Critical PHP Vulnerability: Is Your WordPress Site Exposed?

If your business runs on WordPress, could your web host tell you which version of PHP your site uses, who’s responsible for updating it, and what happens if an update breaks a booking form? In this live episode of The Catalyst for the Trades, Jennifer Bagley talks with Chris Heney about the PHP security concerns that prompted the conversation. They explain what a compromised website could mean for a contractor, why an upgrade can affect older themes and plugins, and how to keep customers able to reach you if your site has to come offline. About the guest Chris Heney is the Chief Technology Officer at CI Web Group, where he leads technology development, including Hydra OS. Episode chapters 00:00 Why Jennifer called a live episode on website security 01:46 Meet Chris Heney 04:39 Why the PHP discussion goes beyond WordPress 07:19 What remote code execution means in plain language 12:58 How AI is changing vulnerability discovery 23:47 Why PHP upgrades can affect themes and plugins 29:06 How attackers can misuse a small business website 34:39 Who handles updates with managed hosting? 35:42 What changes when you switch website platforms? 42:43 Prebuilt pages versus pages generated on request 1:01:22 When a temporary site can help during a migration Resources CI Web Group Follow The Catalyst for the Trades for more conversations about running and growing a business in the trades. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.