If the idea of providing your customers with unbeatable hosting protection for their WordPress sites without any effort on their part appeals to you, then you’ll be thrilled with Block XML-RPC, our latest tool for combating XML-RPC attacks!
WordPress has had a feature called XML-RPC since it was first created, which lets users access their websites remotely. This is great for people who want to blog from their phones, but it also opens up opportunities for hackers.
This article will provide a comprehensive guide on XML-RPC and demonstrate how to effortlessly safeguard WordPress sites hosted on WPMU DEV from cyber-attacks that exploit XML-RPC weaknesses, utilizing our newest hosting security feature.
We will also demonstrate how to safeguard WordPress websites hosted on other platforms.
Continue reading or click on one of the links below to bypass the introductory information and jump straight to the more interesting content.
The Basics:
- What Is XML-RPC?
- What is the purpose of XML-RPC?
- XML-RPC and WordPress Security
The Good Stuff:
- Automate Your Hosting Security with WPMU DEV’s Block XML-RPC Tool
- If you’re not using WPMU DEV for hosting, don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
Let’s dive straight into it…
What Is XML-RPC?
XML-RPC is a remote procedure call (RPC) protocol that uses XML to encode its calls and HTTP as a transport mechanism.
XML-RPC allows external applications to communicate with your WordPress site, enabling them to perform tasks such as publishing content, retrieving posts, and moderating comments from a distance, without the need to access the WordPress web interface.
WordPress provides support for XML-RPC via a file named xmlrpc.php, which is located in the main directory of every WordPress installation. In reality, WordPress’s support for XML-RPC has been included in the platform since before it was officially named WordPress.
Discover additional information about XML-RPC and its impact on WordPress security in this article: “XML-RPC and Why It’s Time to Remove it for WordPress Security.”
What is the purpose of XML-RPC?
If you need to access your WordPress website, but you’re nowhere near your computer, XML-RPC facilitates remote content management and integration with third-party applications and streamlines the process of managing WordPress sites without direct access to the admin dashboard.
Users of WordPress can take advantage of XML-RPC in areas such as:
- Mobile Blogging: Publish posts, edit pages, and upload media files remotely using the WordPress mobile app or other mobile apps.
- Integration with Desktop Blogging Clients: Applications like Windows Live Writer or MarsEdit allow users to write and publish content from their desktops.
- Integration with Services: Make connections to services like IFTTT
- Remote Management Tools: Enable the management of multiple WordPress sites from a single dashboard.
- Other sites utilize Trackbacks and Pingbacks to reference your site.
Despite losing its popularity to newer, more efficient, and more secure APIs built on standards like REST or GraphQL and no longer being supported by PHP from version 8.0 onward, XML-RPC is still widely used in WordPress as it is integrated into many existing systems.
XML-RPC and WordPress Security
If you’re utilizing the WordPress mobile application, looking to link up with services such as IFTTT, or aiming to manage and post on your blog from afar, then activating XML-RPC is necessary. If not, it simply becomes an additional entry point for hackers to attack and take advantage of.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Utilizing XML-RPC
The benefits of utilizing XML-RPC primarily lie in its ease of use and effectiveness.
While many applications can utilize the WordPress API instead of XML-RPC, some may still need to access xmlrpc.php and employ it to maintain compatibility with older versions that are currently in use.
It is essential, nevertheless, to be aware of the disadvantages of utilizing XML-RPC.
Basically, XML-RPC is an outdated protocol with inherent security flaws.
These include:
- Security Risk: XML-RPC can be exploited for large scale brute force attacks, as it allows unlimited login attempts. Attackers have used XML-RPC functionality to execute widespread brute force attacks against WordPress sites. By leveraging the system.multicall method, attackers can test thousands of password combinations with a single request.
- Performance: XML-RPC can serve as a conduit for DDoS attacks by exploiting the pingback functionality, transforming innocent WordPress sites into tools for attacking specific domains, which could lead to a slowdown or complete shutdown of the site.
How to Check if XML-RPC is Enabled/Disabled on WordPress Sites
Utilize an XML-RPC verification tool to determine if your WordPress website has XML-RPC activated or deactivated.
Enter your URL into the Address field and click the Check button.
If XML-RPC is activated, a message similar to the one displayed below will appear.
As mentioned earlier, XML-RPC can leave WordPress websites susceptible to unwanted spam and cyber threats.
This is why the best hosting companies block XML-RPC by default and why we recommend you should disable XML-RPC on your WordPress site(s), unless you have applications installed that require it to be enabled.
Let’s explore some alternatives for automatically disabling XML-RPC on your website, aside from the manual method mentioned in this post which requires adding code to your .htaccess file.
Automate Your Hosting Security with WPMU DEV’s Block XML-RPC Tool
We’ve recently launched a hosting tool called Block XML-RPC that automatically blocks incoming requests on /xmlrpc.php when enabled.
If the tool is disabled, your WordPress site will allow applications access to the /xmlrpc.php file.
Note: New sites hosted on WPMU DEV are created with the Block XML-RPC tool enabled by default.
To use the tool and activate the blocking of XML-RPC on current websites, navigate to The Hub and choose the Hosting > Tools section.
Click On/Off to toggle the feature and save your settings when done.
Your website is now secure from XML-RPC vulnerabilities and assaults at the server level.
If you’re not using WPMU DEV for hosting, don’t worry – we’ve got your back.
If your website is not hosted by WPMU DEV (shame on you…), you can utilize our complimentary Defender security plugin to deactivate XML-RPC.
You can find the option to turn off XML-RPC in the Recommendations area of the plugin.
Verify whether XML-RPC is deactivated in the Status area.
Explore alternative methods to safeguard your website against DDoS assaults by checking out this guide: How To Protect Your Site From DDoS Attacks.
Note: WordPress plugins only block XML-RPC at the WordPress PHP level, so if an attack occurs, the request will still reach WordPress PHP, subsequently increasing server load.
On the other hand, if you activate the Block XML-RPC function on the server side, the requests will not make it to your website and will instead send back a “403 Forbidden” error message to the attackers.
For further details and comprehensive guides on the topics mentioned, refer to the following documentation sections: Block XML-RPC tool (Hosting) and Disable XML RPC (Defender plugin).
R-E-S-P-E-C-T XML-RPC
WordPress site owners need to weigh the convenience of using XML-RPC against the potential security threats it poses.
We suggest that WordPress websites that utilize XML-RPC should implement robust passwords, restrict the number of login attempts, and employ a security plugin such as Defender to help reduce potential threats.
If you do not require the functionality and your websites are hosted on any of our plans, we highly suggest turning off XML-RPC at the server level with the use of the XML-RPC tool to decrease the likelihood of DDoS and brute force attacks.
WordPress is a widely-used CMS, with over 40% of websites on the internet using it. However, its widespread use also means it’s more susceptible to security risks. One of these risks is the XML-RPC protocol, which has been targeted by hackers for years. A new tool has been created to automatically block XML-RPC and enhance the security of WordPress hosting sites.
XML-RPC is a protocol that enables communication between different systems and was initially created for remote publishing and management of WordPress sites. However, it has become a target for hackers who exploit its vulnerabilities to launch attacks such as brute force and DDoS.
The “Disable XML-RPC” plugin is a new tool that can be added to any WordPress site. When activated, it blocks all XML-RPC requests, shutting down the protocol and preventing potential attacks. The plugin is user-friendly and requires no technical expertise.
By using the Disable XML-RPC plugin, WordPress hosting sites can significantly improve their security by removing a common attack method and decreasing the likelihood of successful attacks. It can also enhance site performance by reducing server load from XML-RPC requests.
The Disable XML-RPC plugin is just one of many security measures that WordPress site owners can implement. Others include updating WordPress and plugins regularly, using strong passwords, and enabling two-factor authentication.
In summary, the Disable XML-RPC plugin is a valuable asset for WordPress site owners who want to improve their security. It automatically blocks XML-RPC, removing a common attack method and reducing the chance of successful attacks. With the rise in cyber threats against WordPress sites, it’s crucial to take proactive measures to safeguard your site and users.
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