Dealt with a challenging situation where a client’s site got hacked on Christmas Eve, and the investigation and restoration process has been ongoing since Boxing Day. Spent the day before New Year’s diving into WordPress troubleshooting, resolving issues and untangling complexities until 1 am on NYE. The life of a dev is a pain! #WordPress #WebDev #ProblemSolving
Japanese SEO Hijacking
When we talk about Japanese SEO hijacking, it’s essentially a sneaky technique used by cybercriminals to manipulate how websites appear in search engine results, especially in Japan. They exploit weaknesses in website security to inject misleading links or content that tricks search engines into thinking a site is more relevant or popular than it actually is. This unethical tactic aims to artificially boost a site’s ranking, leading users to content that might not be genuine or safe.
Russian PHP Malicious Plugin Hijacking in WordPress
On the other hand, the Russian PHP malicious plugin hijacking in WordPress is a situation where hackers target vulnerabilities in plugins developed in PHP by Russian creators. They sneak in harmful code into these plugins, which are like add-ons for websites built on WordPress. Once these compromised plugins are installed, they can wreak havoc by stealing information, directing traffic to unsafe sites, or infecting the website with damaging software. It’s a serious issue because it compromises the security and functionality of websites using these plugins.
Website Security Steps for WordPress Owners:
- File Cleanup: Detected suspicious folders and files with random names, potentially carrying harmful content. Located and deleted these files, tracking any embedded content within other PHP files, such as a folder named “8037jgp.php.”
- Install Reputable Security Plugin: Implemented Wordfence, a reliable security plugin for WordPress, to fortify the website against further threats.
- Scanning and Removal: Utilized Wordfence to conduct thorough scans, identifying and eliminating any security issues or compromised elements present within the website.
- Identifying Redirects: Examined the file manager for unexpected .htaccess files responsible for redirects or unauthorized modifications, ensuring their removal.
Complex Fixes:
- Detective Work with Server Logs: Analyzed access and rewrite logs from the server management to pinpoint the precise activities of the malicious PHP file, allowing for targeted deletion and removal of associated “hiding folders.” There was a rewriting php file that was overwriting any changes to the index.php file. To solve this, I went through the access logs and rewrite logs from the server management. Then I attempted to overwrite the index.php file. From the log at the exact same time the malicious php file made a change. I deleted this from the server.
- Plugin Removal: Removed potentially problematic plugins that could have contributed to the security breach.
- Overwriting Malicious PHP Files: Undertook steps to overwrite the compromised index.php file, cross-referencing server logs to ensure elimination of the malicious file.
Enhanced Security Measures:
- Access Lockdown: Restricted external access to critical files like .htaccess, bolstering the website’s defense against unauthorized changes.
Preventive Measures:
- Investigated a potential WordPress vulnerability called “WordPress Core All Versions – Unauthenticated Blind Server-Side Request Forgery vulnerability” that might have contributed to the breach.
In conclusion, by conducting a thorough cleanup, utilizing security tools, analyzing server logs, and implementing robust security measures, the website has been restored. However, ongoing vigilance and proactive security measures are vital to safeguard the site from future hijacking attempts.
Transitioning the site to a new language and framework due to the challenges faced with WordPress. Embracing a fresh approach to enhance functionality, security, and user experience. Revamping the site with fresh styling aimed at captivating our target audience and boosting lead generation. Aiming for an engaging user experience while maximizing conversion opportunities.
