Remote procedure call protocol in XML. On WordPress, can be abused in spam attacks → indirect SEO risks (server overload, crawlability).
Are you worried about sneaky hackers slowing down your website and hurting your search rankings? A slow, insecure site is a huge red flag for Google, and it costs you valuable traffic.
I know a critical security hole that many websites still have, and closing it is one of the quickest ways to protect your SEO health.
I will explain the risk of What is XML-RPC & SEO Risks? and show you simple steps to turn it off and make your website much more secure.
What is XML-RPC & SEO Risks?
What is XML-RPC & SEO Risks? refers to an older communication protocol that allows data to be sent between different systems using HTTP and XML.
In the past, it was used to post to your blog from mobile apps or other desktop software, but modern systems use better methods now.
The biggest risk is that hackers can use it to launch DDoS attacks or brute-force thousands of password guesses, slowing your server and damaging your SEO.
Impact on CMS Platforms
The exposure to this risk is different across platforms, but it is a major concern primarily for one popular CMS.
WordPress
WordPress is the CMS most affected by XML-RPC because it is enabled by default in many older versions.
I always recommend disabling the XML-RPC file immediately if you do not use it for external posting.
You can use a security plugin or a simple code snippet in your .htaccess file to block access to xmlrpc.php.
Shopify
Shopify is a highly managed platform, and I am happy to report that it does not use the old XML-RPC protocol.
The platform handles all its external communication and APIs using modern, secure methods.
I do not need to worry about this specific vulnerability on a Shopify store.
Wix and Webflow
These website builders use modern infrastructure and do not rely on the XML-RPC file for their core functions.
Since the platforms control the server environment, this security risk is handled automatically for you.
I focus my time on content, knowing the underlying code is already secure from this attack vector.
Custom CMS
If you have a custom system, I verify that any remote publishing features use modern REST APIs instead of XML-RPC.
I instruct my developers to ensure the server is not listening for or accepting XML-RPC requests at all.
I make sure to audit all external communication points for any unnecessary or outdated protocols.
XML-RPC Risks in Various Industries
The SEO damage from an attack through XML-RPC is a major concern for every online business.
Ecommerce
A successful brute-force or DDoS attack through XML-RPC will bring my entire store down, leading to a huge loss in sales.
When the site is down, Google cannot crawl it, which severely hurts my search rankings and product visibility.
I prioritize speed and uptime by disabling this potential point of failure immediately.
Local Businesses
I ensure XML-RPC is off to prevent hackers from hijacking my server to send spam, which would ruin my domain reputation.
A spam-sending server is quickly flagged by Google, leading to a total loss of local search visibility.
I protect my local business’s trust signals by maintaining a clean, secure server environment.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
The security of my entire application is critical, so I eliminate every known vulnerability.
An attack through XML-RPC could compromise my main marketing site and potentially damage my brand’s reputation for security.
I use the most modern, secure communication methods available for all my external services.
Blogs
A high-traffic blog is a prime target for XML-RPC attacks because it is often built on WordPress.
I disable it to prevent the server from being slowed down by thousands of fake login attempts.
A slow blog has a high bounce rate, which is a terrible user signal that directly hurts my content rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest SEO risk from XML-RPC?
The biggest risk is the potential for a hacker to launch a huge Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack using your site.
This attack overloads your server, making your website unavailable to Google and users for hours or days.
The resulting downtime severely damages your rankings and domain authority.
How do I know if I need XML-RPC?
You only need it if you use a very old, specific tool to post content remotely to your WordPress site.
If you only log in and post directly inside your browser, then you do not need it at all.
I recommend turning it off unless you have a clear, specific need to use it.
How can I disable XML-RPC on WordPress?
The simplest way is to install a security plugin, which usually has a clear toggle to turn it off.
A technical user can also add a code block to their .htaccess file to block access to the xmlrpc.php file.
I recommend asking your host or using a reliable plugin to avoid breaking your site code.
