CMS penetration testing and security audit
WordPress, Drupal, Magento, PrestaShop and Joomla have specific attack surfaces that generic tests and automated scanners do not cover. Vulnerable plugins, third-party extensions, exposed panels, abusable APIs and default configurations are real vectors an attacker will exploit before your team detects them.
Why is web maintenance not the same as security?
Updating WordPress or installing a security plugin is not the same as a real security assessment. Most CMS compromises do not happen for lack of updates: they happen because of poorly audited third-party extensions, incorrect server configurations, excessive user roles, exposed API endpoints or vulnerable application logic that no automated scanner detects. A CMS penetration test analyses how the system actually behaves under attack, not just the list of installed versions.
What a CMS security audit covers
- Analysis of plugins, modules, extensions and themes: versions, known CVEs and custom code
- Configuration review: environment files, file permissions, HTTP headers and sensitive paths
- Admin panel security: exposure of /wp-admin, /admin, authentication and MFA
- Authentication testing: brute force, credential stuffing, login bypass and password reset
- API and endpoint security: REST API, XML-RPC, GraphQL and module endpoints
- Form and file upload analysis: XSS, SQLi, path traversal and RCE
- Roles and privileges review: privilege escalation and unauthorised access
- Detection of active malware, web shells, backdoors and persistence
- External integrations review: payment gateways, CRM, newsletter and marketing tools
- Environment assessment: hosting, CDN, WAF and perimeter security configuration
CMS pentesting methodology
- Fingerprinting and enumeration: We identify the CMS version, active plugins and modules, installed themes, enumerable users and sensitive paths accessible without authentication.
- Third-party extension analysis: We review each plugin, module or extension against CVE databases (WPScan DB, NVD, Exploit-DB) and audit the custom code when available.
- Active intrusion testing: We run controlled attacks against the real surface: authentication, forms, APIs, file uploads and business logic. We do not limit ourselves to the automated scanner.
- Configuration review and hardening: We analyse the server, database, file permissions and HTTP headers against CIS benchmarks and CMS hardening guides.
- Executive + technical report + remediation plan: Findings classified by severity (CVSS), evidence (PoC), business impact and a remediation roadmap prioritised by real risk.
CMS security audit deliverables
- Executive report: risk in business terms, presentable to management without technical jargon
- Technical report: vulnerabilities with PoC, CVSS and concrete remediation steps
- Inventory of audited extensions and the security status of each one
- Remediation plan prioritised by severity and operational impact
- Closing meeting to clarify findings with the technical and business teams
- Support during remediation and an optional re-test to verify fixes
Which companies need a CMS security audit?
- Corporate WordPress sites with forms, contact data or access to internal systems
- Online stores on WooCommerce, Magento or PrestaShop with PCI-DSS payment obligations
- Institutional Drupal portals for public administrations, universities and digital media
- Digital agencies managing multiple client sites on the same CMS
- Companies with internal or external CMS portals handling sensitive data
- Organisations that have detected signs of compromise: malware, strange redirects or unauthorised content
Frequently asked questions about CMS penetration testing
How does a CMS security audit differ from web maintenance?
Web maintenance updates versions and takes backups. A CMS security audit simulates real attacks to find vulnerabilities that updates do not fix: vulnerable application logic, misconfigurations, extensions with insecure code or CMS-specific vectors that automated scanners do not detect.
Does the pentest disrupt the website's operation?
We coordinate the scope to minimise operational impact. In most cases we work on a staging environment or during low-traffic windows. If production is unavoidable, we agree to run the most invasive tests outside business hours.
Does the CMS pentest also cover hosting and the CDN?
Yes, within the agreed scope. We review the web server configuration, HTTP security headers, access to sensitive paths, file permissions and, where applicable, the WAF and CDN configuration (Cloudflare, Fastly). The hosting environment is part of the CMS attack surface.
Do you also do the remediation or just the report?
We deliver the analysis, the evidence and the remediation plan. The fixes are carried out by your team or your web agency following our instructions. We always include support during the remediation phase and an optional re-test to verify that the findings have been resolved.
Is the report valid for compliance audits (ENS, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS)?
Yes. The report follows recognised methodologies (OWASP, PTES) and is valid as pentesting evidence for ISO 27001 certification, ENS compliance or PCI-DSS processes. We indicate the coverage against the applicable security controls.