How User Enumeration Works
While WordPress is a widely-used and versatile Content Management System (CMS), it is not without its vulnerabilities. One such vulnerability is user enumeration, which can potentially be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access or information.
User enumeration is a technique used by attackers to discover valid usernames on a website. In the context of WordPress, this typically involves probing the site to identify usernames that can be targeted in subsequent attacks. Usernames are often considered less sensitive than passwords, but knowing valid usernames can significantly simplify an attacker’s job.
User Enumeration exploited via /authors/ Endpoint
One common method of user enumeration in WordPress involves the /authors/ endpoint. By appending /authors/ to the URL of a WordPress site, attackers can often retrieve a list of usernames associated with the site. This makes it easier for attackers to target specific users, especially administrators, with brute force or phishing attacks.
User Enumeration via REST API
Another method involves exploiting the WordPress REST API. By making specific requests to endpoints such as /wp-json/wp/v2/users, malicious actors can obtain detailed information about users, including their usernames and sometimes even email addresses. This data can then be used to craft more effective social engineering attacks or brute force attempts.
Why Hackers Exploit User Enumeration
- Brute Force Attacks: With valid usernames in hand, attackers can launch brute force attacks where they try multiple password combinations to gain access to accounts.
- Phishing and Social Engineering: Knowing specific usernames or email addresses allows attackers to craft targeted phishing emails designed to trick users into revealing their passwords or other sensitive information.
- Credential Stuffing: Attackers often use lists of compromised credentials from other sites in credential stuffing attacks, where they try these credentials on your WordPress site hoping users reuse passwords across multiple services.
- Privilege Escalation: By identifying administrative accounts through user enumeration, attackers concentrate their efforts on high-value targets which might lead to more severe security breaches if compromised.
Attackers often use lists of compromised credentials from other sites in credential stuffing attacks, where they try these credentials on your WordPress site hoping users reuse passwords across multiple services.
Mitigating User Enumeration with Our Plugin
Our plugin offers robust solutions to protect against user enumeration:
- Authentication Requirements: We provide options to require authentication for accessing sensitive endpoints like those revealing user data. This ensures that only authorized users can access this information.
- Whitelisting Public Routes: For content that is meant to be public, our plugin allows you to whitelist specific routes while keeping other routes protected. This selective access control ensures that public content remains accessible while sensitive information stays secure.
- Customizable Security Settings: Our plugin offers a customizable interface where you can set security parameters according to your needs. For example:
- Disable REST API for non-logged-in users: You can restrict REST API access only to authenticated users.
- Hide /authors/ endpoint: You have the option to disable or redirect requests made to
/authors/, preventing attackers from easily enumerating users.
Our plugin also includes other features that further enhance your website’s security. You can read more about that here.
By implementing these features, our plugin not only helps prevent user enumeration but also strengthens overall website security.
