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Free Plugin by Donncha O Caoimh (a11n) v1.5.2

Exploit Scanner

Search the files and database of your WordPress install for signs that may indicate that it has fallen victim to malicious hackers.

Exploit Scanner

The facts

Rating
3.2★ from 40
Active installs
8k+
Price
Free
Last updated
28 Nov 2017
Added
Jun 2008
Requires WP
3.3
Tested up to
WP 4.7.35
Downloads
1,068,673

Our analysis

AI-assisted

Exploit Scanner is a WordPress plugin that searches your website's files and database for suspicious content. It examines posts, comments, and active plugins for unusual filenames but does not remove any detected items, leaving that task to the user.

This plugin is suitable for users who want to monitor their site for potential security threats. It can help identify possible hacks, although it may also produce false positives, so users should verify results carefully.

Best for: This plugin suits website owners concerned about security and potential hacks.

What it does well

  • Searches files and database for suspicious content
  • Examines active plugins for unusual filenames
  • Free to use from the WordPress.org directory

Where it falls short

  • Does not remove detected threats
  • May generate false positives
  • Last updated in November 2017

Verdict

Exploit Scanner can be a useful tool for monitoring website security, but users should be cautious about interpreting its results and take action based on their findings.

From the developer

Donncha O Caoimh (a11n)'s own description of Exploit Scanner, lightly tidied.

This plugin searches the files on your website, and the posts and comments tables of your database for anything suspicious. It also examines your list of active plugins for unusual filenames.

It does not remove anything. That is left to the user to do.

Latest MD5 hash values for Exploit Scanner:

  • 17e2ccfc834d691bc68cc5c64f9bed89 exploit-scanner.php (1.5.2)
  • 1d5f9d6220fe159cd44cb70a998a1cd7 hashes-4.6.php
  • fbdf61c17f65094c8e331e1e364acf68 hashes-4.6.1.php
  • 477d128d84802e3470cec408424a8de3 hashes-4.7.php
  • d53210f999847fbd6f5a2ecac0ad42f2 hashes-4.7.5.php

Latest SHA1 hash values for Exploit Scanner:

  • 1decc1e47a53d1cab9e8f1ef15b31682198367ee exploit-scanner.php (1.5.2)
  • 5cec64380a2acdc876fd22fbbbbf8c335df1ed3f hashes-4.6.php
  • 99d9e7be23a350f3d1962d0f41e7b4e28c00841e hashes-4.6.1.php
  • 1eeab377a1afc6d776827a063678d2461b29e71d hashes-4.7.php
  • 8c890a6af26bb74e9d17e5d2b21d6be27764da45 hashes-4.7.5.php

See the Exploit Scanner homepage for further information.

Interpreting the Results

It is likely that this scanner will find false positives (i.e. files which do not contain malicious code). However, it is best to err
on the side of caution; if you are unsure then ask in the Support Forums,
download a fresh copy of a plugin, search the Internet for similar situations, et cetera. You should be most concerned if the scanner is:
making matches around unknown external links; finding base64 encoded text in modified core files or the wp-config.php file;
listing extra admin accounts; or finding content in posts which you did not put there.

Understanding the three different result levels:

  • Severe: results that are often strong indicators of a hack (though they are not definitive proof)
  • Warning: these results are more commonly found in innocent circumstances than Severe matches, but they should still be treated with caution
  • Note: lowest priority, showing results that are very commonly used in legitimate code or notifications about events such as skipped files

Help! I think I have been hacked!

Follow the guides from the Codex:

Ensure that you change all of your WordPress related passwords (site, FTP, MySQL, etc.). A regular backup routine
(either manual or plugin powered) is extremely useful; if you ever find that your site has been hacked you can easily restore your site from
a clean backup and fresh set of files and, of course, use a new set of passwords.

Updates

Read the full description on the official page →

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