Attacks on WordPress sites are passing as an avalanche, warn experts from Palo Alto Networks.
It is possible due to vulnerable plugin Social Warfare that now threatens nearly 40 000 websites.Social Warfare contains XSS-vulnerability that can also lead to remote code performing.
“An attacker can use these vulnerabilities to run arbitrary PHP code and control the website and the server without authentication. The attackers may use the compromised sites to perform digital coin mining or host malicious exploit code,” – Palo Alto researchers wrote.
If intruders manage to gain control over attacked website, they inbuilt scripts of cryptocurrency mining to earn on visitors.
Also are common cases of malware advertising and usage of hacked website as a part of botnet.
Experts from Palo Alto Networks remind about availability of relevant patch that fixes CVE-2019-9978 vulnerability.
Unfortunately, owners of many resources still did not acknowledge that situation is serious and continue to ignore recommended update.
Source: www.scmagazine.com
