WordPress • Disabling the Theme and Plugin Editor Panel

Welcome to another article about WordPress security! In this guide, we will focus on an important aspect that is often overlooked: disabling the Theme and Plugin Editor Panel in WordPress. 

While this panel can be a convenient tool for making quick code changes without diving into the code editor, it also poses potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors.

Why disabling the Theme and Plugin Editor

Let’s get straight to the point. Many WordPress websites are hosted on shared hosting accounts, which means that if someone gains access to the admin panel with the code editor enabled, there’s a high likelihood that a malicious actor can inject harmful code into other websites through the Editor Panel.

This poses a significant security risk as it compromises not only your website but potentially the entire shared hosting environment. It’s essential to take proactive steps to disable the Theme and Plugin Editor Panel to prevent such unauthorized access and protect your website’s integrity.

How to disable the Theme and Plugin Editor

Disabling the file editor is a straightforward process. To do so, simply add the following code snippet to either the Theme’s functions.php file or a Plugin file:

define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true );

By including this code, you are instructing WordPress to disable the file editor functionality. This means that the Theme and Plugin Editor Panel will no longer be accessible from the WordPress admin dashboard.

If you have suggestions for improving the code, please send an email. It should be noted that the code's functionality is provided without any guarantee or responsibility.