How to fix missing security txt on OpenCart
Create and publish a /.well-known/security.txt file with at least a Contact: line so security researchers know how to report vulnerabilities responsibly.
Steps for OpenCart
- Connect via SFTP to your OpenCart root directory.
- Create .well-known/ at the root, add security.txt inside it.
- Ensure your .htaccess does not deny access to .well-known.
- Visit https://yourdomain.com/.well-known/security.txt to confirm it loads.
What is missing security txt?
A security.txt file is a small, plain-text file you place at a standardised web address on your store (/.well-known/security.txt). It tells security researchers — people who discover bugs or vulnerabilities in websites — exactly how to contact you to report the problem privately, before a bad actor can exploit it. Think of it as a "if you find something broken, call this number" sign on your front door. The format is an internet standard (RFC 9116) championed by the security community and recognised by platforms like Google and HackerOne.
Without a security.txt, a well-meaning researcher who finds a vulnerability in your store has no obvious, trusted way to reach you — so they may give up, publish it publicly, or disclose it to the wrong party, leaving your customers' data exposed. OWASP lists Security Misconfiguration (A05:2021) as one of the most common causes of breaches, and missing disclosure channels fall squarely in that category. Regulators and payment-card standards (PCI-DSS) increasingly expect documented vulnerability-disclosure processes; having a security.txt demonstrates basic security hygiene and can reduce your legal exposure if an incident occurs. It costs almost nothing to add and can prevent a damaging public breach disclosure.
See the complete Missing security txt guide for every platform and the full background.
Not sure if your OpenCart store has this?
Run a free SEOLZ scan — we’ll find missing security txt and every other issue across your whole site.
Scan my site free