Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

Directory rank vs rivals

wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 48% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price. The recent download trend is too spiky to read.

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 10.0.2 Bug Fix: Handle WP_Error in login interstitial session creation to prevent fatal errors. 10.0.2
2. — Version 10.0.1 Bug Fix: Race condition in file write could empty wp-config.php/.htaccess files. 10.0.1
3. — Version 10.0.0 Tweak: Updated branding from SolidWP to Kadence. New: QR code for 2FA is generated locally by default (the GD PHP extension is required), with a Kadence Security-hosted solution as a fallback. 10.0.0
4. — Version 9.4.7 Bug Fix: Prevent email retry loops by ensuring the scheduled notification properties are saved. 9.4.7
5. — Version 9.4.6 Enhancement: Update Patchstack details for existing vulnerabilities. 9.4.6
6. — Version 9.4.5 Tweak: Ensure generated Nginx config rules are valid for customized directory structures. 9.4.5

19 disclosed vulnerabilities on record for this plugin, all fixed in the current version. Sites on older versions stay exposed until they update.

1. Medium · 5.3 Solid Security <= 9.3.1 - IP Address Spoofing to Denial of Service ↗
   2024-06-20 CVE-2022-44593 Use of Less Trusted Source Affects <= 9.3.1 Patched in 9.3.2
2. Medium · 5.3 Solid Security Basic <= 9.0.0 - Unauthenticated Login Page Disclosure ↗
   2023-10-31 Protection Mechanism Failure Affects <= 9.0.0 Patched in 9.0.1
3. Medium · 4.7 iThemes Security <= 8.1.4 - Open Redirection via redirect_to_https ↗
   2023-03-27 CVE-2023-28786 URL Redirection to Untrusted Site ('Open Redirect') Affects <= 8.1.4 Patched in 8.1.5
4. Medium · 5.3 iThemes Security < 7.9.1 and iThemes Security Pro < 6.8.4 - Hidden Login Bypass ↗
   2021-04-22 Protection Mechanism Failure Affects < 7.9.1 Patched in 7.9.1
5. High · 7.5 iThemes Security <= 7.6.1 - Broken Password Mechanism ↗
   2021-01-06 CVE-2020-36176 Incorrect User Management Affects <= 7.6.1 Patched in 7.7.0
6. High · 7.2 iThemes Security <= 7.0.2 - Authenticated SQL Injection ↗
   2018-06-25 CVE-2018-12636 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') Affects < 7.0.3 Patched in 7.0.3
7. High · 7.5 iThemes Security <= 6.9.0 - Cross-Site Scripting ↗
   2018-03-05 CVE-2018-7433 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects <= 6.9.0 Patched in 6.9.1
8. Medium · 6.4 iThemes Security <= 5.6.1 - Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗
   2016-10-06 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects < 5.6.2 Patched in 5.6.2
9. Medium · 5.3 iThemes Security <= 5.6.1 - Sensitive Information Exposure via Diff Response ↗
   2016-09-27 Observable Response Discrepancy Affects <= 5.6.1 Patched in 5.6.2
10. High · 7.4 iThemes Security <= 5.3.5 - Missing Capabilities Check ↗
    2016-04-25 Improper Access Control Affects < 5.3.6 Patched in 5.3.6
11. Medium · 5.3 iThemes Security < 5.3.1 - Insecure Backup/Logfile Generation ↗
    2016-04-21 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects < 5.3.1 Patched in 5.3.1
12. Low · 3.3 iThemes Security < 5.3.5 - Authenticated Cross-Site Scripting ↗
    2016-04-05 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects < 5.3.5 Patched in 5.3.5
13. Medium · 6.5 iThemes Security <= 4.6.12 - Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗
    2015-04-14 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects < 4.6.13 Patched in 4.6.13
14. High · 7.2 Better WP Security <= 3.5.3 - Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗
    2014-08-01 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects <= 3.5.3 Patched in 3.5.4
15. High · 8.3 iThemes Security < 3.6.4 - Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗
    2014-08-01 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects < 3.6.4 Patched in 3.6.4
16. Medium · 6.4 Better WP Security <= 3.6.3 - Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗
    2014-08-01 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects <= 3.6.3 Patched in 3.6.4
17. Medium · 6.5 iThemes Security < 3.4.4 - Cross-Site Scripting ↗
    2012-08-20 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects < 3.4.4 Patched in 3.4.4
18. High · 7.2 iThemes Security < 3.2.5 - Cross-Site Scripting ↗
    2012-05-11 CVE-2012-4263 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects < 3.2.5 Patched in 3.2.5
19. Medium · 6.1 Better WP Security <= 3.2.4 - Multiple Cross-Site Scripting ↗
    2012-05-11 CVE-2012-4264 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects <= 3.2.4 Patched in 3.2.5

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0

Translated into 52 languages, 12 at 90% or more

Plus 28 more locales with partial translations.

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2026-02-15 800K+ → 700K+ down after 562 days in tier
2. 2024-08-02 900K+ → 800K+ down after 423 days in tier
3. 2023-06-06 1M+ → 900K+ down

Competes with

The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).

• Titan Anti-spam & Security – Brute Force Protection, 2FA & Spam Filter 50K+ installs · 4.4★ · 3 shared tags A
• Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A
• Jetpack – WP Security, Backup, Speed, & Growth 3M+ installs · 3.8★ · 2 shared tags A
• All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A
• Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags A
• Jetpack Protect 100K+ installs · 4.6★ · 2 shared tags A

Embed this report card

Drop a live Pulse card for Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection: 700K+ active installs, 4.6★ (3,990 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-26. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/better-wp-security