In a recent Business Bloomer Club Slack thread, a user shared a concern regarding SQL injection attempts on their WooCommerce store. The user had noticed suspiciously crafted URLs in the cache, looking like potential attacks targeting their site’s security.
These URLs included SQL injection payloads designed to exploit vulnerabilities in their database.
The good news is that while bots continuously probe websites for vulnerabilities, modern platforms like WordPress and WooCommerce are well-equipped to handle such threats. This post will break down what these attempts mean for your site and how to deal with them.
Understanding the Attack
SQL injection attempts are a type of cyberattack where an attacker tries to manipulate a website’s SQL queries to extract, modify, or delete data from the database.
In this particular case, the URL structure included the code XOR(if(now()=sysdate(),sleep(15),0))XOR, which is designed to pause the database for a set time. If the attack were successful, it would delay the page loading time, giving the attacker an indication that the database is vulnerable to further attacks.
However, such attacks are becoming increasingly common, and websites need to be prepared to prevent them. Fortunately, WooCommerce and WordPress have built-in protections to prevent these kinds of vulnerabilities.
How WooCommerce and WordPress Handle SQL Injection
WordPress and WooCommerce are widely used platforms, and over the years, they’ve become highly resistant to common attacks, including SQL injection. Both platforms are continually updated to ensure security flaws are addressed quickly. For example, using prepared statements and secure database queries prevents malicious data from being inserted into the database.
When a bot tries to execute a SQL injection like the one mentioned in the thread, the system recognizes it as a threat and blocks the request. Therefore, while it might appear in the logs or cache, the system will prevent it from affecting the site.
Should You Worry About These Attacks?
The user in the thread expressed concern about the security of their site after noticing these SQL injection attempts. However, as pointed out by other members of the community, these attacks are quite normal and are part of the continuous “bot traffic” most websites experience. Bots regularly scan the internet for vulnerabilities, and they will often use common attack methods like SQL injection.
It’s essential to note that just because an attack attempt shows up in your logs doesn’t mean your site is compromised. Bots constantly try different methods of exploitation, and if your WordPress and WooCommerce installations are up to date, your website is well-protected.
How to Prevent SQL Injection Attempts
While most attacks will be blocked by WordPress and WooCommerce, you can still take additional steps to enhance your security:
- Keep WordPress and WooCommerce Updated: Make sure you are always using the latest versions of WordPress and WooCommerce, as updates often include security patches.
- Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF): A firewall can help prevent malicious requests from reaching your site. Plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri offer strong protection against common threats.
- Monitor Traffic: Keep an eye on the traffic coming to your site, especially if you notice strange URLs or high traffic spikes from unusual locations. Plugins or services that log suspicious activities can help.
- Enable Rate Limiting: Some attacks try to flood your site with many requests in a short period. Limiting the number of requests per IP can mitigate this.
- Use CAPTCHA: Adding CAPTCHA to sensitive forms, like login or checkout pages, can help stop automated bots from accessing your site.
What About WP Rocket’s Cache Preloading?
The user in the thread was using WP Rocket for caching. WP Rocket preloads pages into the cache when they are accessed. This can sometimes result in strange URLs appearing in the cache, especially if bots attempt to access them. While this can seem alarming, it’s important to understand that WP Rocket is simply caching the pages that are being visited, whether by bots or real users.
As mentioned in the thread, these strange URLs are often the result of bots checking your site for vulnerabilities. The bots may add SQL injection payloads to test if your database is vulnerable. However, this doesn’t mean that your website is compromised—these are just bots doing their usual checks.
Conclusion
SQL injection attempts are a common occurrence for most websites, especially those running WordPress and WooCommerce. While it’s normal to see bots attempting these kinds of attacks, there’s no need to panic. Both WordPress and WooCommerce have built-in security measures to protect against SQL injection. By keeping your site updated and using additional security practices like firewalls and rate limiting, you can further secure your website.
If you are still concerned, consider implementing extra protections and monitoring to ensure your site remains safe. Remember, the web is full of bots, but that doesn’t mean your site is vulnerable to attacks.
