Published on
Dec 26, 2024
Updated on
08 Jan 2025
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Prevent User Listing on WordPress with WPMasterToolKit

Security on WordPress is a constant concern for site developers and administrators. User enumeration, which involves discovering the usernames of existing accounts on a site, is a known vulnerability that can potentially be exploited to carry out attacks. To address this problem, we've developed the "Prevent User Enumeration" module in our WPMasterToolKit plugin. This module protects your site from enumeration attempts via requests such as ?author=X and REST API endpoints /users/.

Which Plugin can the Prevent User Enumeration Module replace?

Often, WordPress site owners use dedicated security plugins to block user enumeration. WPMasterToolKit's "Prevent User Enumeration" module dispenses with these larger, more specific plugins, offering a simple, lightweight solution tailored to this precise need.

Discover the module : Protecting website headers

Key features of the Prevent User Enumeration Module

To guarantee the security of your site, our module implements several mechanisms:

  • Setting a 404 error code : Any attempt to access an author page via a ?author=X redirects directly to a 404 page. This measure makes it impossible to discover the authors' identifiers.
  • Replacing author links : Links to author pages are replaced by a link to the home page, making these pages inaccessible with a single click.
  • Block author pages according to permissions : Users without the necessary permissions cannot access author pages. A 403 error will be returned.
  • REST API filtering : Access to user information via the REST API endpoint is restricted to unauthorized users. An appropriate JSON response is returned in the event of an unauthorized access attempt.

How to use the Prevent User Enumeration Module

The "Prevent User Enumeration" module is easy to use. Once you've installed the WPMasterToolKit plugin, simply activate this specific module from the WordPress dashboard. It will automatically implement itself, with no additional configuration required.

Our technical choices

We've chosen to use WordPress actions and filters to guarantee maximum compatibility and security. Actions such as template_redirect and init allow us to intercept requests at key moments. Filters, such as author_link and rest_request_before_callbacksThis ensures that links and REST API calls are properly controlled.

The module defines its safety logic using the current_user_canto check user permissions. This ensures that only users with the appropriate rights can access author-related information.

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Conclusion

With WPMasterToolKit's "Prevent User Enumeration" module, you can effectively protect your WordPress site from user enumeration attempts. Simple to configure and integrated directly into a versatile plugin, this module provides a robust, optimized solution for strengthening your website's security. By adopting this module, you reduce attack vectors, contributing to the overall security of your WordPress site.

Category
Security
Version
≤ 1.15.0
Type
Free
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Installations
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Modules
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