Sneaky WordPress Malware Disguised as Anti-Malware Plugin

WordPress sites are under threat from a deceptive anti-malware plugin. Learn how this malware grants backdoor access, hides itself, and even modifies core files like wp-cron.php for persistence. Stay protected.

Security researchers at Wordfence recently uncovered a tricky piece of malware targeting WordPress websites. This malicious software is designed to look like a genuine anti-malware plugin, often appearing in the file system with names such as ‘WP-antymalwary-bot.php’.

According to Wordfence Threat Intelligence Team’s technical blog post, this fake plugin contains several dangerous capabilities. Such as, it allows attackers to control an infected website, hide from the WordPress admin dashboard, and execute malicious code remotely. It also has a “pinging” function that sends information back to a C&C server, spreads into other directories, and injects harmful JavaScript, which is then used to display unwanted advertisements.

Further analysis revealed that the malware uses a check_plugin GET parameter for status ...