Bot signals · Internet scanner
What is the Solid Security Site Scan scanner?
Solid Security (Kadence Security) Site Scan
Solid Security, which is becoming Kadence Security, is a WordPress security plugin. Its Site Scan checks a site for vulnerable plugins, themes and WordPress core and for a Google Safe Browsing malware listing, and these requests come from the Solid Security Scanner.
01 · Profile
Solid Security Site Scan at a glance.
What to look for in your logs, and what the lookup API returns for its addresses.
- Type
- Internet scanner
- robots.txt
- Does not control scanning.
- API flag
risk.is_scanner
A user agent alone never sets a flag. Anyone can claim to be Solid Security Site Scan; the flag follows the address the request comes from.
02 · In the response
What a match looks like.
A lookup of a Solid Security Site Scan address sets risk.is_scanner. The flags come with geolocation and network data in the same response, for API keys on every paid plan.
The response says which kind of bot an address belongs to, not which operator. A request that claims to be Solid Security Site Scan while risk.is_scanner is false should not be trusted as Solid Security Site Scan.
{
// … location and network fields …
"risk": {
"is_ai": false,
"is_crawler": false,
"is_scanner": true
}
}
03 · Control
Block Solid Security Site Scan.
At the edge
- robots.txt won’t help. It does not control port or vulnerability scanning, so a block has to happen before the request reaches your app.
- Firewall, WAF or CDN. Many offer bot rules you can allow or deny by category.
- In your app. Look up the client address and allow or deny on
risk.is_scanner, alongside the user agent. - Never on the user agent alone. Blocking the name stops only honest clients; allowing it lets anyone in who borrows it.
04 · Questions
About Solid Security Site Scan.
What is Solid Security Site Scan?
Solid Security, which is becoming Kadence Security, is a WordPress security plugin. Its Site Scan checks a site for vulnerable plugins, themes and WordPress core and for a Google Safe Browsing malware listing, and these requests come from the Solid Security Scanner.
How do I block Solid Security Site Scan?
robots.txt does not control port or vulnerability scanning. Block Solid Security Site Scan at your firewall, WAF or CDN, or look up each client address and deny requests where risk.is_scanner is true.
Can I trust a request that says it is Solid Security Site Scan?
Not on the user agent alone: any client can send a bot’s name in its user agent. A user agent alone never sets a flag. Check the address with the free bot checker or the lookup API.
Which risk flag does Solid Security Site Scan set?
Its addresses set risk.is_scanner in the lookup response. The risk flags come with every paid plan.
From the blog
Go deeper.
Related bots
Recognise Solid Security Site Scan on every request.
is_ai, is_crawler and is_scanner in every lookup, on every paid plan, from 9,00 € a month (VAT included).