xmlrpc.php In WordPress: What It Is And Why Disable It

In WordPress, xmlrpc.php is a file that allows your website to communicate with external applications, such as mobile apps or remote publishing tools. It acts as a bridge that enables you to access and control your site from outside the WordPress dashboard. While this functionality can be useful, it’s important to understand how XML-RPC works, as it has been linked to several security risks.

One of the major concerns with XML-RPC is its vulnerability to brute force attacks and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attempts. Hackers often target this file to exploit weak points in your website’s security, potentially gaining unauthorized access or overloading your server. Due to these risks, many WordPress users disable xmlrpc.php to enhance their site’s safety.

Here, we explain what xmlrpc.php is, why it was created, and how it was used then and now. Next, we’ll go through the reasons for disabling XML-RPC in WordPress. After that, we’ll explore 2 ways to check if XML-RPC is enabled on your website. Lastly, we’ll go through the step-by-step process to disable XML-RPC manually and via a plugin.

What is XML-RPC?

XML-RPC is a feature used by WordPress to transmit data between your site and external systems. It relies on HTTP as the transport mechanism and XML as the encoding format to facilitate communication. The file is essentially a bridge that allows WordPress, which isn’t a self-contained system, to interact with other applications and devices.

When WordPress first introduced xmlrpc.php, its primary purpose was to allow users to access and manage their websites remotely. For instance, if you need to post content and are away from your PC or computer, you can use your mobile device to publish posts through the XML-RPC feature. This made remote management convenient and accessible for many users.

In addition to providing remote access, the XML-RPC file also provides some core features; for example, it helps enable trackbacks and pingbacks, features letting other websites notify you when they link to your content. Additionally, some tools and plugins, like Jetpack, rely on xmlrpc.php to work properly, allowing you to use extra features for your site.

Why was XML-RPC Created & How was it Used?

XML-RPC has been around since before WordPress was even called WordPress. In the internet’s early days, publishing content online wasn’t as easy as it is today.

The internet was slow, and writing directly on a web page could be time-consuming. Instead, most people wrote their content offline and then copied and pasted it onto the web. However, this process was far from perfect.

To solve this problem, offline blogging clients were created. These clients allowed users to write content offline and then connect to their blogs to publish it once they were ready. WordPress XMLRPC was the tool that made this connection possible, making it easier for people to get their content online, even with the internet being slow at that time.

In this way, with a connection between offline blogging clients and WordPress, users could compose their content offline. When they were ready to post, xmlrpc.php would connect their blogging client to their WordPress site, allowing them to publish their content quickly and easily.

This was especially helpful for people who were often on the go or didn’t have reliable internet access. Instead of waiting for a stable connection to write online, users could write offline and publish when convenient, thanks to XML-RPC.

As WordPress grew, XML-RPC became an important feature for users who needed to access their sites from different devices. It allowed bloggers to log in to WordPress from their mobile phones or other computers. This made it possible to manage a WordPress site without being tied to a specific device, which was a game changer.

WordPress developers created the basic framework for XML-RPC to handle these remote connections. It was a way for WordPress to communicate with outside tools, making it more flexible and user-friendly for bloggers everywhere.

Furthermore, when XML-RPC was first introduced, it was turned off by default in WordPress. Users had to enable it manually to use remote access features. This changed in WordPress 2.6 when an option was added to the dashboard to enable or disable XML-RPC easily. Users could choose whether to allow remote access to their site or not.

By the time WordPress 3.5 was released, XML-RPC was enabled by default. This change happened with the launch of the WordPress mobile app, which relied heavily on XML-RPC to allow users to manage their sites from their phones. With this update, WordPress removed the option to disable XML-RPC from the dashboard, making remote site management easier for everyone.

XML-RPC Nowadays

So, XML-RPC was very useful in its early years, but today, it is considered an outdated technology in WordPress. With the introduction of the REST API, most developers and site owners prefer using this newer, more secure, and flexible API for connecting WordPress with external applications.

The REST API offers better website security, performance, and ease of use, which has led to a decline in the use of XML-RPC. However, some legacy tools, plugins, and applications still rely on XML-RPC for remote access, so it remains active by default on many WordPress installations.

Despite its decreasing use, XML-RPC poses security risks, especially if not properly protected. Cybercriminals often target xmlrpc.php in brute force attacks to guess login credentials or overload the web server with excessive requests.

Because of these risks, many site owners choose to disable XML-RPC if they are not using remote publishing tools or other features that depend on it. This reduces WordPress xmlrpc attacks and helps keep the site more secure.

Why Disable XML-RPC?

One of the major concerns with xmlrpc.php is the security risks it introduces to your WordPress site. The XML-RPC file itself isn’t the problem; it’s how hackers can exploit it that creates vulnerabilities. Attackers have found ways to misuse xmlrpc.php to target websites with brute force and DDoS attacks, making it a weak spot if unprotected.

Remember that using strong passwords and installing security plugins are good steps to protect your WordPress site, but with XML-RPC, the best way to secure your site is to disable it entirely. Since it is a common target for hackers, turning off xmlrpc.php reduces the risk of exploitation, keeping your site safer from common attacks.

Here are 2 primary reasons to make you think about disabling the xmlrpc.php file:

Brute Force Attacks

The first involves brute force attacks, where hackers attempt to access your site by trying various combinations of usernames and passwords. What makes XML-RPC particularly dangerous is that attackers can use a single command to test hundreds of password variations at once. This tactic can evade security plugins that normally block brute force attempts, giving hackers more chances to break into your site.

DDoS Attacks

The second vulnerability is through Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Hackers can exploit the pingback feature in WordPress to send a flood of requests to thousands of websites simultaneously.

By using xmlrpc.php, attackers can distribute these attacks over numerous IP addresses, making them difficult to trace and stop, which can ultimately take down your WordPress website by overwhelming the server.

Aside from DDoS and brute force attacks, xmlrpc.php is linked to additional security risks, such as:

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Malicious scripts can be injected through poorly sanitized XML-RPC requests.
• SQL Injection: When XML-RPC data is not handled properly attackers may manipulate database queries.
• Remote Code Execution: Vulnerabilities in xmlrpc.php can allow hackers to run unwanted code on your server, compromising its security.

These risks make it crucial to manage or disable XML-RPC if not in use. However, there are times when you may need to keep XML-RPC enabled. If you use remote publishing tools to manage your WordPress site from a mobile device or a third-party app, xmlrpc.php is necessary.

Moreover, some plugins or services also rely on this file for certain features. In these cases, you’ll want to keep xmlrpc.php enabled but ensure it is properly secured.

Check if XML-RPC is Enabled

Before you dive into the steps to disable WordPress XMLRPC, it’s important to check if it’s enabled or not. There are a few simple ways to check if XML-RPC is enabled on your WordPress site. Here are two methods you can use:

Check via Browser

Open your favorite web browser and type yourwebsite.com/xmlrpc.php in the address bar, replacing yourwebsite.com with your domain name. Then, press Enter.

If XML-RPC is enabled, you will see a message saying, “XML-RPC server accepts POST requests only”.

In contrast, if XML-RPC is disabled, you will see an error message like 403 Forbidden or “404 Not Found”, which means it is blocked or unavailable.

Check via Online Tools

Some free online tools help you test if XML-RPC is enabled. For this tutorial, we use XML-RPC Validator. Here’s how to use it:

Go to the official website of XML-RPC Validator. Enter your website’s URL in the Address box and click Check to see if the WordPress XMLRPC is enabled.

If it’s enabled, the tool will confirm that it is working and show a success message as follows:

However, if that’s disabled, it will show an error as follows:

Using either of these methods will quickly let you know whether XML-RPC is enabled or disabled on your WordPress site. If it’s enabled, you can use any of the following methods to disable it.

How to Disable XML-RPC

If you want to protect your WordPress site from the security risks posed by xmlrpc.php, one of the easiest methods to disable it is with a plugin. Do this to quickly turn off XML-RPC without manually modifying any code.

This is the safest option for most users, especially if you’re uncomfortable editing your site’s core files. Let’s start with the step-by-step instructions for disabling XML-RPC using a plugin.

Use Plugin to Disable xmlrpc.php

Go to WordPress Admin Dashboard → Plugins → Add New Plugin. In the search box, type “Disable XML-RPC-API”. Once you’ve found the plugin, click Install Now.

After the installation is complete, the button will change to Activate. Click Activate to enable this plugin on your site.

You’ll now see a new option: XML-RPC Security in your WordPress Dashboard. The great thing about this plugin is that no additional setup is required. Once activated, xmlrpc.php is disabled automatically.

After activating the plugin, verify that XML-RPC is not accessible anymore. To do that, type yourwebsite.com/xmlrpc.php into your browser (ensure you replace yourwebsite.com with your actual domain name). If XML-RPC is disabled, you will see a 403 Forbidden or 404 Not Found error message, meaning the file is no longer accessible.

Important: Some plugins, like Disable XML-RPC-API, may not require configuration. However, if you use a broader security plugin, you may need to navigate to the plugin’s settings page and manually disable WordPress XMLRPC. If you ever need to re-enable XML-RPC, deactivate or uninstall the plugin.

Manually Disable XML-RPC via .htaccess File

If you prefer not to use a plugin, you can manually disable XML-RPC by editing your .htaccess file. The .htaccess file controls how your server handles requests.

If you add a few lines of code, you can block the entrance to XML-RPC. This gives you more control and is a simple way to block access to xmlrpc.php on your WordPress site. Here’s how to do that:

First, connect to your WordPress website using an FTP client (such as FileZilla or WinSCP) or your hosting provider’s File Manager. For this tutorial, we continue with the File Manager you access as a Hosted user by navigating to cPanel → Tools → Files → File Manager.

Once inside File Manager, locate the .htaccess in the root directory of the WordPress installation; it is public_html. It might be a different directory like www; thisdepends on your hosting environment.

Select the .htaccess file and click Edit at the top to open this in the Hosted control panel’s built-in editor.

Once the .htaccess file is opened, add the following code snippet at the bottom of the file:

# Block WordPress XMLRPC requests
<Files xmlrpc.php>
order deny,allow
deny from all
allow from xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
</Files>

Replace xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx with the IP address you want to grant access to xmlrpc.php or remove this line entirely if no IP addresses should have access.

To grant access to more than one IP address for xmlrpc.php, add a line with the allow from xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx below the previous allow rule. The code will appear as follows:

# Block WordPress XMLRPC requests
<Files xmlrpc.php>
order deny,allow
deny from all
allow from xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
allow from xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
</Files>

Lastly, save the file after adding the code. However, if you downloaded a .htaccess file to make changes locally, you should upload it back to your server to overwrite the existing file.

Important: We recommend you create a backup of your .htaccess file before making any changes. Otherwise, you may experience unexpected results.

Once again, visit your website.com/xmlrpc.php. If the file is disabled, you’ll see an error message confirming the code has successfully blocked XML-RPC.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. The xmlrpc.php file allows WordPress to communicate with other apps and services, like mobile apps or remote publishing tools.
2. It was created to help users manage their WordPress sites remotely, especially when internet connections were slow.
3. Over time, xmlrpc.php has become less useful as newer technologies like the REST API have replaced it. However, the XML-RPC exploit has become a major security concern, as hackers can misuse this file to launch brute force attacks or DDoS attacks, damaging your website.
4. Disabling xmlrpc.php can help protect your site from these attacks, improving security and performance.
5. Disable XML-RPC easily using a plugin or manually editing your site’s .htaccess file.
6. For most users, disabling xmlrpc.php won’t affect daily site operations unless you rely on certain remote publishing features or specific plugins.

FAQs

Other Related Tutorials & Blogs:

– 10 Essential Tips for Monitoring WordPress Security Breaches

– A Comprehensive Guide to WordPress Website Maintenance Cost

– Automated WordPress Security Scans – 5 Reasons Why You Need Them

– How to Fix 502 Bad Gateway Error in WordPress

– How to Fix the WordPress 500 Internal Server Error