vulnerability management​. You’ll need to reach out to Acunetix directly for a quote.

Understanding the difference between a vulnerability scanner and a security scanner

There are a few distinctions you need to know before we take a look at the tool options available, too. For instance, knowing the difference between a vulnerability scanner and a security scanner can help you hone in on the right type of tool. 

A WordPress vulnerability scanner is a dedicated tool that scans for vulnerabilities. It looks for things like bugs in software or holes in security.

A security scanner is a general term. It might include vulnerability scans, but these scanners usually look for misconfigurations, missed updates, weak passwords, malware, and so forth.

This distinction is important. You need to know what you’re scanning for. Make sure to read the documentation that comes with any scanner you choose. This will help you ensure you’re getting the coverage you need. And that your selected tool is actually performing vulnerability scans — not just security scans.

Understanding the difference between black box and white box testing

There are two main approaches to vulnerability testing you should be aware of: black box testing and white box testing. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding the differences between them will help you know what’s covered by a particular vulnerability scanner.

Let’s take a look:

Black box testing

WordPress black box vulnerability testing is a technique in which the person performing the test does not have knowledge of WordPress’ internal workings. During testing, the tester only has access to the inputs and outputs and does not concern themselves with how the outputs are produced. In other words, the tester treats WordPress as a “black box” and tests it from the outside.

One advantage of black box testing is that it can be performed by testers who do not have any knowledge of programming or the software’s internal architecture. This makes black box testing accessible to a broader range of testers.

The main disadvantage of black box testing is that it may not be able to uncover certain types of vulnerabilities that are related to knowing how WordPress works specifically.

White box testing

WordPress white box testing describes a test type where the tester has access to WordPress architecture, code, and design. It’s also sometimes called clear box testing or structural testing.

An advantage here is that it allows the tester to uncover bugs that are related to WordPress. It can also be used to test the software’s maintainability and scalability. WordPress developers and plugin developers can gain a lot from this testing type.

The main disadvantage of white box testing is that testers do need to be familiar with how WordPress works.

Common WordPress vulnerabilities

While there are many WordPress vulnerabilities, knowing some of the more common ones is helpful. And they’re easy to prevent. Others can only be solved by developers who have access to the code. But let’s start with the easy ones:

Outdated WordPress core

One of the most common vulnerabilities in WordPress is an outdated WordPress core. Updates for WordPress are regularly released. These address security issues, fix bugs, and improve performance and functionality. Bad actors can exploit known vulnerabilities if you don’t update to the latest version.

What to do: Having a WordPress update policy can help you better manage WordPress updates. It can also help you ensure the site is always running the latest version of WordPress.

Weak Passwords

Weak passwords can be another major WordPress security vulnerability. Many users tend to use weak passwords that are easy to guess or crack since they’re more likely to remember them. This can make it easy for hackers to gain unauthorized access to websites.

What to do: Use a WordPress password policy to ensure users use strong passwords and encourage the use of a password manager.

Vulnerable plugins and themes

WordPress themes and plugins can add a lot to WordPress for both appearance and functionality. But some of these plugins and themes may contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

What to do: Use plugins and themes from trusted vendors that release regular updates. And keep everything updated. Once an update is released, implement it in your staging environment. Once all is confirmed to play nicely together, push those updates live! 

Brute force attacks

Brute force attacks occur when malicious actors attempt to guess a user’s login credentials by trying different username and password combinations. Often, they’ll use bots to implement these attacks.

What to do: Add WP 2FA to your plugin stack to add an extra layer of protection to your user accounts. According to our recent WordPress security survey, 70% of respondents already use two-factor authentication, so you’d be in good company. 

SQL injection

During SQL injection, bad actors inject malicious code into a website’s database. And they use input fields to do this. Search bar entries, form fields, and comment sections are all likely targets. This can expose sensitive data like usernames, passwords, and credit card details.

What to do: Reputable plugin developers will eliminate this during development. If you do find this vulnerability, you should disable the component that’s causing it. Fix the issue, then relaunch it. 

Why you should scan for vulnerabilities

As the statistics we shared at the beginning of the article show, vulnerabilities can be present in any software. If you have a strong WordPress update policy and limit yourself to themes and plugins from reputable developers, that’s great. But that’s not a guarantee that your site is safe. 

Running a vulnerability scan is a good way to assess your site’s health and security. And a vulnerability scan can help you uncover issues that you might have overlooked. Or, it might unearth vulnerabilities that were only recently introduced in an update or configuration change.

Use WordPress vulnerability scanners and secure your site

A WordPress vulnerability scanner may help you identify threats to your website. And hopefully, those discussed here will help you make a good selection. But taking proactive security measures remains important. While you should still address the results of a WordPress vulnerability scan, you should also understand that WordPress security is an iterative process. So that means the work is never done. But that’s not a bad thing. Especially when you consider the huge ROI solid security offers.

Keeping everything updated is one of the most accessible ways you can limit vulnerabilities. WordPress, themes, plugins, and PHP should be up-to-date at all times. Don’t forget to take regular backups and use a WordPress staging environment to limit risk.

WordPress security plugins can also offer protection and peace of mind. Firewalls are always a good option, but so too is using a WordPress activity log that can help you keep tabs on everything. Similarly, securing your WordPress accounts with Melapress Login Security and using a 2FA plugin can help your site stay even more secure with minimal effort.