WordPress Security
WordPress Security
Posted By Gregory

Using IP Access Lists to limit access and protect WordPress

A high-performance access list engine enables you to protect WordPress with a virtually unlimited number of IP addresses, networks, IP ranges, and their combinations


An IP Access List (commonly referred to as ACL) enables you to restricts access to the WordPress admin dashboard, vital WordPress features, protect login and registration forms from accessing by unwanted computers and bots.

WP Cerber supports two types of access lists: White IP Access List and Black IP Access List. Both access lists are manually managed by the website admin on the Access List settings page. Additionally, an IP address can be added to the access lists from the Activity page. The access lists can be easily exported to or imported from a file on the Tools admin page.

Note: Before you can start using access lists, you have to make sure that Cerber detects IP addresses correctly. How to do that – Getting Started.

Additional note if your WordPress is under Cloudflare.

By adding IP addresses to the Black IP Access List, you block the ability to log into the site, submit forms and make unsafe/harmful requests to vital WordPress functionality that are protected by WP Cerber:

  1. Deny IP to log in to the website
  2. Deny IP to register on the website
  3. Deny IP to post comments and submit forms
  4. Deny IP to use WP REST API completely
  5. Deny IP to use XML-RPC completely
  6. Deny IP to access WordPress PHP scripts that usually is being used by bots and hackers: wp-login.php, wp-signup.php, wp-register.php

When you put a particular IP address, subnet or IP range on the White IP Access List you permit these IP addresses to ignore the plugin security policies and settings and use WordPress features, that are protected by WP Cerber, without limitations:

  1. Allow IP to log in to the site with no limit on login attempts (if you uncheck Apply limit login rules to IP addresses in the White IP Access List in the limit login settings)
  2. Allow IP to bypass spam check
  3. Allow IP to bypass country-based GEO access rules
  4. Allow IP to bypass two-factor authentication
  5. Allow IP to log in if the Citadel mode is active
  6. Allow IP to use the registration form to register if registration is enabled in the WordPress settings
  7. Allow IP to use WP REST API without limitation
  8. Allow IP to use the XML-RPC interface without limitation

What’s the order of operations in IP Access Lists?

The White IP Access list has the highest priority and will be checked for an IP address first, then the IP will be checked against the Black IP Access List, and then the IP will be checked against the list of locked out IPs. Finally, WP Cerber checks particular plugin settings you have configured. That means that if a specific IP address is in the White IP Access list, it is permitted to proceed, and no further checks any kind are performed.

The order of operations in a shortlist as they are performed. If an IP matches any of the following steps, no further checks are performed.

  1. The White IP Access List allows IP unconditionally
  2. The Black IP Access List denies IP unconditionally
  3. The list of locked out (blocked) IP addresses, denies IP if in the list
  4. Check for a particular WP Cerber setting

Note: When you activate WP Cerber, it automatically adds your computer network, including your IP address, to the White Access list to protect you from getting locked out by chance.

Possible formats of entries in Access Lists

All formats in access lists for WordPress

WordPress Access Lists entry formats

Important notes about IP Access Lists for WordPress

  • You cannot add the same IP address or a network to the black and white access lists simultaneously.
  • IP addresses in the access lists are never locked out by WP Cerber.
  • The IP Access Lists do not restrict access to static files like photos and images you’ve uploaded to the WordPress media library, JavaScript and CSS files. It’s because they are processed by a front-end server without invoking WordPress and so Cerber’s code. If you need to block access to all static files, consider using an external cloud-based firewall along with a Cloudflare add-on.
  • When you install and activate the WP Cerber plugin, it automatically adds your computer network to the White IP Access List.
  • The Access Lists can be easily exported to a file and then be imported on another website with the WP Cerber plugin installed.

Integration with external firewalls

You can use a Cloudflare add-on to synchronize access-lists entries with the Cloudflare cloud-based firewall. Keep in mind, though, that unlike WP Cerber, Cloudflare’s firewall doesn’t support arbitrary IP ranges or CIDR networks. It supports single IP addresses and classful networks only such as A, B, C.

Bulk import of ACL entries

You can import ACL entries on the Tools admin page. Enter new access list entries, one item per line. To add an optional entry comment, use the CSV format with a comma after the IP address.

Import ACL for WordPress in CSV format

Import ACL to WordPress in the CSV format

 

Have any questions?

If you have a question regarding WordPress security or WP Cerber, leave them in the comments section below or get them answered on the community forum.

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I'm a software engineer and team lead at Cerber Tech. I started coding in 1993 on IBM System/370 and today software engineering at Cerber Tech is how I make my living.

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