• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Jobs
  • Career
    • Cyber Security Training
    • Work from Home
    • Cyber Security Analyst
    • Remote Work – Six Ways to Keep Your Data Safe When Working Remotely
  • Field Guide
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Deals
  • News
AskCyberSecurity.com

AskCyberSecurity.com

Cyber Security News & Information

  • Home
  • Data Privacy
    • Gamers
    • Government Cyber Security
      • Legislation
      • Standards
        • What are the risks of computer security?
        • Medical Cyber Security
    • Social Media
  • Security
    • Data Breaches
    • Scams
    • Malware
  • Software
    • Apps
    • Web Browsers
  • Glossary
    • Cyber Security Acronyms
  • About Ask Cyber Security
    • Authors
    • Contact Us
  • VPN
    • How Do I Know If My VPN is Working?
    • Best Free VPN iPhone
    • Why Use a VPN?
    • NordVPN vs IPVanish
    • Private Internet Access Download
    • Best VPN for Streaming
      • TikTok VPN
    • VPN Porn
    • Computer Security Software – What You Really Need
  • Tutorials
  • ChatGPT
    • Does ChatGPT Save Data?
AskCyber Home » News » News » WordPress Sites Targeted in Large-scale Cyberattack

WordPress Sites Targeted in Large-scale Cyberattack

2021-12-13 by Michelle Dvorak

WordPress Cyberattack Epsilon

Millions of WordPress Websites Under Attack by Cybercriminals

Millions of WordPress websites are being actively targeted in a global cyberattack. Hackers are using 16,000 IP addresses to exploit security vulnerabilities in 1.6 million WordPress sites.

The attack targets fifteen Epsilon framework WordPress themes that use certain plugins.

WordPress is a well-known content management system (CMS) used in 34 percent of all websites worldwide. It powered about 455 million sites. There are two distinct versions of the popular CMS – wordpress.org andwordpress.com. WordPress is used for major sites such as eBay the New York Times, the White House, and BBC America.

Both are built on PHP and MySQL backends. With the addition of plugins and open-source software, WordPress.org is far more customizable than its free .org version.

READ Feds Warn WordPress Sites Vulnerable to Security Bugs

Over the past 36 hours, the Wordfence network has blocked over 13.7 million attacks targeting four different plugins and several Epsilon Framework themes across over 1.6 million sites and originating from over 16,000 different IP addresses,” says the post on Wordfence.

This WordPress cyberattack exploits a vulnerability to change a setting in the WordPress database. Attackers change WordPress security settings to allow anyone to register as a user on the website. Furthermore, the default setting for a new WordPress registered user is changed from subscriber to administrator.

The permission setting allows the hackers to take control of the compromised website.

To determine if your site was compromised in this cyberattack, review roles assigned to all users and default roles for new users. Look for users who have been granted administrative privileges. Also, look for any newly registered accounts that seem suspicious.

How to Locate WordPress Admin Users:

Time needed: 10 minutes.

  1. Log into WordPress

  2. From WordPress Dashboard, select “Users”

  3. Sort by Admin users

  4. Select Administrator at the top of the screen
  5. Check user privileges

    Look for users with admin rights or newly registered users

“Due to the severity of these vulnerabilities and the massive campaign targeting them, it is incredibly important to ensure your site is protected from compromise,” says Wordfence.

READ New WordPress Vulnerability Disclosed

Vulnerable WordPress Plugins:

  • PublishPress Capabilities <= 2.3
  • Kiwi Social Plugin <= 2.0.10
  • Pinterest Automatic <= 4.14.3
  • WordPress Automatic <= 3.53.2

Targeted WordPress Epsilon Themes:

  • Shapely version 1.2.8 and earlier
  • NewsMag version 2.4.1 and earlier
  • Activello version 1.4.1 and earlier
  • Illdy version 2.1.6 and earlier
  • Allegiant version 1.2.5 and earlier
  • Newspaper X version 1.3.1 and earlier
  • Pixova Lite version 2.0.6 and earlier
  • Brilliance version 1.2.9 and earlier
  • MedZone Lite version 1.2.5 and earlier
  • Regina Lite version 2.0.5 and earlier
  • Transcend version 1.1.9 and earlier
  • Affluent before version 1.1.0 and earlier
  • Bonkers version 1.0.5 and earlier
  • Antreas version 1.0.6 and earlier
  • NatureMag Lite – all versions

All WordPress sites using the Epsilon framework and one or more of the four impacted plugins should update plugins and themes immediately. After updating, check for suspicious user accounts.

Filed Under: News

About Michelle Dvorak

Michelle writes about cyber security, data privacy focusing on social media privacy as well as how to protect your IoT devices. She has worked in internet technology for over 20 years and owns METRONY, LLC. Michelle earned a B.S. in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Michelle published a guide to Cyber Security for Business Travelers


LinkedInTwitterFacebook

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter

We Don't Share or Sell Your Info

Web Browsers

Where Are My Saved Passwords in Chrome?

Google Removes 70 Malicious Browser Add-ons from Chrome Web Store

Firefox 75 Reports Your Browser Settings to Mozilla

Categories

Cyber Security Field Guide

Computer Security While TravelingGet Our Cyber Security Field Guide - Available on Amazon!

Recent Posts

Security Marketing Manager – Remote

Sr. Associate, Cybersecurity Architect – Pfizer

Strategic Customer Success Manager – Cybersecurity – Opportunity for Working Remotely

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

ISU Cybersecurity Leader Job Opening

Cyber Security News

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

… [Read More...] about Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

… [Read More...] about Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

… [Read More...] about IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

… [Read More...] about National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

More Cyber Security News

Tags

amazon Android Apple bitcoin China chrome CISA credit card DarkSide DHS DOJ Equifax Europe Facebook facial recognition FBI Firefox FTC games GDPR Google Government hacker identity theft India iPhone Iran IRS LinkedIn Microsoft North Korea PayPal phishing phishing email ransomware REvil Russia smartphone T-Mobile TikTok tutorial VPN WhatsApp WiFi Windows

Government

CBP Looks to Access Airline Passenger Data

FTC Releases Cyber Threat Video Playlist

Malware Found on US Government Funded Phones

UK NCA Reaches Out to Youth to Deter Cybercrimes

More Posts from this Category

Footer

Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Authors
  • Newsletter Signup
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Search

Why Use a VPN?

NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN Review

NAVIGATION

  • Data Breaches
  • Data Privacy
  • Gamers
  • Scams
  • Malware

MEMBER NJCCIC

New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell

STAY CONNECTED

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Copyright © 2023 · AskCyberSecurity.com · METRONY, LLC

Go to mobile version