Hey there, WordPress user! If you‘re looking to level up your site‘s security, you‘ve come to the right place. Today, we‘re diving deep into one of the most overlooked WordPress security best practices: disabling the built-in theme and plugin editors.
But before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to give the editors the boot, let‘s start with a quick overview of why this matters.
Why Disabling the WordPress File Editors is Crucial
First off, let‘s talk about just how popular WordPress is. According to W3Techs, WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. That‘s a massive slice of the web pie!
But with great popularity comes great responsibility (and, unfortunately, a greater risk of attacks). Wordfence reports that in 2020, 94% of all compromised content management systems were WordPress sites. Yikes!
One of the easiest ways for hackers to wreak havoc on a WordPress site is by exploiting the built-in theme and plugin editors. These editors allow administrators to directly modify the code of theme and plugin files right from the WordPress dashboard.
How the Theme and Plugin Editors Work
To access the theme editor, head to Appearance > Theme Editor in your WordPress admin area. From there, you can select any file from your currently active theme and start making changes.
The plugin editor works similarly – just go to Plugins > Plugin Editor and choose the plugin file you want to modify.
Sounds convenient, right? The problem is, with great power comes great potential for things to go terribly wrong.
The Risks of Editing Theme and Plugin Files Directly
Let‘s say you‘re trying to make a quick CSS tweak or troubleshoot a plugin issue. You hop into the theme or plugin editor, make a change, and…suddenly your whole site is down.
One misplaced character or missing semicolon can result in a PHP error that takes your entire site offline. What‘s worse, if you‘ve completely borked your site‘s code, you might not even be able to access the WordPress admin area to fix it!
But accidental code breakage isn‘t the only risk. The theme and plugin editors are also a prime target for hackers.
If an attacker manages to gain access to an admin account – say, through a brute force attack or a phishing scam – they can easily use the editors to inject malicious code into your theme or plugins.
This code could be used to steal sensitive data, deface your site, or even distribute malware to your unsuspecting visitors. Not good!
By the Numbers: WordPress Security Statistics
Still not convinced that disabling the editors is worth the effort? Let‘s take a look at some eye-opening WordPress security statistics:
- Over 70% of WordPress sites are vulnerable to attacks (WPScan)
- The average website is attacked 94 times every day (Wordfence)
- 39% of WordPress site compromises are caused by a vulnerability in the site‘s hosting platform (Sucuri)
- Weak passwords and outdated software are responsible for over 50% of site hacks (OWASP)
The bottom line? WordPress security is no joke, and every little step you can take to harden your site counts.
How to Disable the Theme and Plugin Editors
Okay, so you‘re on board with getting rid of the editors. But how do you actually do it?
There are a few different methods you can use, but the simplest and most effective is adding a single line of code to your wp-config.php file.
Step 1: Access Your WordPress Files
To get started, you‘ll need to access your site‘s files via FTP or through your hosting control panel‘s file manager. If you‘re not sure how to do this, check with your hosting provider for instructions.
Step 2: Locate the wp-config.php File
Once you‘ve accessed your site‘s files, look for the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your WordPress installation. This is typically called public_html or www.
Step 3: Add the Disallow File Edit Code
Open up the wp-config.php file in a text editor and add the following line of code:
define(‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT‘, true);Make sure to add this code before the line that says "That‘s all, stop editing! Happy blogging."
Here‘s what the code does:
define: This is a PHP function that defines a constant value‘DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT‘: This is the name of the constant we‘re definingtrue: This sets the value of the constant to "true", which tells WordPress to disable file editing
Step 4: Save and Upload the File
Once you‘ve added the code, save the wp-config.php file and re-upload it to your server (if you‘re using FTP).
And that‘s it! The theme and plugin editors will now be completely disabled for all users, even administrators.
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| wp-config.php code | Simple, effective, works for all users | Requires file access |
| Security plugin | Easy to enable, adds other security features | May conflict with other plugins |
| Managed WordPress hosting | Editors pre-disabled, other security perks | More expensive than standard hosting |
Alternatives to the Theme and Plugin Editors
Now that you‘ve disabled the editors, you might be wondering how you‘re supposed to make changes to your theme and plugin files.
Don‘t worry – there are plenty of safer alternatives that will help you avoid the risks of cowboy coding!
1. Use a Staging Site
If you need to make significant changes to your theme or plugins, it‘s always best to work on a staging site first. A staging site is an exact copy of your live site that‘s hosted on a private server.
With a staging site, you can safely test out code changes without worrying about breaking your live site. Once you‘ve got everything working smoothly, you can push your changes to production.
Most managed WordPress hosts offer one-click staging environments, or you can set one up manually using a plugin like WP Staging or Duplicator.
2. Edit Files via FTP
For small tweaks and quick fixes, editing your files directly via FTP is a solid option. Just make sure to download a backup of the file first, so you can revert your changes if something goes wrong.
I recommend using a code editor with syntax highlighting, like Visual Studio Code or Sublime Text, to avoid any typos or formatting issues.
3. Use a Child Theme
If you need to customize your theme‘s code, using a child theme is a must. A child theme is a separate theme that inherits the functionality and styling of its parent theme.
With a child theme, you can safely make changes to your theme files without worrying about losing your customizations when you update the parent theme.
To create a child theme, you‘ll need to create a new folder in your wp-content/themes directory and add a style.css file with the necessary header information. The WordPress Codex has a great tutorial on creating child themes.
The Bottom Line: Disable the Editors, Sleep Better at Night
When it comes to WordPress security, disabling the theme and plugin editors is a small change that can make a big difference.
By removing the ability to edit files directly from the WordPress dashboard, you‘re significantly reducing the risk of accidental or malicious file changes that could take down your site or compromise your data.
Whether you choose to add the DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT code to your wp-config.php file, use a security plugin, or opt for managed WordPress hosting, taking the time to disable the editors is a smart move for any WordPress site owner.
And remember, always work on a staging site or use a child theme when making changes to your WordPress files. Your future self (and your website visitors) will thank you!
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