WordPress Incident Response - Backdoor & Credit-Card Skimmer Removal + Avada RCE Hardening

@Microlent

Hello, I am Dr. Rajesh Rolen, PhD in Computer Science & Engineering, with experience of over 20+ years in PHP, phpMyAdmin, Web Security, Website Optimization, WordPress, cPanel As a preferred freelancer in the top 1%, I have done 400+ projects here on freelancer.com, I have 4.9 ratings out of 5 on average, which showcases my quality of work and timely delivery. Key Highlights: - Free Hosting Support on the Cloud or any desired platform. - Free 3 months of post-delivery support to ensure that our client doesn’t face any challenges after the launch of the project. - Free Dedicated tester on projects to ensure quality delivery, so clients don’t need to act as a tester. - 10+ Years experience UI/UX team to ensure intuitive UI. Portfolio: https://www.freelancer.com/u/Microlent Please open the chat and send me a message, so we can have a more detailed discussion about the project to give you the project timeline and cost. Thank you for considering my services. I look forward to engaging in a productive conversation and understanding how I can be of assistance in bringing your project to life. Regards Rajesh Rolen

@WebChapters

Hi, I hope you're doing well! I can help you clean and secure your compromised WordPress site quickly and thoroughly. Here's my approach: Full malware removal: every backdoor, skimmer, rogue admin, and injected DB entry gone. Core and theme integrity: safe reinstall of WordPress and Avada verified against official checksums. Hardening: file permissions, wp-config lockdown, salt regeneration, RCE vectors patched. Ongoing protection: WAF rules and real-time monitoring with zero impact on performance. I'll ensure Wordfence or Sucuri scans return clean before handoff, with 24-hour log monitoring confirmed. A few questions to help me get started: 1. Do you have a clean backup from before the compromise, or should I work from the current state only? 2. Is this an ecommerce site with live transactions still running, or has checkout been paused? 3. Are there any plugins beyond Avada you rely on heavily that I should be careful not to disrupt during reinstallation? Azeem Amin

@AwaisChaudhry

Your Avada installation needs a careful forensic cleanup, not just a quick plugin scan. I can investigate the backdoor and credit-card skimmer across files, database records, users, cron jobs, and server activity, then verify that checkout makes no unknown outbound calls. I’ll safely compare and restore WordPress core and Avada where needed, remove persistence mechanisms, regenerate salts, secure wp-config, correct permissions, and lock down uploads and unused endpoints. I’ll also configure Firewall protection, malware monitoring, and scheduled scans with performance in mind. Security Auditing will guide the investigation, while Website Optimization ensures the hardening does not disrupt the site’s design or checkout flow. After remediation, I’ll validate with Wordfence or Sucuri, review logs and processes during the hand-off window, and document the changes so future maintenance is safer. I can coordinate the 24-48-hour response around any required downtime. Playfully but importantly: would you prefer a brief maintenance window for a clean core/theme reinstall, or should I prioritize zero visible downtime? Regards, Muhammad Awais

@gauravgargcs

Hello, Hope you are doing well, I’ll audit files, database, users, cron jobs and logs, safely restore compromised core/theme files where required, regenerate salts, secure permissions/uploads and wp-config, then configure WAF, monitoring and scheduled scans and verify checkout has no malicious outbound calls. With 10+ years of WordPress security and troubleshooting experience, I can work with cPanel, SSH, phpMyAdmin and WP-Admin while documenting every change and validating against your acceptance criteria. Let’s chat to review the current access/backup situation and coordinate the 24–48 hour recovery window. thank you Regards Gaurav Garg

@ykarora26

With extensive experience in WordPress security, I understand the urgency of your situation with the compromised Avada-themed site. I specialize in locating and removing malicious backdoors and skimmers, ensuring a clean and secure installation. Could you provide any additional insights into the site's recent traffic patterns or user interactions that might help pinpoint the attack vector more accurately? Regards, Yogesh Kumar

@webperfection123

Hi, Can you provide me with access details like cPanel and WP-admin so I can begin the investigation? I’ll conduct a thorough scan to locate and remove any backdoors and skimmers hiding in your site. Once cleaned, I’ll ensure the integrity of your WordPress core and the Avada theme by safely reinstalling them. I’ll implement hardening measures against RCE vulnerabilities, including correcting file permissions and securing wp-config, to prevent future intrusions. For ongoing protection, I can set up a reliable firewall along with real-time malware monitoring to keep your site secure without affecting performance. With 12+ years of WordPress security experience, I’m dedicated to resolving this swiftly, ideally within your 24- to 48-hour timeframe. Let me know if you’d like to proceed. Please see our portfolio on this link : https://www.freelancer.com/u/webperfection123 Best Regards, Priyanka

@asifalimzd

Hi there, I can investigate and clean the compromised Avada WordPress installation, removing malicious files, injected code, rogue users, database entries, backdoors, skimmers, and suspicious cron jobs. I’ll verify WordPress core and Avada integrity, safely reinstall where required, regenerate salts, secure wp-config and permissions, lock down uploads/endpoints, and implement WAF, malware monitoring, and scheduled scans. I’ll thoroughly test checkout and outbound connections and work toward your 0 critical/high-severity scan results and 24-hour post-cleanup monitoring. I can target the requested 24–48 hour turnaround. Could you share the site URL and confirm whether you want the cleanup performed on a staging copy first or directly on production? Kindly send me a message to discuss more or directly award me. Thank you!

@installerpoint

Hello, I can investigate the compromised WordPress installation, remove the backdoor, credit-card skimmer, malicious users, database injections, cron entries, and unauthorized files. I will verify WordPress and Avada integrity, safely reinstall affected components, regenerate salts, secure wp-config, harden permissions and uploads, and configure practical WAF and monitoring without disrupting the design. I will also validate checkout requests, review logs, and document the remediation and hardening completed. I can prioritize the requested 24-48-hour response window and coordinate any necessary maintenance period. Check out my portfolio here:- https://www.freelancer.com/u/installerpoint Best Regards, Muhammad Adeel

@gopalvora

As a seasoned web developer with over 10 years of experience in PHP, phpMyAdmin, and WordPress, I am uniquely suited to tackle the complex security issues plaguing your Avada-themed Wordpress site. I have a proven track record in identifying and mitigating malware attacks, specifically credit-card skimmers and backdoors. My extensive knowledge in WordPress security including hardening against RCE vulnerabilities will be invaluable in ensuring every nook and cranny of your website is clean and impenetrable.

@ost

With your WordPress site under attack by a backdoor and a credit-card skimmer, you need someone with not just the skills but the vast experience to tackle such dire situations. I, Shujaat, am a battle-hardened Senior Full-Stack Web & eCommerce Developer with over a decade-long track record battling and vanquishing digital adversaries just like the ones plaguing your site. My expertise in cPanel, PHP, phpMyAdmin, Web Security, and WordPress are well-suited for your mission. I will make it my topmost priority to locate and eliminate every malicious file, injected script, hidden admin user, and rogue database entry—channels through which these infiltrators surreptitiously exist. Additionally, I will ensure the reinstatement of your WordPress core plus Avada theme to further solidify your site's integrity. But my commitment doesn't stop at mere remediation. I will vigilantly patch known Avada remote-code-execution vectors by tightening file permissions, regenerating salts, securing wp-config and locking down uploads. Even more importantly, I will set up ongoing fortification against future breaches -- robust firewall/WAF rules and real-time malware monitoring -- all while ensuring zero disruption to your site's performance or its aesthetic charm. Let me be 'The Shield' you need to protect and bolster your digital presence today!

@starttechno

I’ll begin by isolating the Avada WordPress installation, taking a restorable snapshot, and comparing core, theme, plugin, and database contents to identify the backdoor, skimmer, hidden users, cron entries, and unauthorized outbound domains. I’ll then remove the compromise, safely reinstall verified WordPress/Avada files where needed, regenerate salts, secure wp-config and permissions, restrict uploads and unused endpoints, and apply firewall/WAF protection with scheduled malware monitoring. Within 2 days, you’ll receive a cleaned and hardened site with Wordfence or Sucuri reporting no critical/high issues, checkout checked for unknown calls, and 24-hour log/cron monitoring completed. I’ll work through cPanel, SSH, phpMyAdmin, and WP-admin while preserving the existing design and minimizing downtime. Is the checkout currently live, so I can coordinate any brief maintenance window around it? Muhammad Saad

@ajharul

Hi, I can assist with cleaning your WordPress site by removing the identified backdoor and credit-card skimmer, then hardening the Avada theme to address the potential RCE vulnerability. I will focus on integrity verification, patching, and securing your installation against further unauthorized access to meet your security criteria. With 7+ years of web development experience, I am ready to begin this cleanup. Please let me know your preferred window for coordinating necessary site downtime.

@WebTechDesignBG

Hello, I see that your WordPress site is facing significant security issues, including a backdoor and a credit-card skimmer, likely due to an Avada-related vulnerability. With 7+ years of experience in web security and WordPress, I can effectively investigate and clean your site. My approach would include thoroughly scanning for malicious files, hidden users, and any rogue entries, followed by a secure reinstallation of WordPress and the Avada theme to ensure everything is intact. I will also implement hardening measures against known vulnerabilities, adjust file permissions, and set up ongoing protection like firewall rules and real-time monitoring without impacting your site's performance. You can check my previous work at https://pixoriq.com. Do you have a preferred method for ongoing protection that you envision for your site? Best regards, Ivan Mandinski

@oronnosl

Hello Sir, Highly expert and available to work right now. 1. I can check and clean all infected file 2. I'll install some security plugins 3. I'll stop file editing options Let me know if you have any questions. Regards, Nure Alam

@yousufkhan39911

Hi, I can clean and harden your Avada WordPress site, remove the backdoor, skimmer, and malicious code while preserving existing functionality and design. I’ll verify core/theme integrity, implement security hardening, and complete final malware scans within 24–48 hours.

@snapycode

Your skimmer will return if only files are cleaned: it persists in wp_options rows, rogue cron jobs and hidden admin accounts. I take a forensic snapshot first, then diff core, Avada and plugins against official checksums, walk uploads and mu-plugins for PHP, scrub the database for base64 blobs, and check hidden admins, WP cron and the server crontab in the same pass. Compromised components are reinstalled clean, salts regenerated, wp-config locked, permissions reset, PHP execution blocked in uploads, and unused endpoints disabled. Wordfence WAF in blocking mode plus scheduled scans protects you ongoing without hurting speed or design. I verify no outbound calls to unknown domains, rotate all passwords including database and cPanel, and monitor until scans show zero critical or high issues and logs stay clean for 24 hours, all inside your 24-48 hour window. You also get a findings write-up for your payment provider. I have 15+ years of WordPress, automation, SEO and content-platform experience, and include a handover report plus 10 days post-cleanup support. Is your checkout native WooCommerce or a separate payment plugin? That decides where I trace the skimmer first. Best, Raj

@C0RETECHIES

Hello, System understanding: Your WordPress/Avada site has a backdoor and credit‑card skimmer from an Avada RCE. You need full cleanup, core/theme integrity check, hardening against known Avada RCE vectors, and ongoing protection (firewall/WAF, real‑time monitoring) without affecting performance or design. Technical approach: - Snapshot FS/DB, scan with WP‑CLI + Wordfence/Sucuri CLI to find injected files, rogue users, DB entries. - Delete malware, hidden admins, clean wp_options, reinstall WP core and Avada from official sources. - Harden: fix file permissions, disable xmlrpc, unused REST endpoints, regenerate salts, secure wp‑config, lock uploads, apply ModSecurity/WAF. - Deploy Linux Malware Detect, schedule scans, alert on changes. - Verify with Wordfence/Sucuri (0 critical/high) and monitor outbound traffic. Core modules: 1. Detection & cleanup - scan + manual review of themes/plugins/uploads. 2. Integrity restore - clean WP/Avada reinstall, DB sanitization. 3. Hardening - permissions, endpoints, salts, WAF. 4. Protection - firewall rules, file integrity, scheduled scans, logging. 5. Validation - scan reports, traffic check, 24‑h log review. Relevant systems: SecureCom - server hardening, permission lockdown, continuous monitoring. Laravel apps - PHP core sanitization, WAF setup. Implementation strategy: Day 1: snapshot, scan, clean, reinstall core/theme. Day 2: hardening, WAF rules, monitoring. Day 3: validation scans, traffic check, hand‑off report. Questions: 1. Any custom/mu‑plugins that must stay active during cleanup? 2. Cloud‑based WAF (Sucuri) or server‑side ModSecurity? 3. Disable Avada’s update checker to cut external calls? Regards, Rohit

@marjanahmed13

Hi! My name is Marjan and I'm here to offer you my services as a skilled applicant with over a decade of experience working on Freelancer.com. I believe I am the best fit candidate for this project due to my extensive experience; I would like to have a discussion to get to know that we both are on the same page. Once the scope will be locked, I will start working on it right away.

@wontonesaju

Hi, I can investigate and clean your compromised Avada WordPress installation, including the backdoor, credit-card skimmer, malicious files/scripts, rogue users, database injections, cron jobs, and suspicious processes. I’ll verify the integrity of WordPress core and Avada, safely reinstall where required, harden wp-config/uploads/file permissions, regenerate salts, secure endpoints, and configure Wordfence/Sucuri firewall, monitoring, and scheduled scans. I’ll also check checkout traffic and server logs to ensure no unknown outbound connections remain. A few questions: 1. Do you have a recent clean backup available? 2. Is the site currently processing live payments? 3. Can you provide cPanel, SSH, phpMyAdmin, and WP-admin access? Thanks Saju