WordPress Woes: Hackers Hijack Mu-Plugins for Malicious Mischief
Hackers have found a new home for their digital mischief in WordPress mu-plugins, turning them into “must-have” malware tools. By commandeering this stealthy directory, they’re pulling off cyber shenanigans like redirecting visitors, opening shady popups, and running backdoor operations—all while staying off most admins’ radar. Watch out for those sneaky mu-plugins!
Hot Take:
Who knew a directory with such a mundane name could be the cyber equivalent of a secret lair? The ‘mu-plugins’ folder is now the perfect hideout for hackers. Just like that one drawer in your kitchen that you pretend doesn’t exist, the mu-plugins directory is now the latest hotspot for cybercriminal shenanigans. Talk about a must-not-use plugin nightmare!
Key Points:
- Hackers are exploiting WordPress’s mu-plugins directory to run malicious code undetected.
- Three types of malicious payloads are being employed: redirecting users, backdoor webshells, and explicit content hijacking.
- Mu-plugins automatically execute on every page load and don’t appear in the standard plugin list.
- The malicious activities damage site reputation and could lead to malware installation on visitors’ devices.
- Security updates and strong credentials are recommended to mitigate these threats.
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