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What You’ll Learn

  • Scanning Child Sites for known WordPress core, plugin, and theme vulnerabilities
  • Scheduling automated vulnerability checks
  • Using MainWP NVD API vs WPScan Vulnerability Database
  • Acting on vulnerability scan results
Extension Add-on - This add-on provides standalone functionality within MainWP Dashboard. No third-party plugins required.
MainWP Vulnerability Checker can use either the WPScan Vulnerability Database API or the MainWP NVD API to identify known vulnerabilities in WordPress core, plugins, and themes on your Child Sites. You can review vulnerability details directly from your MainWP Dashboard.
  • Get email notifications after scheduled vulnerability checks.
  • Update vulnerable plugins and themes when a fixed version is available.
  • Delete vulnerable plugins and themes.

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WPScan Vulnerability Database

The WPScan Vulnerability Database is an online browsable version of WPScan’s data files that are used to detect known WordPress core, plugin, and theme vulnerabilities. This database has been compiled by the WPScan Team and various other contributors since WPScan’s release. The development of the WPScan Vulnerability Database was funded by BruCON’s 5by5 project. To use this service, register with WPScan and enter the API token from your profile in the extension settings. WPScan offers a free tier with a limit of 25 API requests per day, and paid API access increases the daily request limit.

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MainWP NVD Database

This API is free and does not require a WPScan API token. The NVD is the U.S. government repository of standards-based vulnerability management data represented using the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP). This data enables the automation of vulnerability management, security measurement, and compliance. The NVD includes databases of security checklist references, security-related software flaws, misconfigurations, product names, and impact metrics.

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Check Your Sites for Vulnerabilities

1

Login to your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to MainWP > Add-ons > Security > Vulnerability Checker

3

Go to the Overview tab

4

Click the Check all sites button

Click the Check all sites buttonScreenshot of Vulnerability Checker overview page with Check all sites button highlighted
The Extension will check your sites right away.

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Schedule Automatic Checks

If you want the Extension to perform automated checks,
1

Login to your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to MainWP > Add-ons > Security > Vulnerability Checker

3

Go to the Settings tab

4

Locate the Schedule automatic checks option

5

Set your preference

6

Save Settings

If you want to make sure that WP Cron jobs are regularly triggered on your MainWP Dashboard, you can Authorize the Uptime Robot service and add your dashboard site as a monitor. The Uptime Robot will ping your dashboard site regularly and make sure that all scheduled events are occurring.

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Include the Scan Process in the Sync Process

If you want the Vulnerability Checker extension to check your sites every time you Sync your sites,
1

Login to your MainWP Dashboard

2

Go to MainWP > Add-ons > Security > Vulnerability Checker

3

Go to the Settings tab

4

Locate the Check sites when syncing option

5

Enable the option

6

Save Settings

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MainWP NVD API

The MainWP NVD API uses the NVD API to find potential vulnerabilities on your Child Sites and is available for all users.
MainWP NVD API requires MainWP Dashboard and MainWP Child 4.1.7 or higher.
The NVD is the U.S. government repository of standards-based vulnerability management data represented using the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP). This data enables the automation of vulnerability management, security measurement, and compliance. The NVD includes databases of security checklist references, security-related software flaws, misconfigurations, product names, and impact metrics.
This API is free and does not require a WPScan API token. To enable the MainWP NVD API,
1

Go to MainWP > Add-ons > Security > Vulnerability Checker > Settings

2

Find Select service and select MainWP NVD API

3

Save Settings

Once the API Service has been selected, you can run the scan:
1

Go to MainWP > Add-ons > Security > Vulnerability Checker > Overview

2

Click the Check All Sites button

NVD matching uses CPE and keyword searches rather than WordPress.org plugin and theme slug lookups, so the API can return false-positive results.For some vulnerabilities, the NVD API lacks the “Fixed in version” information, which can lead to the extension showing vulnerabilities that have already been resolved.To remove false positives and get accurate results, use the “Ignore” function for detected vulnerabilities you recognize as false-positive.