Security for Vibe-Coded E-Commerce Apps
E-commerce apps handle payment card data, personal information, and financial transactions. Security failures here have direct financial consequences and legal liability under PCI DSS.
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Why Security Matters for E-Commerce
Online stores are the #1 target for automated attacks because they process payments. Attackers use bots to test stolen credit cards, scrape pricing data, and exploit checkout flows. Vibe-coded e-commerce apps often integrate Stripe or similar payment processors, but the AI-generated code frequently misses server-side validation of prices, quantities, and discount codes. This means attackers can modify prices client-side and pay less than they should. Beyond payments, customer PII (names, addresses, emails) stored without proper access controls creates liability under GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulations.
Security Risks
Price manipulation in checkout
criticalClient-side price calculations without server validation let attackers modify prices before payment processing.
Mitigation
Always validate prices, quantities, and totals server-side against your product database. Never trust client-submitted prices.
Customer data exposure
criticalOrder history, addresses, and payment details accessible without proper authentication or authorization checks.
Mitigation
Implement RLS policies that scope all customer data to the authenticated user. Never expose other customers' orders or profiles.
Discount code abuse
highAI-generated discount logic often lacks validation for expiry, usage limits, and stacking rules.
Mitigation
Validate all discount codes server-side. Track usage counts, check expiry dates, and prevent code stacking unless explicitly allowed.
Inventory manipulation
mediumRace conditions in checkout can allow purchasing more items than available stock.
Mitigation
Use database-level locks or atomic operations when decrementing inventory during checkout.
Security Checklist
All prices must be calculated and verified on the server, never from client input.
Let Stripe handle the payment UI to avoid handling card data directly.
Verify Stripe webhook signatures to prevent fake payment confirmations.
Users can only view their own orders, addresses, and payment methods.
All pages must be served over HTTPS, especially checkout and account pages.
Prevent card testing attacks by limiting checkout attempts per IP and user.
Prevent XSS through product search, reviews, and user-generated content.
Flag suspicious orders based on velocity, geography, and order patterns.
Real-World Scenario
A developer uses Bolt to build a clothing store with Stripe integration. The checkout flow sends the cart total from the frontend to the Stripe API. An attacker opens browser DevTools, finds the API call, and changes the total from $150 to $1. The server doesn't re-validate the price against the product database — it just passes the client-submitted total to Stripe. The attacker places dozens of orders at $1 each. The store owner only notices when reconciling inventory against revenue and finding a massive shortfall. By then, the merchandise has shipped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need PCI compliance for my vibe-coded store?
If you use Stripe Checkout, Stripe Elements, or Payment Links, Stripe handles PCI compliance for the payment processing. You still need to protect customer data (addresses, emails, order history) stored in your database.
Can attackers change prices in my checkout?
Yes, if your server trusts client-submitted prices. Always look up product prices from your database server-side and calculate the total there. Never accept a total amount from the frontend.
How do I secure Stripe webhooks?
Verify the webhook signature using your Stripe webhook secret. This confirms the event came from Stripe, not an attacker sending fake payment success notifications to your endpoint.
Security for Other Use Cases
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