What is PHP Object Injection in WordPress?

Ever opened your WordPress site to find strange things happening, like random pages getting altered or mysterious new user accounts showing up?

If you answered ‘Yes,’ scan your site right now!

You might think your site is haunted, but the culprit could be something more sneaky—PHP object injection. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious code into your site, causing all sorts of havoc, often without you knowing how they got in.

Thankfully, you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect your site from these sneaky attacks. We’re here to guide you through understanding PHP object injection, helping you spot vulnerabilities, and most importantly, showing you how to safeguard your site against these malicious intrusions.

TL;DR: PHP object injection lets hackers secretly add malicious code to your WordPress site, causing serious problems like malware insertion, unauthorized access, and data theft. It’s important to know about this risk and take steps to prevent it. To keep your site safe, use MalCare for easy malware detection and vulnerability protection.

What is PHP object injection?

PHP object injection is a serious WordPress security vulnerability. It happens when unsafe data is used to create PHP objects. Hackers can exploit this vulnerability to run harmful code on your WordPress site.

In simpler words, if your site doesn’t manage user inputs correctly, a hacker could insert dangerous commands. This lets them take control of your site, steal information, or cause other harm.

For example, imagine your site allows users to submit data via a form or upload. If that data isn’t properly checked, a hacker could sneak in malicious code disguised as normal data. Once this dangerous code is inside, it can do things like change settings, steal user information, or even delete everything on your site.

What is a PHP object?

A PHP object is a way to organize and manage data and actions on a website. Think of it as a template that defines specific features and behaviors for elements of your site.

For instance, if you have a “blogpost” object, it might include data like the title and content, and actions like “publish” or “delete”. When you create a new blog post on your site, it uses this object to handle those specific features and actions. This makes your site’s code more organized and easier to manage.

How are objects used to insert malware into a site?

PHP object injection attacks exploit the serialization and deserialization processes in PHP. Serialization converts a PHP object into another format for easy storage or transfer. Deserialization then converts it back into a PHP object. If a website doesn’t properly check user inputs, a hacker can submit a malicious serialized object in that different format. When the website deserializes it, it turns into a PHP object, including malware.

Are PHP object injection attacks common?

Yes, PHP object injection attacks are on the rise. To give you an idea, there was only one documented attack back in 2014. Today, we’re seeing over 58,000.

Take the infamous RevSlider vulnerability from 2014, for example. This WordPress plugin had a flaw that allowed attackers to inject malicious objects, letting them upload files and execute arbitrary code. It was like handing them the keys to thousands of websites, leading to chaos and countless headaches for site owners.

How to detect PHP object injection?

Detecting PHP object injection attacks early can save you from significant headaches down the line. Here are some telltale signs and tools you can use to identify if you’re facing this vulnerability.

What to do if your site is facing PHP object injection attacks?

Discovering that your site may be compromised can be stressful, but acting quickly and methodically can minimize damage and help you regain control. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do if you suspect your WordPress site is under a PHP object injection attack.

Step 1: Scan and clean your site

Your first action should be to deep scan your site. A deep scan scours your site’s files and database to find and remove any malware or vulnerabilities.

Use a robust security plugin like MalCare to perform a deep scan. MalCare can detect suspicious activities, identify malicious code, and remove even the most persistent infections in one click. This will help you get rid of any injected PHP objects and restore your site’s normal functioning.

Step 2: Add a firewall

To prevent ongoing attacks, add a firewall to your site. We recommend MalCare’s Atomic Security. It is an intelligent firewall that can act as a barrier against malicious traffic. It helps block harmful requests before they can exploit vulnerabilities in your site.

Step 3: Change all passwords

Change all your passwords immediately. This includes the ones for your WordPress admin accounts, database, FTP, and hosting accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for each account. If you can, reset your users’ passwords too. If you can’t, ask your users to update their passwords to secure their accounts.

Step 4: Update WordPress core, plugins, and themes

Outdated software often contains known vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. Update your WordPress core, installed plugins, and themes to the latest version. Regular updates ensure you enjoy the latest security patches. Use MalCare’s Expert Updates feature to do this safely and reliably.

Step 5: Implement login security

Limit login attempts to strengthen your site’s login security by preventing brute-force attacks. Additionally, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and CAPTCHA to add an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification.

Step 6: Backup your site

Before making further changes, backup your site. Having a recent, clean backup ensures you can quickly restore your site, especially when it is beyond recovery. Use a plugin like BlogVault for automated backups and secure, offsite backup storage.

We do not recommend you restore your site from a backup after a hack. This is because it may reintroduce the vulnerabilities and malware that got it hacked in the first place. So backup your site only when it has been properly cleaned.

Step 7: Harden your site

Take additional steps to harden your WordPress site, like:

• Limiting file permissions: Set appropriate file permissions to restrict unauthorized access to your site’s files.
• Disabling file editing: Prevent users from editing plugin and theme files directly from the WordPress dashboard.
• Enforcing HTTPS: Ensure all data transmitted between your web server and users is encrypted by using HTTPS.

Note: We recommend that you take a backup before editing any system file. Use BlogVault to quickly backup your site without using up its resources.

Post-hack checklist for PHP object injection attacks

Prevention is always better than cure, especially when it comes to securing your WordPress site against PHP object injection attacks. By following these steps, you can clean your site post a hack and significantly reduce the risk of your site being compromised again.

Additional tips for developers or if you are adding custom code

Effects of PHP object injection on your site

PHP object injection is not just a minor security hiccup—it can have devastating consequences for your WordPress site and your business. Here’s a rundown of the potential effects of such an attack:

Final thoughts

Understanding and mitigating PHP object injection vulnerabilities is crucial. It helps you maintain the security and integrity of your WordPress site. This type of vulnerability can lead to severe consequences. This includes unauthorized access, data theft, remote code execution, and more. Stay informed about potential risks. Add robust security practices like regular updates, strong passwords, and thorough input validation. This way, you can protect your site and your users from these dangerous attacks.

Using a comprehensive security solution like MalCare can significantly enhance your site’s defenses. MalCare offers automated vulnerability scanning, real-time detection of suspicious activities, and one-click malware scanning and removal, making it an invaluable tool in your security toolkit. With features designed to detect and mitigate PHP object injection and other vulnerabilities, MalCare provides peace of mind and ensures your WordPress site remains secure and operational.

FAQs

What is PHP used for?

PHP is used to create dynamic and interactive web pages. It stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor and is one of the most widely used server-side scripting languages in web development. Its ability to interact with databases, manage sessions, handle forms, and generate dynamic content makes it an essential tool for web developers.

What is object injection in PHP?

Object injection in PHP is a type of vulnerability where an attacker can manipulate serialized objects to inject malicious PHP objects into your application. This could lead to code injection, SQL injection, path traversal, or Denial-of-Service attacks. Using this, an attacker can elevate their access privileges, steal confidential data, or even take down your entire website

Is SQL injection possible in PHP?

Yes, SQL injection is indeed possible in PHP, and it’s one of the most commonly exploited vulnerabilities in web applications. The consequences can be severe, ranging from data theft and data manipulation to a complete takeover of the database.

What is shell injection in PHP?

Shell injection, also known as command injection, is a type of security vulnerability that occurs when an attacker can execute arbitrary commands on the hosting server via a vulnerable application. This happens when user-supplied input is improperly handled and directly passed to a system shell command in PHP.