The Ultimate WordPress Pentesting Cheatsheet for 2026

WordPress powers over 43% of the entire internet. From personal blogs to billion-dollar businesses, WordPress is everywhere — and that makes it a prime target.

If you’re a pentester, bug bounty hunter, security engineer, or even a WordPress developer, knowing how to properly pentest WordPress is no longer optional. Automated scanners catch the obvious stuff. Real vulnerabilities hide in logic, misconfigurations, and custom code.

This WordPress Pentesting Cheatsheet is not a copy-paste checklist. It’s a battle-tested, real-world methodology used in professional pentests and bug bounty programs — updated for 2026 realities.

You’ll learn:

• How WordPress is built (and where it breaks)
• A step-by-step pentesting workflow
• Common + high-impact vulnerabilities
• Tools, commands, examples, and usage
• Real-world case studies
• Reporting tips
• FAQs optimized for Google featured snippets

Bookmark this. You’ll come back to it.

Why WordPress Pentesting Is Still Critical in 2026

Despite being mature, WordPress remains vulnerable because of:

• Thousands of third-party plugins
• Poor update hygiene
• Custom themes & code
• Shared hosting environments
• Weak admin security practices

Real-World Stats (Still Relevant)

• 90%+ of WordPress hacks happen via plugins/themes
• Outdated plugins are the #1 attack vector
• Credential stuffing remains extremely effective
• Most compromises are non-zero-day

👉 Translation: attackers don’t need elite exploits — they need misconfigurations and bad hygiene.

Understanding WordPress Internals (Pentesters Must Know This)

Before exploiting WordPress, you must understand how it works.

Core Components

• Core – /wp-admin, /wp-includes
• Themes – /wp-content/themes/
• Plugins – /wp-content/plugins/
• Uploads – /wp-content/uploads/
• Database – MySQL (posts, users, options)

Authentication Model

• Cookie-based sessions
• Nonces for CSRF protection
• Roles & capabilities (Subscriber → Administrator)

Common Mistake

Many pentesters:

“Scan plugins → exploit → done”

Professionals:

“Understand logic → map attack surface → exploit with context”

WordPress Pentesting Methodology (High-Level)

Here’s the modern WordPress pentesting flow:

1. Passive Reconnaissance
2. Active Enumeration
3. Version & Component Discovery
4. Authentication Attacks
5. Authorization & Access Control
6. Plugin & Theme Vulnerability Testing
7. File Upload & RCE Testing
8. Database & Injection Attacks
9. Business Logic & Misconfigurations
10. Post-Exploitation
11. Reporting & Remediation

Let’s break each one down.

1. Passive Reconnaissance (Start Quiet)

What to Look For

• WordPress indicators in HTML source
• /wp-content/, /wp-admin/
• Meta generator tags
• Robots.txt leaks
• Sitemap exposure

Quick Checks

curl -I https://target.com

Look for:

• Server headers
• PHP version leaks
• CDN or WAF presence

Real-World Example

A pentest revealed:

• wp-json exposed
• REST API open
• No authentication on custom routes

Result?

User enumeration + content manipulation.

2. Active Enumeration (This Is Where Gold Appears)

Enumerate WordPress

https://target.com/wp-admin/
https://target.com/wp-login.php
https://target.com/wp-json/

Enumerate Users

https://target.com/?author=1

If it redirects to /author/admin/, you just found a username.

REST API Enumeration

/wp-json/wp/v2/users

If exposed:

• Usernames
• IDs
• Roles (sometimes)

3. WordPress Version, Plugins & Themes Discovery

Why This Matters

Most real-world WordPress compromises happen via:

• Vulnerable plugins
• Abandoned themes

Manual Enumeration

Check page source:

/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/
/wp-content/themes/astra/

Directory Listing Checks

/wp-content/plugins/
/wp-content/uploads/

If directory listing is enabled — jackpot.

4. Authentication Attacks (Still Extremely Effective)

Common Attacks

• Brute force
• Credential stuffing
• XML-RPC abuse
• Password reuse

XML-RPC Bruteforce

/xmlrpc.php

Multiple login attempts in one request.

Real-World Case

Client reused:

• Email + password across sites

Result?

Full admin takeover in under 10 minutes.

Pentester Tip

Always test:

• Weak passwords
• Default credentials
• Leaked credentials

5. Authorization & Access Control (Highly Underrated)

Test User Roles

• Subscriber
• Contributor
• Author
• Editor
• Admin

What to Check

• Access to /wp-admin/
• Media uploads
• AJAX endpoints
• REST routes

Example

Subscriber accessing:

/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=export_data

Result?

Sensitive data disclosure.

6. Plugin & Theme Vulnerability Testing

Common Plugin Bugs

• SQL injection
• XSS
• CSRF
• File upload
• Auth bypass

How to Test

• Identify plugin version
• Check changelogs
• Analyze exposed endpoints
• Fuzz parameters

Example

/wp-content/plugins/plugin-name/readme.txt

Version disclosure → vulnerability match → exploit.

7. File Upload & Remote Code Execution (High Impact)

Common Upload Paths

/wp-content/uploads/

What to Try

• Upload PHP disguised as image
• Double extensions
• MIME-type bypass
• SVG XSS

Real-World Example

Uploaded:

shell.php.jpg

Server executed it.

Result?

Full server compromise.

8. SQL Injection & Database Attacks

Injection Points

• Search parameters
• Plugin endpoints
• AJAX actions
• REST API

Blind SQLi Example

?id=1 AND SLEEP(5)

If delay happens — investigate further.

Modern Reality

• Core WordPress is fairly hardened
• Plugins are not

9. Business Logic & Misconfigurations

This is where experienced pentesters win.

Common Logic Issues

• Unrestricted password resets
• Email change without verification
• Order manipulation
• Coupon abuse
• Subscription bypass

Case Study

WooCommerce site allowed:

• Order status change via AJAX

Result?

Free products shipped.

10. Post-Exploitation (If You Get In)

What to Do (Ethically)

• Prove impact
• Avoid persistence unless allowed
• Capture evidence
• Stop

Typical Impact Proof

• Access admin panel
• Read sensitive data
• Execute limited commands

Logging Setup (Highly Recommended)

Logging is essential for credible pentests.

Use This Script (Preserves Colors & Output)

#!/bin/bash
# Helper script by @sechurity
if [ -z "${UNDER_SCRIPT}" ]; then
    logdir="${HOME}/logs"
    logfile="${logdir}/$(date +%F.%H-%M-%S).$$.log"
    mkdir -p "${logdir}"
    export UNDER_SCRIPT="${logfile}"
    echo "The terminal output is saving to ${logfile}"
    script -f -q "${logfile}"
    exit
fi

Install globally:

chmod +x logt.sh
sudo cp logt.sh /usr/local/bin/logt

Run:

logt

Reporting WordPress Vulnerabilities (How Pros Do It)

Bad Report ❌

“XSS found in plugin.”

Good Report ✅

“Unauthenticated reflected XSS in contact form plugin allows attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript in victim browsers, enabling session hijacking.”

Always include:

• Steps to reproduce
• Impact
• Screenshots
• Fix guidance

WordPress Pentesting Cheatsheet (Quick Reference)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is WordPress still secure in 2026?

Yes — if properly configured and maintained. Most hacks are due to human error.

What is the most common WordPress vulnerability?

Vulnerable plugins and weak credentials.

Can automated scanners replace manual testing?

No. They miss logic flaws, access control issues, and custom code bugs.

Is WordPress pentesting legal?

Only with explicit permission or within bug bounty scope.

How long does a WordPress pentest take?

• Small site: 1–2 days
• Large WooCommerce site: 1–2 weeks

Final Thoughts: WordPress Security Is About Discipline

WordPress itself isn’t “insecure”.

Poor updates, bad plugins, weak passwords, and no monitoring are.

If you:

• Understand WordPress internals
• Follow a structured methodology
• Focus on real impact
• Log everything
• Report clearly

You’ll outperform most automated audits.

🚀 Call to Action

If this WordPress Pentesting Cheatsheet helped you:

• Bookmark it
• Share it with your team
• Apply one new technique today

Stay sharp. Stay ethical.