WordPress Security Issues: What UK Businesses Need to Know in 2026

How Big Is the WordPress Security Problem in 2026?

The scale of WordPress security vulnerabilities reached unprecedented levels in 2024. Patchstack's State of WordPress Security 2025 report documented 7,966 new vulnerabilities across the ecosystem, equivalent to 22 new security flaws discovered every single day. This represents a 34% increase from 2023's total of 5,943 vulnerabilities, while the cumulative WPScan database now tracks 64,782 known issues.

Wordfence independently confirmed this trend, reporting that vulnerabilities disclosed in 2024 increased by 68% year-on-year, with 81% rated as medium severity on the CVSS scale. The practical impact is significant: Wordfence blocked 55 billion password attack attempts during 2024, averaging 65 million brute force attacks daily against WordPress installations worldwide.

For UK businesses specifically, the UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 found that 43% of British businesses experienced a cyber breach or attack in the previous 12 months, affecting approximately 612,000 organisations. Whitehat SEO recommends that any UK business running WordPress should treat security as a board-level priority, not an IT afterthought.

What Are the Biggest WordPress Security Threats?

WordPress core itself is remarkably secure. Only seven vulnerabilities were discovered in WordPress core during 2024, none posing widespread risk. The real danger lies in the plugin ecosystem, which accounts for 96% of all WordPress vulnerabilities, with themes responsible for the remaining 4%.

The most common vulnerability types in the WordPress ecosystem are cross-site scripting (XSS) at 47.7%, cross-site request forgery (CSRF) at 13.4%, and broken access control at 13.4%. Critically, 43% of discovered vulnerabilities required no authentication to exploit, meaning attackers need no login credentials to compromise a site. At the point of public disclosure, 33% of vulnerabilities had no available patch, and 35% remain unpatched as of 2025.

Supply chain attacks represent a growing threat. In June 2024, attackers compromised WordPress.org developer accounts through credential reuse and injected malicious code into legitimate plugins including Social Warfare and Contact Form 7 Multi-Step Addon. The attack affected up to 116,000 WordPress sites, creating rogue administrator accounts and injecting SEO spam. Similarly, critical vulnerabilities in LiteSpeed Cache, a plugin with over six million active installations, enabled complete site takeover and attracted the largest WordPress bug bounty ever at $16,400. In 2024 alone, the WordPress repository removed 1,614 plugins due to unresolved security issues.

Detection remains a significant challenge. IBM's 2025 Cost of Data Breach Report found that organisations take an average of 241 days to identify and contain a breach, with the median discovery time at 51 days according to the Verizon DBIR 2025. For UK businesses processing personal data under GDPR, a breach that goes undetected for months dramatically increases both the regulatory exposure and the remediation cost. Whitehat SEO's SEO services include technical health monitoring that can surface security issues before they become costly incidents.

What Security Improvements Has WordPress Made?

WordPress core development has delivered meaningful security improvements across recent releases. WordPress 6.8 "Cecil", released April 2025, introduced bcrypt password hashing, closing a 13-year security gap. The upgrade moved from the outdated MD5-based phpass algorithm to bcrypt with SHA-384 pre-hashing, significantly increasing the computational cost of cracking password hashes. No user action was required for the migration.

WordPress 6.7 "Rollins" (November 2024) enhanced XSS and SQL injection prevention across the platform and launched the Plugin Check Tool, enabling automated security audits for plugin developers before submission to the repository. WordPress 6.6 "Dorsey" (July 2024) added Plugin Auto-Updates with Rollback, allowing sites to automatically revert to a previous plugin version if an update causes critical errors.

These improvements strengthen the core platform. However, with 96% of vulnerabilities originating from third-party plugins, WordPress core security alone cannot protect sites that rely on an extensive plugin stack. A comprehensive website audit should assess both core configuration and every active plugin for known vulnerabilities.

How Do You Secure a WordPress Website?

Securing a WordPress website requires a layered approach that addresses the most common attack vectors. With 65 million brute force attacks targeting WordPress sites daily and supply chain compromises costing an average of $4.46 million with 26 additional days of detection time, these measures are essential rather than optional for any UK business handling customer data.

Essential WordPress security practices:

• Update everything immediately. Apply WordPress core, plugin, and theme updates within 48 hours of release. Enable auto-updates with rollback (WordPress 6.6+) for non-critical plugins. With 35% of known vulnerabilities remaining unpatched, timely updates are your single most effective defence.
• Enforce strong authentication. Use unique passwords of 16+ characters and enable two-factor authentication for all admin accounts. The ICO has explicitly stated that lacking MFA can result in substantial fines, as demonstrated by the £3.07 million penalty against Advanced Computer Software Group.
• Install a web application firewall. A WAF blocks common exploit patterns including XSS and SQL injection before they reach your site. Combine with a CDN for DDoS protection and improved page load performance.
• Implement automated daily backups. Store backups off-server with verified restore procedures. Test your recovery process quarterly to ensure backups are functional when needed.
• Audit plugin usage quarterly. Remove inactive plugins, verify developer reputation, and check the Patchstack or WPScan databases for known vulnerabilities in your plugin stack. Remember that 1,614 plugins were removed from the WordPress repository in 2024 alone.
• Restrict file permissions. Set directories to 755 and files to 644. Disable file editing from the WordPress dashboard by adding define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true); to wp-config.php.
• Monitor for suspicious activity. Install activity logging to track login attempts, file changes, and user behaviour. With breach detection averaging 241 days, automated monitoring is critical for early identification.

Whitehat SEO's website security audit covers all six layers, identifying vulnerabilities and delivering a prioritised remediation plan for UK businesses concerned about compliance and data protection.

What UK Regulations Affect WordPress Security?

UK businesses running WordPress websites face specific regulatory obligations that make security failures expensive. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) significantly increased enforcement in 2025, with the average fine rising from £150,000 to over £2.8 million. Maximum GDPR penalties reach £17.5 million or 4% of annual worldwide turnover.

Recent ICO enforcement actions demonstrate the real consequences. Capita plc received a £14 million fine in October 2025 after a breach affecting 6.6 million individuals, making it the largest UK GDPR cybersecurity penalty. Advanced Computer Software Group was fined £3.07 million in March 2025 specifically for lacking multi-factor authentication, which disrupted NHS systems. As ICO Deputy Commissioner Stephen Bonner stated: a preventable breach caused by lacking MFA could result in substantial financial penalties.

The UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 reveals that breach risk scales with business size: 41% of micro businesses (1 to 9 employees), 50% of small businesses (10 to 49), 67% of medium businesses (50 to 249), and 74% of large businesses (250+) experienced a breach or attack. The average cost per incident was £3,550 when excluding nil-cost incidents, rising to £5,900 for cyber-facilitated fraud. Only 22% of UK businesses have a formal incident management plan, and just 29% conduct regular cybersecurity risk assessments.

Awareness of government guidance remains alarmingly low. Only 12% of UK businesses are aware of the NCSC's cybersecurity guidance, and just 3% hold Cyber Essentials certification, despite certified organisations being 92% less likely to make a cyber insurance claim. NCSC CEO Dr Richard Horne has warned that the cyber risk facing the nation is widely underestimated.

Looking ahead, the EU Cyber Resilience Act takes effect from September 2026, requiring WordPress plugin and theme developers to establish formal vulnerability notification processes. Patchstack CEO Oliver Sild describes this as a potential turning point for open-source security, similar to the impact GDPR had on data protection practices.

Should You Consider a Managed CMS Instead?

For UK businesses evaluating their CMS options, the security comparison between self-hosted WordPress and a managed platform such as HubSpot CMS reveals significant differences in both approach and total cost of ownership.

The cost picture is equally revealing. HubSpot Content Hub Professional costs £400 per month with all security included. Achieving comparable WordPress security requires quality hosting (£25 to £80 per month), security plugins (£8 to £40), a CDN (£16 to £40), and ongoing maintenance services (£60 to £400), totalling £109 to £560 or more per month with an additional 6.8 to 24.5 hours of annual maintenance time. That maintenance burden is not trivial: it encompasses regular updates (one to two times monthly), security scanning, backup verification, and incident response when issues arise.

For context, the UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 found that only 19% of UK businesses provided staff cyber training in the last 12 months, and just 14% review immediate supplier risks. Many WordPress-dependent organisations lack the in-house expertise to maintain the security posture their sites require. A peak-performing website needs both speed and security working together, and the platform choice fundamentally shapes how much effort each requires.

Neither platform is universally superior. WordPress remains the better choice when deep customisation is essential, a dedicated IT team is available, or full data sovereignty is required. HubSpot CMS is typically the stronger option for marketing teams without in-house security expertise, organisations prioritising compliance certifications, or businesses needing integrated CRM and marketing automation. Whitehat SEO's HubSpot website design service helps UK businesses migrate to a managed CMS with enterprise-grade security built in from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WordPress secure enough for UK businesses?

WordPress core is secure, but the plugin ecosystem introduces significant risk. With 7,966 new vulnerabilities discovered in 2024 and 96% originating from plugins, UK businesses using WordPress must invest in ongoing security maintenance, regular audits, and GDPR-compliant data protection measures to meet regulatory obligations.

How much does WordPress security cost per year?

Properly securing a WordPress website costs between £109 and £560 per month in the UK, covering managed hosting, security plugins, CDN services, and maintenance. This totals £1,308 to £6,720 annually, plus 6.8 to 24.5 hours of maintenance time. Managed CMS platforms like HubSpot include equivalent security from £400 per month.

What is the most common WordPress vulnerability?

Cross-site scripting (XSS) accounts for 47.7% of all WordPress vulnerabilities, according to Patchstack's 2025 report. XSS attacks inject malicious scripts into trusted websites, potentially stealing user data or hijacking sessions. Keeping plugins updated and implementing a Content Security Policy are the most effective defences.

Does switching to HubSpot CMS eliminate security risks?

No CMS eliminates all security risks, but HubSpot CMS significantly reduces the attack surface by handling updates, WAF protection, SSL, and monitoring automatically. HubSpot holds SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 certifications and guarantees 99.95% uptime. The primary remaining risks are phishing and social engineering targeting user accounts.

What UK regulations apply to website security?

UK businesses must comply with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, enforced by the ICO with fines up to £17.5 million or 4% of global turnover. The NCSC's Cyber Essentials scheme provides a baseline security standard. From September 2026, the EU Cyber Resilience Act will impose additional obligations on CMS plugin and theme developers.

Protect Your WordPress Website Today

WordPress security in 2026 demands proactive management, not reactive patching. With 22 new vulnerabilities appearing daily, UK regulators imposing record fines for preventable breaches, and 43% of British businesses experiencing cyber incidents in the past year, the cost of neglecting website security far exceeds the investment required to address it.

The starting point is understanding your current exposure. Whether you need to harden your existing WordPress installation, evaluate a move to a managed CMS, or ensure your website meets GDPR and Cyber Essentials requirements, Whitehat SEO's website security audit provides a clear, prioritised roadmap. As a HubSpot Diamond Partner with deep expertise in both WordPress and HubSpot CMS, Whitehat SEO helps UK businesses make informed platform decisions based on security requirements, compliance obligations, and growth objectives.

Sources and Further Reading

• Patchstack: State of WordPress Security 2025 (March 2025)
• UK Government: Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 (April 2025)
• ICO: Enforcement Actions (2025)
• NCSC: Small Business Guide (Current)
• HubSpot: Security Program (Current)
• Whitehat SEO: SEO Services
• Whitehat SEO: Building a Peak-Performing Website