WordPress User Roles

In a standard WordPress installation, there are five types of user roles, each with specific permissions and capabilities:

Role
Description

Administrator

Has full access to all administrative features, including adding and deleting users and posts, as well as editing source code.

Editor

Can publish and manage posts, including those created by other users.

Author

Can publish and manage their own posts.

Contributor

Can write and manage their own posts but cannot publish them.

Subscriber

Normal users who can browse posts and edit their profiles.

Access and Security Implications

  • Administrator Access: Gaining access as an administrator is crucial for executing code on the server, as this role has the highest level of permissions.

  • Editor and Author Roles: While they have fewer permissions than administrators, editors and authors may still have access to certain vulnerable plugins that could be exploited, making them potential targets for attacks.

Last updated