How to fix info disclosure x powered by on WordPress.org

Steps for WordPress.org

1. Same approach as WooCommerce above — install 'HTTP Headers' or 'Security Headers' plugin, or edit .htaccess / Nginx config at the server level.
2. To suppress via PHP: add header_remove('X-Powered-By'); in wp-content/mu-plugins/remove-headers.php (create the file if it doesn't exist). This fires before any theme or plugin can set the header.
3. For Apache hosts: add 'Header unset X-Powered-By' and 'Header always unset X-Powered-By' to your .htaccess file (requires mod_headers).
4. For Nginx hosts: add 'more_clear_headers X-Powered-By;' in the server {} block (requires headers_more module) or manage via your host's control panel.

What is info disclosure x powered by?

Every time a browser (or a hacker's scanner) requests a page from your store, your web server sends back a set of invisible "response headers" alongside the visible page content. One of these, called X-Powered-By, often reveals exactly what software is running behind the scenes — for example "WP Engine", "PHP/8.1.12", or "Express". This header is not required for your site to work; it exists purely as a default that most web frameworks and hosting platforms add automatically. You can safely remove it or replace it with a meaningless placeholder.

Exposing your technology stack is a gift to attackers. When a scanner sees "WP Engine" or "PHP/8.1.2" in the X-Powered-By header, it immediately knows which known vulnerabilities to try — dramatically lowering the effort needed to compromise your store, steal customer data, or inject malware. This falls squarely under OWASP A05:2021 Security Misconfiguration, one of the most common causes of real-world breaches. Beyond security, a breach that exposes customer payment or personal data creates legal liability under GDPR, CCPA, and PCI-DSS. Removing this header takes minutes and eliminates one of the easiest reconnaissance signals you hand to bad actors for free.

See the complete Info disclosure x powered by guide for every platform and the full background.