Limit Login Attempts Reloaded Threw My Users into 2FA Lockout After a Plugin Update and the Rollback + Patch Approach I Used

When managing a WordPress website, security is always top of mind. While plugins help bolster protection and manage login behavior, they can sometimes misfire—especially after an update. In this article, we’re going to take a look at what happened when an update to the popular security plugin Limit Login Attempts Reloaded prevented users from completing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), the immediate fallout, and the practical rollback and patch solution applied to regain access and prevent future issues.

TLDR (Too Long, Didn’t Read)

An update to Limit Login Attempts Reloaded clashed with our Two-Factor Authentication system, locking out legitimate users. A temporary rollback to the previous plugin version allowed users to log in again, and a custom patch was applied to avoid blocking 2FA in future updates. Always test plugin updates in staging environments and monitor compatibility with security layers like 2FA.

The Update That Triggered the Lockout

The issue appeared shortly after a routine update to Limit Login Attempts Reloaded, a plugin used to restrict brute-force attacks by limiting the number of login attempts. The update included subtle changes meant to strengthen login endpoint protection. However, what should have been a safeguard ended up conflicting with the 2FA flow provided by a separate security plugin (in our case, Wordfence).

Users began reporting immediate problems: they were entering valid credentials and then getting stuck on the 2FA screen. After three attempts, they were locked out entirely, triggering the plugin’s brute force safeguards and blocking their IPs. The plugin incorrectly treated the second-factor step as a fresh login attempt rather than a continuation of a valid session.

The Immediate Fallout

Within hours, the site’s support inbox was flooded with messages from users who couldn’t access their accounts. The user lockout also prevented administrators from using normal login channels. Emergency browser sessions with pre-authenticated cookies allowed a few admin users to access the dashboard and begin troubleshooting.

Here’s what was discovered:

• The latest plugin update included more aggressive session validation.
• 2FA plugins commonly use AJAX or temporarily store credentials via session/cookie during the second factor stage.
• Limit Login Attempts Reloaded didn’t recognize this transitional state and saw it as a second, failed login.
• IP bans and lockouts ensued automatically after a few “failures.”

The Rollback Strategy: Quick and Clean

To buy some breathing room, the plugin was rolled back to the previous version. WordPress doesn’t include version management for plugins by default, but here’s the method used without jeopardizing config integrity:

1. Accessed the server via SFTP and navigated to /wp-content/plugins/.
2. Renamed the updated plugin folder (e.g., limit-login-attempts-reloaded to limit-login-attempts-reloaded-new).
3. Downloaded the earlier stable version from the WordPress plugin repository archive.
4. Uploaded and activated the older version via the Admin dashboard.

Once the older version was active, users were able to complete the 2FA process seamlessly. IP bans were cleared manually, and the website was operational again within an hour.

Important: Before performing this kind of rollback, always back up the database and plugin configuration files. Some plugins store settings in a format that may not be backward-compatible.

Patching for Compatibility

Rolling back addressed the emergency, but it wasn’t a permanent solution. Eventually, the newer version would be required for ongoing security updates. So, we decided to investigate the core cause and apply a light patch to the plugin ourselves—while waiting for an official fix from the plugin developer.

The patch involved modifying how the plugin recognizes valid sessions and login states. Here’s a brief outline:

• Located the portion of the plugin responsible for logging failed login attempts.
• Inserted a conditional check to bypass logging if the current request belonged to the 2FA validation endpoint or included typical 2FA session tokens.
• Tested the integration in a staging environment before pushing to production.

The code snippet looked somewhat like this:

// Inside plugin login check function
if ( isset($_POST['2fa_token']) || strpos($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'], '2fa') !== false ) {
    return; // Skip logging this as a failed attempt
}

This simple change allowed the 2FA plugin to do its job without triggering security locks. Fortunately, no core functionality was negatively impacted.

We also filed an issue on the plugin’s GitHub repository with details about the conflict and suggested a more sustainable fix at the plugin level.

Preventing Future Lockout Scenarios

This situation served as a valuable lesson in plugin interaction, especially in high-security environments. Here are the preventative actions that were implemented afterward:

• Established a Staging Environment: Future plugin updates are first applied in a staging clone before going live.
• Created Watchdog Alerts: Timely email and Slack alerts were configured if login errors spike above a certain threshold.
• Whitelisted Admin IPs: Admins’ IP addresses were exempted from brute-force lockouts during emergencies.
• Version Locks Added: Plugin updates were held until full compatibility testing with essential security tools was completed.

Looking Ahead

Limit Login Attempts Reloaded remains a valuable plugin when used correctly, but in combination with other security layers like 2FA, unexpected issues can arise. The key takeaway is to be proactive—not just reactive. Monitoring, testing, and even understanding plugin internals can go a long way in maintaining uptime and user trust.

Security plugins should enhance safety, not compete with each other. It’s crucial to consider their interplay during updates, especially when dealing with critical user access features like Two-Factor Authentication.

FAQ

• Q: Can plugin updates cause login issues with other security systems?
  A: Yes, especially when multiple plugins influence user authentication. It’s important to test any update in staging if you rely on layered security like 2FA.
• Q: Is rolling back a plugin safe?
  A: Generally, yes—but always back up your files and database first. Some plugin updates make irreversible database schema changes.
• Q: What if I don’t have access to my admin area?
  A: Use SFTP or your web host’s file manager to access plugin folders and disable the plugin causing the issue. You can also manually reset lockouts via the database using phpMyAdmin if needed.
• Q: Should I keep using Limit Login Attempts Reloaded?
  A: Yes, it’s still a reliable plugin. Just be cautious with updates and monitor compatibility with any 2FA or user management plugins.

In the world of WordPress security, no plugin works in a vacuum. Testing and vigilance remain your best weapons against unexpected plugin conflicts.