Patchstack vs Imunify360
Fastest vulnerability mitigation with the widest WordPress coverage
trusted partner for
Vulnerability mitigation needs more than just a WAF or virtual patching - it needs a process. It starts with discovering new vulnerabilities, analyzing individual impact, and then deploying the right protection at the right time.
While both Patchstack and Imunify360 offer preventive security, their approaches to vulnerability mitigation are fundamentally different. Patchstack is built around precision, speed, and full WordPress awareness. Imunify360 relies on generalized server-level scanning and reactive patching, which modifies site code and often misses threats.
What is the difference between Patchstack and Imunify360?
Mitigation Stage
Patchstack
Imunify360 (Patchman)
Discovery
Patchstack knows about most vulnerabilities before anyone else by combining original in-house research, an active bug bounty community, partnerships with vendors, as well as 3rd party CVE feeds
Threat intelligence is based on 3rd party CVE data only, causing delays in alerts and protection
Assessment
Real-time detection of active vulnerable components (e.g. plugin X v1.2.3 is installed and exploitable based on config)
Scans disk for files matching known vulnerable versions
Targeting
Patchstack’s connector plugin gives us visibility into each WordPress installation, allowing us to identify vulnerable components in real time, and deploy unique protection rules on a per-site basis
Applies generic file-level fix if matching file is found — no application context
Mitigation
Highly customized virtual patch rules are deployed at the application layer without changing any code or damaging functionality
Patches overwrite site code on the file level
Awareness
Patchstack uses a simple connector plugin to gain full visibility into the WordPress stack: plugins, config, users, roles
No application-layer awareness, only sees static code files on disk. It cannot evaluate how the application behaves, who is logged in, or whether a vulnerability is practically exploitable based on context
Rollbacks & Safety
Not required as no code changes are made
Requires manual file restoration
Coverage
Full plugin/theme/core coverage. Largest collection of over 12,000 individual virtual patches on the market
Rules for WordPress core + large/popular plugins only
“Over the last 6 months, Patchstack has protected our users from 1.3 million vulnerabilities.”
Wes Tatters
Managing Director
What is vulnerability mitigation (and why is it time-sensitive)?
Mitigation is the step between knowing a vulnerability exists and permanently fixing it via an update. For site owners who can’t update immediately, mitigation is the safety net that prevents exploitation.
Patchstack is up to 48 hours ahead of everybody
Speed matters. Vulnerabilities are often exploited within hours of disclosure.
We disclose vulnerabilities to partners before they are made public, and deploy protection rules ahead of time
We are the leading WordPress vulnerability discloser, and the #1 vulnerability processor of all time
We use data from our own researchers and a global community of security experts
Patchstack doesn’t modify website code
Imunify360 uses file-level patching – it modifies site files directly to apply fixes. This introduces major risks. Patchstack mitigates vulnerabilities at the application layer, applying real-time mitigation rules.
Patchstack
Plugin code and versioning are not altered
Mitigates vulnerabilities until updates can be safely applied
Highly targeted rules with zero false positives
When user rolls back to a vulnerable version, mitigation rules are automatically re-deployed
Imunify
Breaks version control in plugins/themes
Causes plugin update failures
Triggers false positives in malware scans
Difficult to rollback without backups
“Patchstack has led to the prevention of more than 56 000 vulnerabilities in our Managed WordPress installations.”
Liza Bogatyrev
Product Marketing Manager
Curious what Patchstack can do for you and your customers?
WordPress context makes mitigation smarter
Patchstack uses a lightweight plugin to connect any website to our threat intelligence and vulnerability mitigation system. This lets us detect new vulnerabilities in websites in real time, and deploy protection rules quickly and only when they are needed.
Patchstack sees what’s installed on a connected site (plugins, themes, versions) and has full understanding of the context in which a vulnerability is exploitable. For example, whether it requires an authenticated user or a specific role.
Imunify360 has no app-layer visibility. It can detect outdated files, but not how they’re used or exposed in context.
Broad ecosystem coverage vs. selective patching
Patchstack protects the full WordPress ecosystem, including WordPress core, all themes and plugins (not just the top) and even custom or niche cases.
Imunify360 focuses on core and the biggest plugins only, ignoring vulnerabilities in less popular or niche plugins, even though these plugins are still widely used across real-world WordPress installations.
Easy integration with hosting environments
Integrating Patchstack requires no infrastructure changes - when a user enables Patchstack within your chosen plan, add-on, or other implementation model, an API key is automatically generated and applied through WP-CLI or the connector plugin’s interface.
No need to change DNS settings or install anything across the entire server infrastructure. Patchstack provides the fastest mitigation, with application level integration for the fastest setup.
See how WP umbrella integrated Patchstack in 5 days with a single developer.
“Patchstack is like CrowdStrike, but for websites!”
Ryan McCue
Director of Product
Patchstack offers faster protection with coverage across the entire WordPress ecosystem
Patchstack
Imunify360 (Patchman)
Discovery model
Research + bug bounty + partnerships + CVE data
Relies on external CVE data only
Protection speed
Real-time
Delayed - only after publicly issued CVEs & access to PoCs
Mitigation method
Runtime rules (virtual patching)
File modification
Code safety
Never touches code
Overwrites files
Coverage
Entire WP ecosystem
Core + major plugins
App awareness
Full (plugins, config, users)
None
False positives
Near zero
Higher chance due to generic logic
Update conflicts
None
Common due to code edits
Rollback
Instant and safe
Manual restoration required
Get ahead of the exploit curve
Patchstack isn’t just a WAF with some virtual patches - it’s a full WordPress vulnerability intelligence & mitigation system.
