WordPress Vulnerability Protection

Patchstack blocks attempts to exploit known plugin and theme vulnerabilities, even before a patch is released. Included in CriticalWP maintenance from $99/month per site.

Protect Your Site

Tell us about your site and we'll set up vulnerability protection. Plans from $99/month per site.

What is WordPress vulnerability protection? It is a firewall layer that blocks attempts to exploit known flaws in WordPress plugins, themes and core, so a site stays protected while a developer fix is released and tested. CriticalWP provides it with Patchstack on every maintenance and managed plan.

Attackers do not wait for your update window.

Once a plugin or theme vulnerability is disclosed, automated tools start looking for sites that still run the affected version. Updating is the permanent fix, but a patch has to be released, tested and applied first. Vulnerability protection covers that gap.

Patchstack researches WordPress vulnerabilities and writes mitigation rules that block the exploit request itself, without modifying the plugin or theme code. We run it as part of operations: protection first, then a tested update, then monitoring. Read how this works in why some WordPress sites are most vulnerable to hacks.

CriticalWP is a WebOps agency for WordPress based in the Austin, TX metro, serving organizations across the US. Vulnerability protection is one layer of our WordPress security services, not a standalone plugin.

  • Exploit blocking

    Stops requests aimed at known flaws.

  • No code changes

    Plugin and theme files stay untouched.

  • Automatic rule delivery

    No action needed on your side.

  • Tested updates

    The permanent fix, checked on staging first.

How It Works

How Patchstack vulnerability protection works

Protection while the fix is being released, tested and applied.

1. A vulnerability is researched

Patchstack's research identifies flaws in WordPress plugins, themes and core and tracks which versions are affected.

2. A mitigation rule is delivered

A rule that blocks the exploit request is delivered automatically to protected sites, sometimes before the developer releases a patch.

3. The exploit is blocked

The rule runs at the application level and stops the attack without changing the plugin or theme code.

4. We apply the real fix

When the developer ships the update, we test it on a copy of your site and release it, so you have the permanent fix.

5. We keep monitoring

Uptime monitoring and backups stay in place, so a problem is found by us and is recoverable.

One layer of several

On managed plans, protection sits alongside hosting on a dedicated container behind Cloudflare Enterprise and, on Managed Stability, security hardening.

Why It Matters

A business risk, not just a technical one

An exploited vulnerability can mean downtime, cleanup costs and lost trust. Protection buys time to test updates properly instead of rushing them onto a live site. It does not replace updates, and it does not clean up a site that is already compromised. For that, use emergency support and read what to do first when a WordPress site is hacked.

Plans

Vulnerability protection is included in every plan

Add it to your current host with maintenance, or move to managed WordPress with hosting included.

 MaintenanceStarterManaged Stability
Price$99/month per site$149/month$249/month
Patchstack protectionIncludedIncludedIncluded
HostingNot included. Works on your current host.Included, containerizedIncluded
Best forProtecting an existing siteNew or migrated sitesSites your business depends on

See full pricing, the maintenance plan, managed WordPress or WordPress security services.

Vulnerability protection is one layer of WordPress security.

See how it works with tested updates, hardening, monitoring and backups in our WordPress security services.

Explore WordPress Security Services
FAQ

Common questions

WordPress vulnerability protection blocks attempts to exploit known flaws in plugins, themes and core. Instead of waiting for you to update, it filters malicious requests aimed at a specific vulnerability. CriticalWP provides it through Patchstack on every maintenance and managed plan.
Updating fixes the flaw, but only after the developer releases a patch and someone applies it. Vulnerability protection covers the gap in between. We still apply updates, tested on a staging copy first, so you get both the protection and the permanent fix.
No. Patchstack's mitigation rules run in its application-level agent and block the exploit attempt without modifying the vulnerable plugin or theme files.
A virtual patch is a rule that blocks the specific request pattern an attacker uses against a known vulnerability, without editing the vulnerable code. Patchstack publishes these rules as part of its vulnerability mitigation and delivers them to protected sites automatically.
Coverage depends on the vulnerabilities Patchstack has researched and written rules for, so it is not a promise that every possible flaw is blocked. It is one layer alongside tested updates, hardening, monitoring and backups. See our WordPress security services for the full set.
If a plugin is no longer maintained, a protection rule can reduce exposure to a known flaw, but it does not replace the missing developer fix. We recommend replacing abandoned plugins, and we flag them during maintenance.
No. Protection buys time; updates are the fix. We test updates on a copy of your site before release so patching does not break your site.
Yes. The Patchstack firewall is part of the $99 per month maintenance plan, which works on your current host, and of managed WordPress plans with hosting included, from $149 per month for Starter and $249 per month for Managed Stability.
No. Vulnerability protection is preventive. If your site is already compromised, use our emergency support.
Patchstack is a WordPress security company that researches plugin, theme and core vulnerabilities and provides the mitigation rules that block their exploitation. CriticalWP uses Patchstack for the firewall layer of its maintenance and managed plans.

Protect your site while updates are tested.

Patchstack vulnerability protection, tested updates, monitoring and backups. Maintenance from $99/month per site.

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