TL;DR -- I've audited hundreds of WordPress sites, and outdated software is the single most common vulnerability I find. The window between a patch release and active exploitation is measured in hours, not days. For the sites I manage, security updates get applied the same day they're released.
The Update Problem Nobody Talks About
Every WordPress site owner has been there. You log into your dashboard, see that orange notification badge telling you there are 12 updates available, and think "I'll do it later." That later turns into next week, then next month. Before you know it, you're running plugins that are three major versions behind, and your WordPress core is missing six months of security patches.
I've audited hundreds of WordPress sites over the years, and the single most common issue I find is outdated software. Not complex zero-day exploits, not sophisticated nation-state attacks — just bog-standard outdated plugins with publicly known vulnerabilities that could have been patched with a single click.
What Happens When You Don't Update
When a WordPress vulnerability is discovered, it follows a predictable lifecycle:
- Discovery: A security researcher discovers the vulnerability
- Responsible disclosure: They report it to the plugin or theme developer (responsible disclosure — privately reporting vulnerabilities to developers before public announcement)
- Patch release: The developer releases a patch
- Public disclosure: The vulnerability details are published in public databases like WPScan and CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures — a standardized database of publicly disclosed security vulnerabilities)
- Active exploitation: Automated attack tools are updated to scan for and exploit the vulnerability
Steps 4 and 5 typically happen within 24-48 hours of the patch release. This means that once an update is available, the clock is ticking. Every day you delay is a day your site is vulnerable to attacks that are actively being exploited in the wild.
The Numbers Are Sobering
- 39.1% of all CMS sites were running outdated software at the time of compromise (Sucuri 2023 report, released 2024)
- Plugins account for 90% of known WordPress vulnerabilities (WPScan)
- The average time between a patch release and the first automated exploit: less than 72 hours
"The most dangerous period for any WordPress site is the window between when a security patch is released and when the site owner applies it. That window is when attackers are most active." — Wordfence 2024 Annual WordPress Security Report (released April 2025)
Key Takeaway: The window between patch release and exploitation is measured in hours, not days. For the sites I manage, security updates get applied the same day they're released — waiting isn't a strategy, it's a gamble.
Core Updates: The Foundation
WordPress core updates come in two flavors:
Minor Releases (e.g., 6.7.0 to 6.7.1)
These are security and maintenance releases. They patch known vulnerabilities and fix bugs. Since WordPress 3.7 (released 2013), minor releases auto-update by default — and you should leave this enabled. These updates are designed to be backwards-compatible and low-risk.
Major Releases (e.g., 6.7 to 7.0)
Major releases introduce new features, API changes, and sometimes breaking changes. They don't auto-update by default because they need testing. However, delaying them for too long means missing cumulative security fixes that only ship with major versions.
My recommendation: apply major core updates within 1-2 weeks of release, after testing on a staging site first.
Key Takeaway: Minor WordPress releases auto-update by default and should stay that way. Major releases need testing on staging first, but don't delay beyond two weeks or you'll miss cumulative security fixes that only ship with major versions.
Plugin Updates: Your Biggest Attack Surface
Plugins are where the real risk lives. A typical WordPress site runs 20-30 active plugins, each one adding code from a third-party developer. Each plugin is a potential entry point for attackers.
The WP-CLI Update Workflow
For sites I maintain professionally, I use WP-CLI (WordPress Command Line Interface) to manage updates efficiently and safely. Here's the workflow:
# Check available updates
wp plugin list --update=available --format=table
# Create a database backup before updating
wp db export backup-before-updates.sql
# Update all plugins
wp plugin update --all
# Verify the site is working
wp eval 'echo "Site OK";'
# If something broke, roll back
wp db import backup-before-updates.sqlThis command-line approach is faster and more reliable than clicking through the WordPress admin, especially when managing multiple sites.
Priority Tiers for Plugin Updates
Not all plugin updates are equal. I prioritize them in this order:
- Security patches: Apply immediately, same day
- Critical plugin major updates: Major version updates for critical plugins (forms, e-commerce, caching) — Apply within 1 week after testing
- Minor feature updates: Apply within 2 weeks
- Breaking changes: Major version updates with breaking changes — Schedule for maintenance window, test thoroughly on staging
Key Takeaway: Security patches get same-day treatment. Everything else gets tested on staging first, then deployed within 1-2 weeks. The longer you wait, the wider your attack surface grows.
Theme Updates: The Overlooked Risk
Themes get updated far less frequently than plugins, but they're equally vulnerable. A theme with an unpatched XSS vulnerability (cross-site scripting — a type of attack that injects malicious JavaScript into web pages) gives attackers the ability to inject malicious scripts into every page of your site.
Key theme hygiene rules:
- Delete unused themes: Deactivated themes can still be exploited if they're on the server
- Minimal theme count: Keep only your active theme and one default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Five) as a fallback
- Child theme for modifications: Never modify a theme's core files directly — use a child theme (a separate theme that inherits from your main theme) so updates don't overwrite your changes
- Review changelogs: Check your theme's changelog before updating to understand what changed
The Staging Site Strategy
Never update a production site without testing first. A staging site is an exact copy of your live site where you can apply updates, test functionality, and catch issues before they affect real visitors.
How I Handle Staging for Clients
- Clone production to staging (database + files)
- Apply all pending updates on staging
- Run through a test checklist: homepage, key pages, forms, checkout (if applicable), mobile view
- Check for visual regressions — sometimes a plugin update changes CSS or template output
- If everything passes, apply the same updates to production
- Monitor production for 24 hours after updating
Most managed WordPress hosts (Cloudways, Kinsta, WP Engine) include one-click staging. If your host doesn't, tools like WP Staging or a simple WP-CLI + rsync workflow work well.
Key Takeaway: Never update production without testing first. A staging site catches breaking changes before your visitors see them, and most managed hosts include one-click staging environments.
PHP Version Updates
WordPress updates aren't just about WordPress itself. The PHP version your server runs matters enormously for both security and performance.
- PHP 8.0 reached end-of-life in November 2023 — no more security patches
- PHP 8.1 reached end-of-life in December 2025
- PHP 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5 are the current actively supported versions as of February 2026
Running an end-of-life PHP version means your server has known, unpatched security vulnerabilities at the language level — even if WordPress and all your plugins are up to date.
Check your PHP version in WordPress under Tools > Site Health. If you're below 8.2, contact your host about upgrading. Modern WordPress and well-maintained plugins work reliably on 8.2 and above.
Key Takeaway: Running an end-of-life PHP version leaves your server vulnerable at the language level, even if WordPress itself is current. As of February 2026, PHP 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5 are the actively supported versions. Checking your version takes 30 seconds in the WordPress admin.
Building an Update Routine
The best approach to updates is making them routine, not reactive. Here's what works:
Weekly Update Schedule
- Monday: Check for available updates across all sites
- Tuesday: Apply updates on staging environments
- Wednesday: Test staging sites, document any issues
- Thursday: Push tested updates to production
- Friday: Monitor production sites for post-update issues
Automation Where Safe
- Enable WordPress core minor/security auto-updates (on by default)
- Consider enabling auto-updates for trusted, well-maintained plugins
- Never auto-update plugins that handle payments, forms, or critical business logic
- Always have a working backup before any auto-update runs
The Real Cost of Skipping Updates
When I calculate the cost for clients, the math is clear:
- Proactive updates: 1-2 hours per week, predictable, low-risk
- Reactive cleanup after a hack: 8-40 hours of emergency work, unpredictable, high-risk, plus lost revenue during downtime
Maintaining solid security practices starts with keeping your software current. Updates are the foundation that every other security measure builds on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are WordPress updates so frequent?
WordPress releases frequent updates because security vulnerabilities are discovered continuously. The massive plugin ecosystem (over 60,000 plugins) creates a large attack surface. Minor security releases happen as needed — sometimes weekly. Major feature releases follow a roughly 4-month cycle.
Will updating WordPress break my site?
Rarely. Minor security updates (e.g., 6.7.0 to 6.7.1) are designed to be backwards-compatible and rarely cause issues. Major version updates (e.g., 6.7 to 7.0) can occasionally conflict with older plugins or themes, which is why testing updates on a staging site before applying them to production prevents breaking changes from affecting live visitors.
How long can I safely delay a WordPress update?
Security patches: same day. Once a vulnerability is publicly disclosed, automated exploit tools are updated within 24-48 hours, so every day you delay is a day your site is vulnerable to actively exploited attacks. Feature updates can wait 1-2 weeks for staging tests, but not longer.
Should I enable automatic updates for WordPress?
Yes for minor security releases (enabled by default since WordPress 3.7). Consider enabling auto-updates for well-maintained, trusted plugins. Never auto-update plugins that handle payments, forms, or critical business logic without staging tests. Always maintain working backups before any auto-update runs.
What happens if an update goes wrong?
If you have a database backup from before the update, you can restore it and roll back the changes. This is why the WP-CLI workflow I recommend includes a database export before updating. If you don't have a backup, you'll need to troubleshoot by disabling plugins one by one or restoring from your hosting provider's backup system.
What To Take Away
Updates aren't glamorous, and they're easy to postpone. But they're the single most effective thing you can do to keep your WordPress site secure, fast, and compatible with the modern web. If the prospect of managing weekly updates across your WordPress sites feels like more than you want to handle, that's exactly the kind of work a managed maintenance service takes off your plate.