How to Scan Vulnerabilities on WordPress Using VirtualBox (2025 Guide)

With more than forty percent of the worldwide website tally, WordPress has become a hotspot for cybercriminals. If you’re another WordPress website owner, then securing your site from hacking, malware, and data breaches should be of utmost importance. With the help of penetration testing tools in a VirtualBox virtual machine (VM), it is possible to scan for vulnerabilities that can help test the security of the site.

The following is a step by step guide with instructions on how to scan WordPress vulnerabilities utilizing VirtualBox by installing security tools, setting up a penetration testing environment, and analyzing scan results.

Why Use VirtualBox for WordPress Security Testing?

VirtualBox is a free and open-source virtualization tool that allows you to run a virtual machine inside your main operating system.

Benefits of Using VirtualBox for WordPress Security Testing:

• Safe Environment: Test vulnerabilities without affecting your live website.
• Isolated Testing: Run penetration testing tools without impacting your primary system.
• Multiple Testing Scenarios: Create different VM setups to test security under different conditions.
• Cost-Effective: No need for separate hardware—run everything on your existing PC.

Step 1: Set Up a Virtual Machine in VirtualBox

Before scanning for vulnerabilities, we need a virtual environment where we can install WordPress and security testing tools.

1. Install VirtualBox

First, download and install VirtualBox from the official site:
🔗 Download VirtualBox

After installing VirtualBox, also install the VirtualBox Extension Pack for additional features like USB support and network adapters.

2. Create a Virtual Machine (VM)

1. Open VirtualBox and click “New” to create a VM.
2. Set the VM name (e.g., WordPressPentest).
3. Select Ubuntu (recommended) or Kali Linux as the operating system.
4. Allocate at least 4GB RAM and 2 CPU cores.
5. Create a Virtual Hard Disk (at least 20GB).
6. Complete the VM setup and install the selected OS.

Step 2: Install WordPress on the Virtual Machine

To scan for vulnerabilities, we need a test WordPress site running inside the VM.

1. Install LAMP Stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)

Run the following commands to set up a WordPress server:

bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server php php-mysql libapache2-mod-php php-cli unzip wget -y

2. Download & Install WordPress

bash
cd /var/www/html
sudo wget https://wordpress.org/latest.zip
sudo unzip latest.zip
sudo mv wordpress/* .
sudo rm -rf wordpress latest.zip
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html

3. Set Up WordPress Database

bash
sudo mysql -u root -p

Inside the MySQL shell, run:

sql
CREATE DATABASE wordpress;
CREATE USER 'wp_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strongpassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress.* TO 'wp_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

4. Complete WordPress Installation

• Open a web browser and go to http://localhost in your VM.
• Follow the on-screen setup, entering the database details you created.

Your WordPress test site is now running inside VirtualBox!

Step 3: Install WordPress Vulnerability Scanning Tools

There are many security tools available to scan WordPress for vulnerabilities. Below are some of the best options:

1. WPScan (Recommended)

WPScan is a WordPress security scanner that detects vulnerabilities in plugins, themes, and the WordPress core.

Install WPScan

bash
sudo apt install wpscan -y

Run WPScan Against Your WordPress Site

bash
wpscan --url http://localhost --enumerate vp,vt,u

✅ Finds: Plugin vulnerabilities, outdated software, weak passwords, and more.

2. Nikto (Web Server Scanner)

Nikto scans for common security flaws in web servers, including misconfigurations and outdated software.

Install Nikto

bash
sudo apt install nikto -y

Run Nikto Against Your WordPress Site

bash
nikto -h http://localhost

✅ Finds: Server misconfigurations, outdated Apache/PHP versions, and insecure headers.

3. Nmap (Network Vulnerability Scanner)

Nmap scans for open ports, firewall misconfigurations, and security flaws.

Install Nmap

bash
sudo apt install nmap -y

Run Nmap on Your WordPress Server

bash
nmap -sV -Pn localhost

✅ Finds: Open ports, running services, and potential entry points for attackers.

Step 4: Analyze the Scan Results

After running these tools, review the scan results and take action on any vulnerabilities found.

Example WPScan Report Output:

less

[+] WordPress version: 5.8.3
[!] 1 Vulnerability found in the WordPress core:
    - CVE-2024-XXXX: Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
[+] Plugins found:
    - WooCommerce 7.1.2 (Outdated, Vulnerable)
    - Contact Form 7 5.6 (Up to date)

How to Fix Common Vulnerabilities:

1. Update WordPress Core → Always use the latest version of WordPress.
2. Update Plugins & Themes → Outdated plugins/themes are a security risk.
3. Remove Unused Plugins → Deactivate and delete unused plugins.
4. Enable Strong Passwords → Use a password manager to generate strong passwords.
5. Install Security Plugins → Use Wordfence or Sucuri for additional protection

Step 5: Secure Your WordPress Installation

After scanning for vulnerabilities, take these additional steps to improve security:

1. Hide WordPress Version

php

function remove_wp_version() {
    return '';
}
add_filter('the_generator', 'remove_wp_version');

📌 Prevents attackers from easily identifying your WordPress version.

2. Disable XML-RPC to Prevent Brute Force Attacks

apache
<Files xmlrpc.php>
    Order Allow,Deny
    Deny from all
</Files>

📌 Blocks hackers from exploiting XML-RPC for brute-force attacks.

3. Install an SSL Certificate

bash

sudo apt install certbot python-certbot-apache
sudo certbot --apache

📌 Enforces HTTPS encryption for secure communication.

Conclusion

In order to prevent a cyberattack, a data breach, or a website defacement, securing your WordPress site becomes essential. With VirtualBox, it becomes possible to safely scan and test your site for vulnerabilities utilizing powerful tools such as WPScan, Nikto, and Nmap.

Key Takeaways:

• Use VirtualBox to create an isolated testing environment.
• Run security scans with WPScan, Nikto, and Nmap.
• Analyze vulnerabilities and update WordPress, plugins, and themes.
• Implement additional security measures like disabling XML-RPC and using HTTPS.

By following these steps, you can identify and fix security risks before attackers exploit them. Stay secure and keep your WordPress site protected!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it safe to scan WordPress vulnerabilities using VirtualBox?

Yes! VirtualBox provides an isolated testing environment, preventing security scans from affecting your live website.

2. How often should I scan my WordPress site for vulnerabilities?

It’s recommended to scan at least once a month and after every major WordPress or plugin update.

3. Can WPScan find all vulnerabilities?

WPScan detects known vulnerabilities, but manual security audits and firewalls provide additional protection.

4. Does VirtualBox affect the performance of my main system?

VirtualBox uses system resources, but performance impact depends on your RAM, CPU, and allocated resources.