What is Remote File Inclusion in WordPress?
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7-layers of Security for Your WordPress Site
Your website needs the most comprehensive security to protect it from the constant attacks it faces everyday.

Did you know that even a small vulnerability in your website could let a hacker in?
Imagine logging in for routine maintenance only to find your site defaced, your content replaced with malicious material, and visitors reporting malware.These incidents are often the result of various WordPress site attacks, where hackers exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access.
If you can relate to any of these situations, it’s time to scan your website now.
This nightmare can become a reality through remote file inclusion (RFI) attacks, where hackers inject harmful files into your site, causing data breaches and server takeovers.
But don’t panic just yet! Protecting your WordPress site from these nasty intrusions isn’t hard. With some knowledge and preventive steps, you can protect your site and keep it secure.
TL;DR: Remote file inclusion (RFI) is a vulnerability that allows hackers to inject malware into your WordPress site. Malware causes data theft, site defacement, and complete site takeover. You can protect your site with regular updates and use MalCare to fortify your site’s defense.
What is remote file inclusion?
Remote file inclusion (RFI) is a serious website security vulnerability. It allows an attacker to trick your website into thinking that a malicious file from a remote location is a part of your website. The goal? Unauthorized code execution, data theft, and sometimes even full control over the compromised site.
You may be wondering why a website would allow remote code to be executed at all, malicious intent or other. As it turns out, there are legitimate reasons for remote code execution: CDNs, cloud services, and even WordPress updates. The key difference lies in the intention, and the use of trusted and verified sources that you, the website owner, choose to allow.
In an RFI attack, the attacker exploits a vulnerability to force the website to include and execute arbitrary, malicious remote code. The website server fetches and runs these files, which leads to successful breaches and attacks.
The WP TimThumb exploit is a well-known RFI issue. TimThumb is a script that resizes images in WordPress themes. Hackers exploited a flaw in it to include and execute malicious files from remote servers. Another example is the attacks on Joomla sites where similar vulnerabilities allowed remote files to be included and executed.
Step 1: Identify remote file inclusion vulnerabilities
Identifying remote file inclusion (RFI) vulnerabilities on your WordPress site is the first step to ensuring it is protected against such attacks. Here are some practical steps you can take to spot these vulnerabilities:
- Check if anything on your site needs to be updated: Developers often release updates to patch security vulnerabilities, including RFIs. Using outdated versions of plugins and themes makes your site more susceptible to attacks exploiting such vulnerabilities. This is why we always recommend keeping your WordPress core, plugins, and themes updated.
Need an easy way to do this? Use MalCare. It can find all vulnerabilities that exist on your site along with controls to address them. It will also give you an overview of all updates available for your site along with the option to perform those updates.

- Conduct penetration testing on your site: Hire a security expert or use tools like nmap, sqlmap, etc. to perform penetration testing on your site. They can simulate attacks and attempt to exploit any weaknesses, including RFI vulnerabilities. This can give you a clear idea of how vulnerable your site is and what needs to be fixed.
- Check your site’s error logs: Review your site’s error logs regularly. Look for suspicious activity such as unexpected errors or attempts to access non-existent files. This can be an early warning sign that someone is trying to exploit an RFI vulnerability.

Additionally, there are online tools and services like Acunetix, Nessus, and OpenVAS that can perform comprehensive scans of your site. They look for known RFI vulnerabilities and other security weaknesses. You can set these up to run regular scans and get reports on potential issues.
Generally speaking, it is very difficult for a site owner to stay on top of vulnerabilities that haven’t been discovered by a security researcher. Penetration testing and hiring cybersecurity companies are considerably expensive options. Therefore the best way to protect a WordPress site is to fortify it with a firewall, which will not remove vulnerabilities, but protect a site from attacks regardless of whether vulnerabilities exist on the site or not.
Step 2: Scan your WordPress site for malware
Remote file inclusion (RFI) attacks are often used to deliver malware to your WordPress site. This is why identifying them is crucial. Here are some effective ways to detect and address potential malware resulting from RFI:


Now there are online scanners as well, like Sucuri SiteCheck, that can surface-scan your site for vulnerabilities and malware. They can be a good first step to finding out if something is wrong with your site. However, they are not very effective as they cannot dive deep into your site’s files and database. This is why we recommend MalCare for its robust vulnerability scanning and malware redressal features.
Step 3: Remove malware rising from RFI attacks
If your WordPress site has been compromised by remote file inclusion (RFI) attacks, it’s crucial to act quickly to clean up the site and prevent further attacks. Here are the steps you should take:
1. Use a malware cleaner like MalCare
The easiest and most effective way to clean your WordPress site is by using a malware cleaner like MalCare. All you need to do is install it on your site and run a scan.
MalCare can automatically detect and remove malware from your site, in just a few clicks. It looks deep into your files and database and eliminates even the most persistent malicious code. MalCare is also fast and can clean your site within minutes, minimizing downtime and restoring your site’s integrity.

Alternatively, you can opt for manual cleanup, but this is only recommended if you are technically adept or you have the resources to hire security experts. Manual cleanup involves going through each file and database entry to find and remove malicious code, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
2. Update WordPress core, plugins, and themes
Make sure your WordPress core, plugins, and themes are up-to-date. Updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities. If the RFI vulnerability existed in a plugin or theme, updating it might resolve the issue.

However, if there are no updates available for a vulnerable plugin or theme, disable it immediately. Look for a replacement until the vulnerability is patched to avoid leaving your site exposed.
3. Change all passwords and inform users
If you detect RFI attacks on your site, change all passwords for your WordPress admin accounts, hosting accounts, and database. Inform your users to change their passwords too. Compromised passwords can be a gateway for hackers to re-infect your site.

4. Implement login security
Boost your site’s login security to prevent unauthorized access. This means enabling security measures like two-factor authentication (2FA) and CAPTCHA. Adding a second layer of protection makes it harder for hackers to gain access even if they have a password. Moreover, adding CAPTCHA to your login forms helps prevent automated login attempts and brute-force attacks.

5. Conduct a security audit
Perform a thorough security audit to ensure that your site is fully secure. This includes reviewing all user roles and permissions and checking for any files that might have been uploaded without your consent or knowledge.
Make sure no user has more access than they need and remove or downgrade any suspicious accounts that you see. For your peace of mind, you can connect to your site over FTP or using cPanel’s File Manager, and check the files in your uploads directory. However, if you have MalCare installed on your site, you can rest assured as it can handle this automatically.

Step 4: Post-hack checklist for remote file inclusion exploits
Experiencing a remote file inclusion (RFI) exploit can be daunting. It’s vital to restore your site and secure it against future threats.

Here’s a straightforward checklist to guide you through the post-hack process:
Step 5: Prevent future remote file inclusion attacks
Whether you have a brand new WordPress site or you have cleaned your existing site, protecting it from remote file inclusion (RFI) attacks is crucial for maintaining its security. Here are some effective strategies to bolster your site’s defenses:

Impacts of remote file inclusion attacks on your WordPress site
Remote file inclusion (RFI) attacks can have devastating effects on your WordPress site, leading to numerous security and operational issues.

Here are the key consequences you might face:
Remote file inclusion vs Local file inclusion
While trying to understand remote file inclusion (RFI), you might have heard of local file inclusion (LFI) too. Both vulnerabilities are about including files, but the way they work is different.

LFI is like cooking and bringing your own lunch to the office. The hacker has to upload the malicious files directly to your site. Once these files are there, the attacker finds a way to get the site’s server to execute them. This can be done either by exploiting existing vulnerabilities, using action commands like $_GET in the malicious file, or even through social engineering.
In contrast, RFI is like ordering takeout to your office. The hacker doesn’t need to upload files directly to your site. They just provide a URL where the malicious files are stored. The site then pulls in those files and executes them.
Final thoughts
Understanding and protecting against remote file inclusion (RFI) attacks is crucial for maintaining the security and integrity of your WordPress site. RFI vulnerabilities can lead to severe consequences, including data theft, site defacement, malware distribution, and even complete loss of control over your site. Familiarizing yourself with how RFI works is the first step in creating a robust defense against such attacks.
Use MalCare to further enhance your site’s security and ensure ongoing protection. MalCare offers comprehensive features such as real-time malware scanning and cleaning, firewall protection, and vulnerability assessments, making it a valuable asset in securing your WordPress site. Its Atomic Security firewall can proactively detect and mitigate threats, ensuring your site remains resilient against RFI attacks and other security vulnerabilities.
FAQs
What is remote file inclusion?
Remote file inclusion is a security vulnerability that allows attackers to insert a malicious file from a remote location into your website, application, or script. This can lead to unauthorized code execution, data theft, and even full control over the compromised site.
What is the difference between RFI and RCE?
Remote file inclusion (RFI) and remote code execution (RCE) are both serious security vulnerabilities, but they work differently and have distinct implications. RFI occurs when an attacker can include a file from a remote location into your website, application, or script. RCE, on the other hand, allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on your server. This capability can result from multiple vulnerabilities, including RFI. In summary, RFI is a method of including and running remote files, which can lead to RCE if exploited effectively.
What is the difference between RFI and LFI?
Remote file inclusion (RFI) and local file inclusion (LFI) are both security vulnerabilities related to file inclusion, but they operate differently. RFI occurs when an attacker can include a file from a remote location (usually another server) into your website, application, or script. LFI, on the other hand, involves the inclusion of files that already exist on the server hosting the website.
How can we prevent RFI?
You can prevent RFI on your site by using a security plugin like MalCare, disabling unnecessary URL entry features in PHP settings, implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF), and keeping WordPress core, plugins, and themes updated. You must also choose reputable and regularly maintained plugins and themes, restrict file permissions to the minimum necessary, enhance login security, conduct regular security audits, and harden your site.
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