# CVE-2018-16483: express-cart authentication bypass in user administration

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-16483-express-cart-authentication-bypass-in-user-administration  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2019-02-07. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2018-16483 · Severity: low · CVSS 3 · Published 2019-02-07

express-cart is a Node.js shopping cart application used by e-commerce platforms. A flaw in access controls allows unprivileged users to create new administrator accounts, enabling complete compromise of the application and access to sensitive customer and business data.

Technologies: [express-cart (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/express-cart). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2018-16483 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2018-16483 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2018-16483?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3, published 7 February 2019.

**Which products and versions are affected?** express-cart (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=1.1.6.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2018-16483?** Yes. express-cart (npm): upgrade to 1.1.6 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2018-16483 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2018-16483?** Check whether you run express-cart (npm) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- express-cart (npm): upgrade to 1.1.6 or later

  ```sh
  npm install express-cart@1.1.6
  ```


## Technical details

express-cart versions 1.1.5 and earlier contain an authentication bypass vulnerability (CWE-290: Improper Access Control) in user administration functionality. Unprivileged, authenticated users can create new administrator accounts despite lacking authorization to do so. The vulnerability requires network access and an existing user account, but no special privileges. An attacker can escalate to full administrator access, gaining control over the entire application including customer data, order processing, and configuration. The vulnerability was patched in version 1.1.6.

## Affected products

- express-cart express-cart <=1.1.5

## Identifiers

- CVE-2018-16483
- GHSA-wj36-v8j4-pc7c

## Timeline

- 2019-02-07: disclosed
- 1.1.6: patched: Fixed in version 1.1.6

## References

- [https://hackerone.com/reports/343626](https://hackerone.com/reports/343626)

## Related threats

- [express-cart admin user creation auth bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-12457-express-cart-admin-user-creation-auth-bypass)
- [express-cart unrestricted file upload vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-3758-express-cart-unrestricted-file-upload-vulnerability)
- [express-cart Cross-Site Request Forgery in admin](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2020-22403-express-cart-cross-site-request-forgery-in-admin)
- [express-cart cross-site scripting in admin](https://junglewise.ai/threats/express-cart-cross-site-scripting-in-admin-364784a1)
- [express-cart NoSQL injection in login](https://junglewise.ai/threats/express-cart-nosql-injection-in-login-f1d83a16)