WordPress is known as the most popular Content Management System (CMS) in the world and is famous for enabling fast and easy website creation. This popularity has led millions of websites (more than 43% of all websites on the internet) to use WordPress. Naturally, with such widespread usage, an important question arises: Is WordPress secure? Can it truly withstand hackers and cyber attacks?
In this article, we answer this question in a friendly yet technical and precise way. First, we examine the security architecture of WordPress and its built‑in protection mechanisms. Then we review common WordPress security challenges and vulnerabilities (from incompatible plugins and insecure themes to attacks such as Brute Force and XSS). Next, we present documented statistics about WordPress usage and hacking incidents in recent years and provide practical tips for improving WordPress security. We will also compare WordPress security with other major CMS platforms (Joomla and Drupal) as well as with custom‑coded websites. Our goal is to give both developers and business owners a clear understanding of WordPress security and how to protect their sites.
What Does WordPress Security Mean?
WordPress security refers to a combination of WordPress built‑in security capabilities together with proper management and maintenance practices that help protect your website against intrusions, misuse, and attacks such as WordPress hacking. So if you ask “Is WordPress secure?”, the short answer is: Yes — as long as it is managed properly.
1) Security in the WordPress Core
One of the foundations of WordPress security is its core. The WordPress core is continuously monitored by its security team and developers, and whenever a vulnerability is discovered, a security patch is usually released very quickly. In addition, since 2017 WordPress has encouraged responsible disclosure through a Bug Bounty program that rewards security researchers for reporting vulnerabilities.
2) Automatic Updates and Their Role in Reducing WordPress Hack Risks
One of WordPress’s major strengths is its automatic update capability. When the WordPress core is updated regularly, many old security vulnerabilities are closed. Websites that take updates seriously are much less likely to fall victim to known exploits.
The reality is simple: An outdated WordPress installation is one of the main causes of WordPress hacks.
3) WordPress Security Architecture: Roles, Permissions, and User Control
From an architectural perspective, WordPress has a precise user management and access control system. Roles such as Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber allow you to implement the principle of least privilege.
For example, an author should only be able to publish content, not change site settings or plugins. This access model prevents many human errors and unauthorized changes.
4) Built‑in Protection Layers: Nonce and Security Keys
WordPress uses mechanisms such as Nonce (a one‑time token) and security keys to protect requests and forms. These mechanisms help detect and neutralize malicious requests and attacks such as CSRF.
This means security is not only provided by plugins; part of it is built directly into the WordPress architecture.
5) WordPress Security Is Not Just Code — Proper Management Matters Too
This is where many people make mistakes. WordPress security is not only related to the core but also to how the website is managed. Actions such as:
- Choosing strong passwords for administrators and users
- Enabling SSL to encrypt communications
- Configuring correct file and folder permissions on the server
- Using two‑factor authentication (2FA)
are all key pillars of WordPress website security.
6) Why Updating Plugins and Themes Is as Important as Updating the Core
In practice, many WordPress hacking scenarios occur through plugins and themes, especially if they are outdated, unknown, or nulled versions.
That is why regular updates should include not only the WordPress core but also plugins and themes. Without proper maintenance, even a website with a secure core can become vulnerable.
Common WordPress Security Challenges
No software system is completely free from flaws, and WordPress is no exception. Below are the most common vulnerabilities and attacks often associated with WordPress hacking.
Vulnerable Plugins and Themes
The greatest strength of WordPress — its ecosystem of tens of thousands of plugins and themes — can also be its biggest security challenge.
According to a Patchstack security report in 2023, about 96.77% of newly discovered vulnerabilities in the WordPress ecosystem were related to plugins, around 3% to themes, and less than 1% to the WordPress core.
This clearly shows that the main security risks come from third‑party components rather than WordPress itself.
Outdated Software
Many hacked WordPress websites use outdated versions of WordPress or plugins. Statistics show that in 39% of website attacks, the core software was outdated at the time of the attack.
The lesson is clear: If you keep WordPress and its plugins updated, the risk of compromise becomes significantly lower.
Brute Force Attacks and Weak Passwords
Brute Force attacks are among the most common hacking methods. Automated bots attempt thousands of username/password combinations to gain access to the admin panel.
According to Wordfence, in 2023 more than 100 billion login attempts using stolen or guessed passwords were blocked by their security systems.
XSS and Malicious Code Injection
Cross‑Site Scripting (XSS) attacks attempt to inject malicious scripts (usually JavaScript) into website inputs such as comments or forms.
Security reports show that more than 53% of newly discovered WordPress vulnerabilities are related to XSS, often caused by improper input validation in plugins.
Supply Chain Attacks
A newer challenge in the WordPress ecosystem is supply chain attacks, where attackers take control of a legitimate plugin and insert malicious code into updates.
A real example occurred in 2024 when the popular plugin Social Warfare was compromised after being acquired by unknown actors.
WordPress Usage and Vulnerability Statistics
WordPress Market Share
According to W3Techs statistics in 2025, approximately 43.4% of all websites on the internet are powered by WordPress. In the CMS market alone, WordPress holds about 61% market share.
WordPress Share in Hacked Websites
A Sucuri report in 2023 showed that 95.5% of the hacked websites analyzed were running WordPress. However, this largely reflects WordPress’s massive popularity.
Number of Discovered Vulnerabilities
In 2023 alone, more than 4,800 vulnerabilities were discovered across the WordPress ecosystem (core, plugins, and themes).
Update Rates
Statistics show that only about half of WordPress websites run the latest version. This indicates that many security risks come from poor maintenance rather than inherent platform weaknesses.
WordPress vs Joomla Security
WordPress and Joomla are both mature open‑source CMS platforms with reliable core security. WordPress benefits from a large security team and rapid update cycles, while Joomla includes some security features (like 2FA and login logs) built directly into its core.
WordPress vs Drupal Security
Drupal is often considered the most security‑focused open‑source CMS, particularly for enterprise and government projects. However, WordPress remains highly secure when properly configured and maintained.
Security Comparison Table: WordPress vs Joomla vs Drupal
| Criteria | WordPress | Joomla | Drupal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Security | Secure core with active security team | Stable and secure | Highly secure with strict standards |
| Security Approach | Community‑driven updates | Balanced internal features | Enterprise‑focused security |
| Plugins / Modules | Huge ecosystem | Moderate | Smaller but controlled |
| Default Security Features | Mostly via plugins | More built‑in features | Extensive built‑in security |
WordPress vs Custom‑Coded Websites
Another option for businesses is building a fully custom website from scratch instead of using WordPress or another CMS.
Security Comparison
Custom websites may appear safer because the code is private, but security does not depend on secrecy alone. WordPress has been audited by thousands of developers and receives frequent patches.
Flexibility
Custom development allows unlimited flexibility, but WordPress provides thousands of plugins and themes that cover most common needs.
Cost
Custom development is usually expensive and requires ongoing developer support, while WordPress is free and more affordable to maintain.
Conclusion
So we return to the original question: Is WordPress secure?
The answer is yes — WordPress is fundamentally a secure platform. Millions of websites, from small blogs to major corporate sites, run safely on WordPress.
Most WordPress hacks occur due to poor maintenance, outdated software, insecure plugins, or weak configurations — not because of fundamental flaws in WordPress itself.
If you keep WordPress updated, use trusted plugins and themes, implement strong passwords and additional security measures, and maintain regular backups, the risk of serious security issues becomes very small.
While no software system is 100% invulnerable, WordPress remains a reliable and secure platform when managed properly.
