WordPress, the world’s most popular content management system (CMS), powers over 40% of the web. This dominance makes it an attractive target for hackers who are constantly looking for ways to exploit vulnerabilities. One key piece of information they often seek is the admin email address. Why? Once hackers have access to your admin email, they can attempt brute force attacks, phishing schemes, or password resets to compromise your site.
But how do hackers mine WordPress for admin email addresses, and more importantly, how can you stop them? Let’s dive into five common techniques hackers use and how you can protect your site from falling victim to these exploits.
WordPress Username Enumeration: The First Step to Mining Emails
Before hackers go after your email, they often begin by figuring out your username. This method is known as username enumeration. Once they have the username, it’s a short leap to mining for the admin’s email address.
How Hackers Enumerate Usernames
WordPress assigns a numerical ID to each user, starting with the administrator as user ID 1. Hackers can find these usernames by adding /?author=1 or /?author=2 at the end of your domain URL.
This trick reveals the username tied to that ID. Once they know the username, it’s much easier for them to attempt further exploits, like brute force attacks to guess the password or mine for email addresses.
How to Prevent Username Enumeration
One of the most effective ways to protect yourself is by disabling the author archive feature. You can do this through plugins like Disable Author Archives or by editing your theme’s functions.php file with a piece of code to disable this behavior.
php
add_action(‘template_redirect’, ‘disable_author_archives’);
function disable_author_archives() {
if(is_author()) {
wp_redirect(home_url());
exit;
}
}
By preventing username enumeration, you’re already taking a critical step toward thwarting hackers’ attempts to mine your WordPress for admin email addresses.
Exploiting the REST API for Email Discovery
The WordPress REST API is a powerful tool designed for developers, but it can also be exploited by hackers to extract sensitive information like admin email addresses.
How Hackers Use the REST API to Mine Emails
The REST API allows access to publicly available data about your website. Unfortunately, this also includes information about users. Hackers can send a request to the API endpoint:
bash
/wp-json/wp/v2/users/
This will return a JSON response containing usernames and, in some cases, email addresses depending on how your site is configured. This gives hackers everything they need to target your admin accounts with phishing attempts or password resets.
Securing Your REST API
You don’t need to disable the REST API completely, but you should limit what’s accessible. One solution is to restrict access to the REST API to authenticated users. This can be done using the Disable REST API plugin or by adding code to your functions.php file:
php
add_filter(‘rest_authentication_errors’, ‘restrict_rest_api_access’);
function restrict_rest_api_access($result) {
if (!is_user_logged_in()) {
return new WP_Error(‘rest_forbidden’, ‘You are not allowed to access this data.’, array(‘status’ => 401));
}
return $result;
}
By locking down the REST API, you’re adding another layer of protection, making it more difficult for hackers to mine your WordPress for admin email addresses.
Exploiting Comments and Gravatars to Mine Emails
WordPress comments and Gravatars (globally recognized avatars) are another way hackers can mine admin email addresses. Every WordPress user who leaves a comment automatically links their email address to their Gravatar.
How Hackers Exploit Gravatar
While Gravatar doesn’t expose the raw email address, it uses an MD5 hash of the email to generate the avatar. Hackers can take that hash and reverse it using various tools to find the original email address. Once they have this, they can start targeting admin emails for attacks.
Protecting Your Admin Email from Gravatar Exploits
To prevent email mining through comments and Gravatars, consider using a Gravatar privacy plugin like Simple Local Avatars, which allows you to host avatars locally without revealing email addresses. Additionally, you should moderate comments and consider disabling comments on admin posts altogether. This reduces the chance of hackers scraping your site for emails through the comment section.
Using the Forgot Password Feature as a Backdoor
WordPress offers a handy forgot password feature for users who lose access to their accounts. However, this tool can also be leveraged by hackers to find out whether an email is associated with an admin account.
How Hackers Exploit Password Reset Forms
Hackers often test various email addresses using the password reset feature. If the form returns a message that says, “An email has been sent to the account,” the hacker knows the email is valid. They can now focus on phishing or brute-force methods to gain access.
Securing Your Password Reset Feature
You can fortify this weak spot by using a plugin like WP Limit Login Attempts that limits the number of password reset requests an IP address can make. Additionally, you can use Captcha plugins to block bots from abusing the reset form.
Another option is to configure your password reset email so that it doesn’t disclose whether an account with that email exists. This can be done using custom code or specialized security plugins.
Mining Admin Emails via XML-RPC Attacks
XML-RPC is a WordPress feature that allows remote access to your site. While useful for some applications, it can also be exploited by hackers to mine your admin email addresses.
How Hackers Use XML-RPC for Email Mining
XML-RPC allows multiple login attempts to be sent through a single request. Hackers can use this feature to brute-force their way into discovering your admin email. They send a pingback request that triggers email notifications, allowing them to figure out the admin’s email address by analyzing the data returned.
Disabling XML-RPC for Better Security
If you don’t need XML-RPC for third-party apps, it’s best to disable it altogether. You can do this easily by adding the following line of code to your .htaccess file.
Alternatively, you can use the Disable XML-RPC plugin to shut it down with a simple click.
How to Protect Your Admin Email from Hackers
Now that we’ve explored how hackers mine WordPress for admin email addresses, you might be wondering how to strengthen your defenses. Here are a few best practices to keep your admin email secure:
Use a Unique Admin Email Address
Don’t use admin@example.com or other generic email addresses that hackers can easily guess. Create a unique email address specifically for your WordPress admin account. It should be difficult to guess and different from any public contact email listed on your site.
Two-Factor Authentication
Even if hackers manage to get your admin email, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security. This prevents unauthorized access, even if someone has your password. Plugins like Google Authenticator or Wordfence offer 2FA for WordPress.
Regular Security Audits and Plugins
Perform regular security audits using tools like Wordfence or Sucuri to scan your site for vulnerabilities. Security plugins can alert you to suspicious activities, like excessive login attempts or unauthorized API requests, and help you block potential exploits before they become problems.
Final Thoughts: How Do Hackers Mine WordPress for Admin Email Addresses?
Hackers have plenty of methods to mine WordPress for admin email addresses, but that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. By understanding their techniques, such as username enumeration, REST API exploitation, and XML-RPC abuse, you can take the necessary precautions to protect your site. From disabling unnecessary features to using plugins that enhance security, there are many ways to stay ahead of hackers and keep your admin email safe.
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