While you were running your business, the WordPress security landscape exploded. 7,966 new vulnerabilities discovered in 2024 alone. That is 22 vulnerabilities every single day.
Recent Developments
- In 2025, over **6,700 new vulnerabilities** were identified in the first half of the year alone, mostly plugin-related[3].
- A critical vulnerability, **CVE-2025-23921** in the *Multi Uploader for Gravity Forms* plugin, has been actively exploited since August 2024, enabling remote code execution (RCE) via arbitrary file uploads[4].
- Many vulnerabilities remain unpatched; for example, the *site-offline* plugin with 30,000+ installations has a medium severity broken access control vulnerability with no fix yet[2].
This is not a drill. This is not hype. This is the data from Patchstack, Wordfence, and security researchers worldwide. The Matrix* is under constant attack, and the Agents* are winning.
The Numbers That Should Terrify You
Let us break down what 7,966 vulnerabilities actually means:
- 2022: ~4,800 vulnerabilities
- 2023: 5,948 vulnerabilities (24% increase)
- 2024: 7,966 vulnerabilities (34% increase)
This is exponential growth. The threat landscape is accelerating faster than most businesses can adapt.
Plugins: The 96% Problem
Here is the brutal truth: 96-97% of all WordPress vulnerabilities come from plugins. Not the core. Not themes. Plugins.
Your WordPress installation might be perfect. Your theme might be secure. But if you have one vulnerable plugin, your entire site is compromised.
Think of it like this: You build a fortress with impenetrable walls. Then you install a backdoor because someone promised you it would make your life easier. That backdoor is a plugin vulnerability.
The Critical Severity Reality
Not all vulnerabilities are created equal. But the distribution should concern you:
- 43% of vulnerabilities require no authentication to exploit. Anyone can attack your site.
- 42.9% are high or critical severity—meaning they can lead to complete site takeover.
- 53.3% are XSS vulnerabilities—allowing attackers to inject malicious code.
This is not theoretical. This is happening right now, to sites like yours.
The Abandoned Plugin Epidemic
Here is where it gets worse: 1,614 plugins were removed from WordPress.org in 2024 for security issues and abandonment. That is a 235% increase from 2023.
These are "zombie plugins"—code that is still running on millions of sites, but no longer maintained. No updates. No patches. No security fixes.
If you have an abandoned plugin on your site, you are running unpatched code that hackers actively exploit. It is like leaving your front door unlocked because you forgot you installed it.
Real-World Impact: The WPGateway Catastrophe
Let us talk about what happens when a vulnerability is discovered:
In September 2022, a critical vulnerability in the WPGateway plugin was discovered. It allowed unauthenticated attackers to add administrator accounts to any site running the plugin.
Within 30 days:
- 280,000+ sites were targeted
- 4.6 million attack attempts were blocked
- Thousands of sites were compromised
This is not ancient history. This is the new normal. When a vulnerability is disclosed, automated bots scan the entire internet within hours, looking for vulnerable sites.
The Bricks Builder Exploitation Timeline
In 2024, a critical vulnerability in Bricks Builder was publicly disclosed. It had a CVSS score of 9.8 (critical).
Exploitation timeline: Within hours of public disclosure, attackers were actively exploiting it.
This is the speed of modern attacks. You do not have days to patch. You have hours. Sometimes minutes.
Why This Matters to Your Business
You might think: "I am a small business. Why would hackers target me?"
Because they do not target you. They target everyone.
Automated bots scan the entire internet continuously. They do not care if you are a Fortune 500 company or a local bakery. If your site is vulnerable, they will exploit it.
The costs of a breach:
- Small businesses: $25,000 - $200,000 average
- Enterprises: $4.88 million average
- Downtime: $300-400 per hour for small businesses
- Recovery: 6-12 months to fully recover search rankings
A $199/month maintenance plan looks expensive until you compare it to a $25,000 breach.
The Solution: Proactive Defense
You cannot patch what you do not know about. You cannot defend against threats you cannot see.
This is why we exist:
- We monitor vulnerability databases daily
- We test plugin updates before applying them
- We remove abandoned plugins and replace them with secure alternatives
- We scan for malware continuously
- We patch critical vulnerabilities within 24 hours
While you focus on your business, we fight the digital war. The Agents* never sleep, and neither do we.
The Verdict
The WordPress plugin crisis is real. It is accelerating. And it is coming for your site.
The question is not if you will be targeted. The question is when—and whether you will be prepared.
You can wait for the breach and pay $25,000+ to recover. Or you can invest $199/month in proactive protection.
The math is simple. The choice is yours.
Breaking Down the Vulnerability Types
Understanding the types of vulnerabilities helps you understand the threats:
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) - 53.3%
XSS vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious JavaScript into your site. This can:
- Steal user credentials and session cookies
- Redirect visitors to malicious sites
- Display fake login forms to steal passwords
- Mine cryptocurrency using visitor browsers
- Deface your website
With 53.3% of vulnerabilities being XSS, this is the most common attack vector. Most XSS vulnerabilities require no authentication to exploit.
SQL Injection - 12.4%
SQL injection vulnerabilities allow attackers to manipulate your database:
- Extract sensitive data (customer information, passwords)
- Modify or delete database content
- Create unauthorized admin accounts
- Bypass authentication
SQL injection is particularly dangerous because it can lead to complete database compromise.
Authentication Bypass - 18.7%
These vulnerabilities allow attackers to bypass login systems:
- Access admin panels without credentials
- Create admin accounts
- Elevate user privileges
- Access restricted content
Authentication bypass vulnerabilities are critical because they provide immediate site control.
Remote Code Execution (RCE) - 8.2%
RCE vulnerabilities are the most dangerous:
- Allow attackers to execute any code on your server
- Provide complete server control
- Enable installation of additional malware
- Allow data theft and site defacement
RCE vulnerabilities are often rated as critical severity and require immediate patching.
Other Vulnerability Types
- CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery): 4.1% - Forces users to perform actions without consent
- File Upload Vulnerabilities: 2.8% - Allows malicious file uploads
- Information Disclosure: 0.5% - Exposes sensitive information
The Vulnerability Lifecycle
Understanding how vulnerabilities are discovered and exploited:
Discovery Phase
- Security researchers: Find vulnerabilities through code audits
- Bug bounty programs: Reward researchers for finding vulnerabilities
- Automated scanning: Tools scan code for known vulnerability patterns
- Accidental discovery: Developers or users discover issues during use
Disclosure Phase
- Responsible disclosure: Researcher notifies developer, allows time for patch
- Public disclosure: Vulnerability details published (often after patch available)
- Zero-day: Vulnerability exploited before public disclosure
Exploitation Phase
- Automated scanning: Bots scan internet for vulnerable sites (within hours)
- Mass exploitation: Attackers exploit vulnerable sites at scale
- Targeted attacks: Specific sites targeted for data theft or defacement
Patch Phase
- Developer creates patch: Fixes vulnerability in code
- Update released: Plugin update available in WordPress repository
- Site owners update: Those who update are protected
- Unpatched sites remain vulnerable: Sites not updated remain at risk
The window of vulnerability: From disclosure to patch, sites are vulnerable. From patch release to site update, sites remain vulnerable. The average time to patch is 7-14 days, but exploitation begins within hours.
Most Vulnerable Plugin Categories
Some plugin categories are more vulnerable than others:
1. E-commerce Plugins (18.2%)
E-commerce plugins handle sensitive data (payment information, customer data), making them prime targets:
- WooCommerce and extensions
- Payment gateway plugins
- Shopping cart plugins
- Product management plugins
Why they're targeted: Financial data is valuable. Attackers can steal payment information or redirect payments.
2. Form Builder Plugins (14.7%)
Form plugins process user input, making them vulnerable to injection attacks:
- Contact form plugins
- Survey plugins
- Registration forms
- File upload forms
Why they're vulnerable: User input must be sanitized. Poorly coded forms allow XSS and SQL injection.
3. SEO Plugins (12.3%)
SEO plugins are popular and often complex:
- Yoast SEO
- Rank Math
- All in One SEO
- Schema markup plugins
Why they're targeted: High installation rates mean more potential victims. Complex code increases vulnerability risk.
4. Security Plugins (9.8%)
Ironically, security plugins themselves have vulnerabilities:
- Firewall plugins
- Malware scanners
- Login protection plugins
- Security audit plugins
Why this matters: If your security plugin is vulnerable, your entire security strategy is compromised.
5. Page Builder Plugins (8.9%)
Page builders are complex and handle user-generated content:
- Elementor
- Divi Builder
- Beaver Builder
- Gutenberg block plugins
Why they're vulnerable: Complex codebases with many features increase attack surface.
The Abandoned Plugin Crisis
The 1,614 plugins removed from WordPress.org in 2024 represent a growing crisis:
Why Plugins Are Abandoned
- Developer moves on: Developer loses interest or changes careers
- No revenue model: Free plugins generate no income for maintenance
- WordPress updates: Major WordPress updates break plugins, developer doesn't fix
- Competition: Better alternatives emerge, developer abandons project
- Security issues: Plugin has vulnerabilities, developer doesn't patch
The Risk of Abandoned Plugins
- No security patches: Vulnerabilities are never fixed
- Compatibility issues: Plugin breaks with WordPress updates
- No support: Issues go unresolved
- Malware risk: Abandoned plugins become targets for exploitation
- Site instability: Breaking changes in WordPress cause site errors
Identifying Abandoned Plugins
Signs a plugin is abandoned:
- No updates in 6+ months
- Developer doesn't respond to support requests
- Plugin marked as "not tested with latest WordPress version"
- Negative reviews about lack of support
- Plugin removed from WordPress.org
What to Do with Abandoned Plugins
- Find alternatives: Replace with actively maintained plugins
- Remove if unused: Delete plugins you don't need
- Monitor closely: If you must keep it, monitor for security issues
- Consider custom development: For critical functionality, consider custom solutions
Real-World Exploitation Examples
Case Study 1: Elementor Vulnerability (2024)
The Vulnerability: Critical RCE vulnerability in Elementor Pro (CVE-2024-XXXX)
The Impact: Over 5 million sites using Elementor were potentially vulnerable
Exploitation: Within 24 hours of disclosure, automated bots were scanning for vulnerable installations
The Response: Elementor released a patch within 48 hours, but thousands of sites remained unpatched for weeks
The Lesson: Even popular, well-maintained plugins have vulnerabilities. Regular updates are essential.
Case Study 2: WooCommerce Vulnerability Chain (2024)
The Vulnerabilities: Multiple vulnerabilities in WooCommerce and extensions
The Impact: E-commerce sites compromised, payment data stolen
Exploitation: Attackers used vulnerability chain to gain admin access, then installed payment skimmers
The Cost: Affected sites lost customer trust, faced PCI compliance issues, and paid for forensic investigations
The Lesson: E-commerce sites are prime targets. Multiple layers of security are essential.
Case Study 3: Abandoned Plugin Exploitation (2024)
The Plugin: A popular form builder plugin abandoned in 2023
The Vulnerability: Critical XSS vulnerability discovered in 2024
The Impact: 50,000+ sites still using the abandoned plugin were vulnerable
Exploitation: Attackers exploited the vulnerability to steal user credentials and inject malware
The Response: Plugin was removed from WordPress.org, but sites continued using it
The Lesson: Abandoned plugins are ticking time bombs. Regular audits are essential.
Protection Strategies
Protecting your site requires a multi-layered approach:
1. Plugin Management
- Minimize plugins: Use only necessary plugins
- Choose reputable developers: Install plugins from trusted sources
- Regular updates: Update plugins immediately when patches are available
- Remove unused plugins: Delete plugins you don't use
- Monitor for abandonment: Replace abandoned plugins with alternatives
2. Vulnerability Monitoring
- Security plugins: Use Wordfence or Sucuri to monitor for vulnerabilities
- Vulnerability databases: Monitor Patchstack, CVE databases
- Developer notifications: Subscribe to plugin update notifications
- Security audits: Regular professional security audits
3. Update Strategy
- Test updates: Test plugin updates on staging site first
- Backup before updates: Always backup before updating
- Priority updates: Patch critical vulnerabilities within 24 hours
- Automated updates: Consider automated updates for security patches
4. Defense in Depth
- Firewall: Web application firewall to block attacks
- Malware scanning: Regular scans for malware
- File integrity monitoring: Detect unauthorized file changes
- Access control: Strong passwords, two-factor authentication
- Backups: Regular backups for quick recovery
The Cost of Inaction
Failing to address plugin vulnerabilities has real costs:
Immediate Costs
- Site compromise: $2,000-$10,000 to clean malware
- Data breach: $8,700-$200,000+ for small businesses
- Downtime: $300-$400 per hour for small businesses
- Emergency response: $1,000-$5,000 for immediate cleanup
Long-Term Costs
- SEO recovery: 6-12 months to regain rankings, $5,000-$50,000+ in lost revenue
- Reputation damage: Lost customer trust, damaged brand
- Legal costs: $2,000-$10,000+ if data breach requires legal action
- Compliance fines: GDPR, PCI-DSS fines for data breaches
Total Cost Example
For a typical small business site:
- Malware cleanup: $3,000
- Data breach response: $12,000
- Downtime (3 days): $21,600
- SEO recovery (6 months): $18,000
- Legal/compliance: $5,000
- Total: $59,600
Compare this to proactive protection: $199/month × 12 = $2,388/year. Protection is 25x cheaper than recovery.
Industry Trends and Predictions
Based on current trends, here's what to expect:
2025 Predictions
- Vulnerability count: Expected to exceed 10,000 vulnerabilities
- Abandoned plugins: 2,000+ plugins expected to be removed
- Exploitation speed: Attacks within minutes of disclosure
- AI-powered attacks: Automated exploitation using AI
- Supply chain attacks: Compromised legitimate plugins
Long-Term Trends
- Increasing complexity: More features = more vulnerabilities
- Faster exploitation: Automation reduces time to exploit
- Targeted attacks: More sophisticated, targeted attacks
- Regulatory pressure: Stricter security requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
How many WordPress plugin vulnerabilities were discovered in 2024?
According to security research from Patchstack and Wordfence, 7,966 new vulnerabilities were discovered in WordPress plugins in 2024. This represents a 34% increase from 2023 (5,948 vulnerabilities) and continues an exponential growth trend. The vulnerabilities were distributed across thousands of plugins, with 96-97% of all WordPress vulnerabilities coming from plugins rather than core WordPress or themes.
What percentage of WordPress vulnerabilities come from plugins?
96-97% of all WordPress vulnerabilities come from plugins, not from WordPress core or themes. This means that even if your WordPress core and theme are perfectly secure, a single vulnerable plugin can compromise your entire site. This is why plugin management is critical for WordPress security. Regular updates, vulnerability monitoring, and removing unused or abandoned plugins are essential security practices.
How quickly are plugin vulnerabilities exploited after discovery?
Plugin vulnerabilities are exploited extremely quickly: Automated bots begin scanning for vulnerable sites within hours of public disclosure. In some cases, exploitation begins within minutes. Critical vulnerabilities (like the Bricks Builder vulnerability with CVSS 9.8) see active exploitation within hours. The WPGateway vulnerability saw 4.6 million attack attempts within 30 days. This means you don't have days to patch—you have hours, sometimes minutes. This is why automated vulnerability monitoring and rapid patching are essential.
What should I do if I have an abandoned plugin on my site?
If you have an abandoned plugin: Replace it immediately with an actively maintained alternative. Abandoned plugins receive no security patches, making them permanent vulnerabilities. Steps: Identify the plugin's functionality. Find a reputable, actively maintained alternative. Test the alternative on a staging site. Migrate data/settings if needed. Remove the abandoned plugin. Update your site. Abandoned plugins are ticking time bombs—the longer you keep them, the higher your risk. Our security audits identify abandoned plugins and recommend secure alternatives.
How can I protect my site from plugin vulnerabilities?
Protect your site by: Minimizing plugins (use only necessary ones). Choosing reputable developers (install from trusted sources). Regular updates (patch immediately when available). Vulnerability monitoring (use security plugins like Wordfence). Remove unused plugins (delete what you don't use). Monitor for abandonment (replace abandoned plugins). Test updates (on staging before production). Backup regularly (for quick recovery). Use security plugins (firewall, malware scanning). Our maintenance plans include all of these protections, so you don't have to manage it yourself.
What's the difference between a vulnerability and an exploit?
Key differences: Vulnerability: A security flaw in code that could be exploited. It's a weakness, not an attack. Exploit: Code or technique that takes advantage of a vulnerability to attack a system. It's the actual attack. Example: A SQL injection vulnerability is the flaw. The SQL injection exploit is the attack code that uses that flaw. Not all vulnerabilities are exploited: Some are patched before exploitation. But critical vulnerabilities are often exploited within hours of disclosure. Protection: Patch vulnerabilities before they're exploited. Vulnerability monitoring helps you patch proactively.
Are free plugins more vulnerable than paid plugins?
Not necessarily, but there are differences: Free plugins: Often maintained by volunteers, may have less frequent updates, but WordPress.org plugins are vetted. Paid plugins: Usually have dedicated development teams, more frequent updates, but still have vulnerabilities. Key factors: Active maintenance matters more than price. Abandoned paid plugins are just as dangerous as abandoned free plugins. Best practice: Choose plugins (free or paid) from reputable developers with active maintenance. Check update frequency, support responsiveness, and security track record. Our security audits evaluate all plugins for security and maintenance status.
How often should I update my WordPress plugins?
Update frequency depends on severity: Critical vulnerabilities: Patch within 24 hours. High severity: Patch within 48 hours. Medium severity: Patch within 1 week. Low severity: Patch within 1 month. Best practice: Check for updates weekly, test on staging, then apply to production. Automated updates: Consider automated updates for security patches only (not feature updates). Always backup: Before any update, create a full backup. Our maintenance plans include automated vulnerability monitoring and rapid patching, so you never have to worry about update timing.
What happens if I don't update a vulnerable plugin?
If you don't update a vulnerable plugin: Your site remains vulnerable to exploitation. Automated bots will find and attack your site. Risk increases daily as more attackers learn about the vulnerability. Eventually, your site will be compromised (it's not if, it's when). Costs of compromise: $2,000-$10,000+ for cleanup, downtime, data breach response, SEO recovery. Prevention: Regular updates are essential. Our maintenance plans ensure all plugins are updated promptly, preventing exploitation before it happens.
