WordPress plugins add useful features to a website, but they can also become one of its biggest security risks. A plugin may contain a vulnerability that allows attackers to steal information, create unauthorized accounts, upload malicious files, or even take control of a website.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to check your WordPress website for vulnerable plugins. There are several ways to identify outdated or vulnerable plugins and take action before they become a bigger problem.
1. Check for Plugin Updates in WordPress
The easiest place to start is your WordPress dashboard.
Log in to your website and go to Plugins > Installed Plugins. Look through the list for plugins showing an available update.
You can also go to Dashboard > Updates to see available plugin updates. WordPress recommends keeping plugins updated because developers regularly release updates that fix security problems as well as bugs and compatibility issues.
However, an available update does not automatically mean that a plugin is vulnerable. Similarly, a plugin being up to date does not guarantee that it has never had a security problem. You need to check the specific plugin and version against known vulnerability information.
2. Check the Plugin Version
Before looking for a vulnerability, find out exactly which version of the plugin you have installed.
Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and look below the plugin name. WordPress normally displays the installed version.
For example, you might see:
Plugin: Example Security Plugin
Installed Version: 4.2.1
Write down the plugin name and version. This information is important because vulnerabilities often affect specific versions rather than every release of a plugin.
An old plugin version may be vulnerable even if the plugin itself is still actively maintained.
3. Search for Known Vulnerabilities
Once you know the plugin name and version, search for known security issues.
Look for security advisories that mention:
- The plugin name
- The affected version
- The vulnerability type
- The severity
- The fixed version
- Whether exploitation has been reported
The WordPress project takes plugin security seriously and works with developers and researchers to address security issues in the WordPress ecosystem.
This is particularly important when you see news about a vulnerability affecting a plugin you use. Don’t assume that every version is affected. Check the affected version range carefully.
4. Use a WordPress Security Scanner
A security scanner can make the process much easier, especially if you manage several WordPress websites.
Security plugins can scan your installation and identify security problems, suspicious files and outdated components. Some security services also compare installed plugin versions against vulnerability databases.
For a website you manage, a reputable WordPress security plugin can provide an additional layer of monitoring.
However, don’t install several security plugins simply because you want more scans. Multiple security plugins can sometimes conflict with each other or unnecessarily increase server load.
Choose a reputable security solution and keep it updated.
5. Use WPScan to Check Plugins
More technically experienced WordPress administrators can use WPScan to identify known vulnerabilities.
WPScan can enumerate WordPress components and compare detected versions with known vulnerability information.
A basic command-line scan can look like this:
wpscan --url https://example.com --enumerate p
Replace https://example.com with the website you are authorized to test.
The important part is that you should only scan websites you own or have explicit permission to test. Security scanners can generate significant traffic and should not be used against someone else’s website without authorization.
For administrators comfortable with the command line, WPScan can be useful as part of a broader security-checking process.
6. Check Whether the Plugin Is Abandoned
A plugin doesn’t necessarily have to contain a publicly known vulnerability to be a security concern.
An abandoned plugin may stop receiving security updates, compatibility fixes and maintenance.
Check when the plugin was last updated and whether the developer is still maintaining it.
You should also look at:
- Recent plugin releases
- Compatibility with your WordPress version
- Support activity
- Developer information
- User reports
- Whether the plugin is still available from a trusted source
WordPress recommends using plugins and themes from trusted sources and removing plugins that you don’t use.
7. Look for Plugins You Don’t Actually Need
Open your Plugins > Installed Plugins page and review every plugin.
Ask yourself:
Do I still use this plugin?
If the answer is no, remove it.
Simply deactivating an unused plugin is not always the best long-term approach. If you don’t need it, deleting it reduces the number of software components that could potentially become vulnerable later.
WordPress’s own security guidance recommends deleting plugins that are not being used.
Before deleting anything important, make sure you understand what the plugin does and whether another part of your website depends on it.
8. Don’t Ignore Plugins That Look Suspicious
Sometimes the biggest warning sign isn’t an update notification.
Check your installed plugins for anything you don’t recognize.
A suspicious plugin could have been installed by another administrator, bundled with another piece of software, or added after a website compromise.
Pay particular attention to plugins with:
- Unfamiliar names
- Unknown developers
- Strange folder names
- No clear source
- Very old versions
- Unexpected administrator functionality
If you find something you don’t recognize, don’t immediately assume it is malware. First determine what it is and whether another administrator or your hosting provider installed it.
9. Check the Plugin’s Official Source
Where you obtained a plugin matters.
WordPress recommends getting plugins from the official WordPress repository or well-known, trusted developers. Downloading premium plugins from unofficial websites can expose your site to modified or malicious versions.
This is especially important with so-called “nulled” plugins.
A nulled plugin may appear to give you premium features for free, but the modified package could contain malicious code, backdoors or other unwanted functionality.
If you don’t know where a plugin came from, replacing it with a legitimate copy is safer than continuing to use an unknown package.
10. Check Your Website’s Site Health
WordPress also has a built-in Site Health feature.
Go to:
Tools > Site Health
The Site Health screen checks different aspects of your WordPress installation and can highlight issues that require attention.
It can also warn you about things such as plugins waiting for updates or problems with automatic updates.
Site Health isn’t a complete vulnerability scanner, so don’t treat a “good” Site Health result as proof that every plugin is secure. Think of it as one part of your overall security check.
What Should You Do If You Find a Vulnerable Plugin?
Don’t panic.
First, determine which versions are affected and whether the developer has released a patched version.
If a fixed version is available, make a backup and update the plugin.
WordPress recommends keeping a current backup before updating plugins because updates can occasionally cause compatibility problems.
If there is no fix available, consider temporarily disabling the plugin and finding a safer alternative, depending on how serious the vulnerability is and whether the plugin is required for your website.
For a critical vulnerability that is actively being exploited, waiting several days before taking action can unnecessarily increase your risk.
Should You Delete a Vulnerable Plugin?
Not always.
If the developer has released a security update, updating the plugin is normally preferable to deleting it.
If the plugin is abandoned, no longer maintained, or has a serious unresolved security problem, replacing it may be the better option.
Before removing a plugin, check whether it is responsible for important features on your website. Removing the wrong plugin can break forms, layouts, e-commerce functionality, or other parts of your site.
Turn On Automatic Plugin Updates
WordPress allows administrators to enable automatic updates for individual plugins.
Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and look for the Automatic Updates option.
You can enable automatic updates for plugins that you trust and that are suitable for automatic updating. WordPress introduced plugin auto-updates in WordPress 5.5.
Automatic updates can reduce the amount of time a vulnerable plugin remains installed after a security fix becomes available.
You should still maintain regular backups and monitor your website after updates.
Keep a Vulnerability Checklist
Checking your plugins once isn’t enough.
A plugin that is safe today could have a vulnerability discovered next month.
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A simple monthly security check can include:
- Check WordPress updates
- Check plugin updates
- Check theme updates
- Review installed plugins
- Remove unused plugins
- Check suspicious plugins
- Review security scanner alerts
- Check backups
- Review administrator accounts
- Check important website activity
For websites that publish frequently or handle sensitive information, security checks may need to happen more often.
Don’t Rely on Plugin Updates Alone
Keeping plugins updated is one of the most important WordPress security practices, but it isn’t the entire security strategy.
You should also keep WordPress and your hosting environment updated, use strong administrator authentication, maintain reliable backups and limit unnecessary access.
WordPress’s security guidance emphasizes keeping software current, reducing unnecessary entry points and maintaining backups so that a site can be recovered if something goes wrong.
Finding vulnerable WordPress plugins doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by checking your installed plugin versions, looking for available updates and researching known vulnerabilities. Security scanners can provide another layer of protection, while regularly removing unused plugins can reduce unnecessary risk.
Most importantly, don’t ignore an outdated plugin simply because your website appears to be working normally. Security vulnerabilities can exist without producing any visible problem on the front end of your website.
Keeping plugins updated, using trusted sources, maintaining backups and regularly reviewing your installation can go a long way toward keeping a WordPress website safer.
