You’re not paranoid if you’re worried about XSS attacks on your WordPress site. In 2019 XSS attacked almost 75% of large companies. Additionally, nearly 40% of all cyberattacks were designed to target XSS vulnerabilities.

XSS or cross-site scripting is a form of attack wherein malicious scripts are injected into otherwise trusted and credible websites. There are two types of XSS attacks that hackers can perform on WordPress websites. Hackers can either bypass the same-origin policies or exploit user input. They might also exploit XML-RPC, so you should look into how to disable xmlrpc.

Let’s look at how bypassing same-origin policies and exploiting user input allows hackers to attack your site. 

Bypassing Same-Origin Policies

The same-origin policy works by restricting one web page from retrieving information from other web pages. This means that if you have your Facebook page open in one tab and your banking website open on another tab in the same browser, the two websites won’t be able to share information with each other. However, the policy does allow two web pages to share information if they have the same origin. This means that multiple Facebook tabs can exchange scripts and other data with each other.

However, cybercriminals have found a way around this policy using session cookies. Session cookies collect login credentials, credit card information, shipment details, and other sensitive data. As a result, you don’t have to re-log into your account every time you switch pages. For example, when you first log in to your bank account online, a session cookie is generated so that you don’t have to log in again when you switch pages on the website.

User browsers often have vulnerabilities, and hackers exploit these by injecting code into the user input to steal session cookies. This means that they can steal all the cookies from all the websites opened in the user’s browser. Hackers can then use these cookies to log into users’ accounts, wherein the hacker will impersonate the user and then steal their financial and personal data.

Manipulating User Input

Most WordPress sites have user input fields like comment forms, search bars, login pages, and contact forms. These input fields are usually enabled by a JavaScriped powered WordPress plugin or active theme. Unfortunately, not all plugins and themes are 100% secure, and many of them have XSS vulnerabilities. As a result, cybercriminals can use these input field susceptibilities to perform malicious activities.

How To Stop XSS Attacks

Now that you understand what forms XSS attacks can take, it’s time to look at how you can prevent these attacks from happening.

There are a variety of ways to protect your WordPress site from cross-site scripting attacks. If you’re technically knowledgeable, you can add code snippets to your site to validate and sanitize user inputs. However, if you don’t have advanced technical expertise, you shouldn’t attempt this. Instead, you should delegate this task to your IT department or hire a professional. However, rather than sitting back and waiting for someone else to take care of the issue, you should be proactive and install a security plugin and an anti-XSS plugin.

A security WordPress plugin is a good first step towards developing the security of your WordPress website. When choosing a security plugin, make sure it has the following functionality:

●      It has the ability to scan your website for malware regularly

●      It can use firewalls to block any seemingly malicious traffic

●      It gives you the ability to manage all WordPress updates

●      It’s capable of implementing WordPress hardening measures

●      It backs up your site so you can restore your website in the event of an attack. 

An anti-XSS plugin can help prevent cross-site scripting. It works by blocking the parameters that are usually used in XSS attacks. For instance, these plugins can secure the user input fields on your sites like login fields, search bars, or comment forms.

Summary

Almost all WordPress vulnerabilities are a result of cross-site scripting issues. Companies can lose millions of dollars trying to fight the consequences of XSS attacks. Therefore, to prevent these types of attacks on your WordPress website, you need to understand what cross-site scripting is and what preventative measures to take. This means validating and sanitizing your input fields and installing security and dedicated anti-XSS plugins.