Listen to this Post
Introduction:
As AI models evolve from chatbots to autonomous security analysts, defenders gain unprecedented ability to audit web assets at scale. In a recent hands-on test, cybersecurity strategist Anthony COQUER used Anthropic’s Fable 5 model to assess two distinct sites – a static Cloudflare‑protected frontend and a dynamic WordPress site laden with plugins, forms, and sensitive subdomains – proving that even non‑offensive, high‑level prompts can yield actionable defensive intelligence, from exposed plugin enumeration to targeted scanning recommendations.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify exposed WordPress plugins and versions using AI‑assisted reconnaissance (no offensive tools required).
- Implement automated vulnerability scanning workflows for WordPress, including CLI tools and API‑based checks.
- Harden Cloudflare‑proxied static sites and WordPress subdomains against common enumeration techniques.
You Should Know:
- AI‑Driven Plugin Enumeration: From Natural Language to Technical Inventory
Anthony’s test began with a simple, non‑detailed request: “Analyze security for my static site behind Cloudflare and my WordPress site with plugins, forms, and sensitive subdomains.” Fable 5 responded by:
– Listing common plugin directories (e.g., /wp-content/plugins/) that attackers probe.
– Explaining how plugin version numbers leak via readme.txt or asset URLs.
– Recommending `wpscan` (official WordPress security scanner) as the primary tool.
Step‑by‑step guide: Replicate AI‑assisted plugin discovery
- Prompt the AI with: “List all ways an attacker could enumerate WordPress plugins and their versions without credentials. Prioritize passive methods.”
- Use the AI’s output to manually test your own site:
– `curl -s https://example.com/wp-content/plugins/akismet/readme.txt | grep “Stable tag”`
– `curl -s https://example.com/wp-content/plugins/wordpress-seo/readme.txt`
3. Automate enumeration with a bash script (Linux/macOS):
for plugin in $(curl -s https://example.com/wp-json/wp/v2/plugins | jq -r '.[].slug'); do curl -s "https://example.com/wp-content/plugins/$plugin/readme.txt" | grep -E "(Stable tag|Version)" done
4. Windows (PowerShell) alternative:
$plugins = @("akismet","wordpress-seo","contact-form-7")
foreach ($p in $plugins) {
(Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://example.com/wp-content/plugins/$p/readme.txt").Content -match "Stable tag|Version"
}
5. Validate results against the official WordPress plugin repository to detect outdated versions.
2. Defensive Hardening: Stop AI‑Powered Reconnaissance Cold
If an AI model like Fable 5 can identify exposed plugins in seconds, malicious actors using similar models can too. Proactive mitigations include:
Step‑by‑step guide to block plugin enumeration
- Disable directory listing (add to `.htaccess` for Apache or `server block` for Nginx):
Apache: `Options -Indexes`
Nginx: `autoindex off;`
2. Prevent readme.txt access (Apache):
<Files "readme.txt"> Require all denied </Files>
Nginx:
location ~ /readme.txt$ {
deny all;
return 403;
}
- Obfuscate plugin URLs using security plugins (e.g., Hide My WP Ghost) or custom rewrite rules.
- Use Cloudflare WAF to block requests containing `/wp-content/plugins/` with known version patterns. Example Cloudflare rule:
`(http.request.uri.path contains “/wp-content/plugins/”) and (http.request.uri.query contains “version”)` → Block.
5. Regular scanning with WPScan CLI (Linux):
docker run -it --rm wpscanteam/wpscan --url https://example.com --enumerate vp --api-token YOUR_TOKEN
For Windows, use WSL or the standalone binary. WPScan enumerates plugin versions and maps them to CVE databases.
- API Security & AI Act Compliance: What Fable 5 Teaches About GDPR/DORA Readiness
Anthony’s profile highlights frameworks like GDPR, DORA, AI Act, NIS2, and ISO 42001 (AI management systems). The Fable 5 test implicitly warns: if an AI model can produce security insights from generic prompts, your organization’s AI usage must comply with these regulations – especially when processing website data that may include visitor information.
Step‑by‑step AI governance for security audits
- Data minimization: Never feed live PII or production logs into a third‑party AI. Anthony’s prompt used only site structure descriptions (e.g., “static site behind Cloudflare”), not actual user data.
- Log AI interactions for audit trails (required by DORA 11).
- Implement an AI Acceptable Use Policy (ISO 42001, Clause 6.1.2) that prohibits offensive queries.
- Use local LLMs (e.g., Llama 3, Mistral) for sensitive audits – Fable 5 is cloud‑based; for GDPR compliance, host your own model.
- Conduct DPIA (Data Protection Impact Assessment) under GDPR Art. 35 when using AI to analyze website security that may process personal data (e.g., form inputs).
-
Vulnerability Exploitation & Mitigation: From Plugin CVEs to Subdomain Takeovers
The WordPress site in Anthony’s test had “sensitive subdomains” – often prime targets for subdomain takeover. Fable 5 likely explained how dangling DNS records (e.g., CNAME to a decommissioned cloud service) can be hijacked.
Step‑by‑step subdomain takeover prevention
- Enumerate subdomains (passive, using AI to generate a list of common names):
`dig +short example.com NS` then `dig +short @ns1.example.com admin.example.com` - Check for orphaned CNAMEs with a script (Linux):
for sub in $(cat subdomains.txt); do cname=$(dig +short CNAME $sub.example.com) if [[ $cname == ".cloudfront.net" || $cname == ".github.io" ]]; then echo "$sub -> $cname (potential takeover)" fi done
- Remediation: Remove unused DNS entries, use cloud provider’s “domain verification” tokens, and monitor with tools like `subjack` or
nuclei. - Plugin‑specific patch management – after WPScan identifies vulnerable plugins, apply updates or remove them. Example command to check plugin version vs. latest:
curl -s https://api.wordpress.org/plugins/info/1.0/akismet.json | jq -r '.version'
What Undercode Say:
- Key Takeaway 1: Generative AI drastically lowers the barrier to defensive security analysis – even a high‑level prompt produced detailed plugin enumeration techniques, turning a non‑technical user into an informed auditor.
- Key Takeaway 2: The same power enables attackers – organizations must urgently apply security headers (X‑Robots‑Tag: noindex), disable readme.txt, and enforce least‑privilege API access, because AI models will soon automate full‑chain vulnerability discovery.
Analysis (10+ lines): The Fable 5 model, likely a variant of Anthropic’s constitutional AI, demonstrates emergent security reasoning. Unlike static scanners, it contextualized the Cloudflare edge (explaining how Cloudflare hides origin IP but not directory structure) and the WordPress attack surface (plugins as primary entry points). The model’s recommendation of `wpscan` is correct but incomplete – it didn’t mention API‑based scans or the WordPress REST API endpoint `/wp-json/wp/v2/plugins` (if exposed). This gap highlights that AI should augment, not replace, manual testing. From a regulatory perspective, the test aligns with NIS2’s proactive risk assessment (Art. 21) and the AI Act’s “limited risk” category (Annex III) for security tools, but using a cloud model for production assets may violate data localization under DORA for financial entities. Anthony’s profile includes ISO 27001 and EBIOS RM – these frameworks would require that any AI output be validated by human experts before operational decisions. Finally, the test’s passive nature (no exploitation) is legally safe, but future AI models might refuse such audits if they interpret “identify exposed plugins” as pre‑attack reconnaissance. Organizations must therefore embed AI usage policies that distinguish defensive scans from offensive actions.
Prediction:
- +1: AI models will soon offer native “security audit mode” with guaranteed data isolation, enabling SMBs to perform ISO 27001‑level assessments without hiring consultants – accelerating compliance with NIS2 by 40% within 24 months.
- -1: Adversarial prompt injection against security‑focused AI will become a primary vector for extracting zero‑day plugin vulnerabilities, turning every LLM endpoint into a potential supply chain risk.
▶️ Related Video (74% Match):
🎯Let’s Practice For Free:
🎓 Live Courses & Certifications:
Join Undercode Academy for Verified Certifications
🚀 Request a Custom Project:
Secure, high-velocity infrastructure and disruptive technological engineering. Contact our engineering team for high-tier development and proprietary systems:
[email protected]
💎 Smart Architecture | 🛡️ Secure by Design | ⭐ Trusted by Thousands
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Anthony Coquer – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
