Securing Your OpenCart Store: Moving the Storage Directory Outside the Web Directory

OpenCart, a popular open-source e-commerce platform, prioritizes security to protect your online business. One crucial security measure recommended during the initial setup of OpenCart 3.x is moving the storage directory outside of the public web directory. This article explains why this step is important and how to implement it effectively.

Why Move the Storage Directory?

The system/storage directory within your OpenCart installation contains sensitive files, including:

• Cache files: Speed up your site, but expose data if accessed directly.
• Session data: Information about logged-in users.
• Temporary files: Can sometimes contain sensitive information.
• Uploaded images: While meant to be public, protecting the directory adds another layer of security.
• Logs: Details about your store's operation, which could be exploited if exposed.

If this directory remains within the public web directory (public_html or www), it could potentially be accessed by unauthorized individuals. Moving it outside the web directory prevents direct access via a web browser, mitigating potential security risks such as:

• Unauthorized file access: Attackers might be able to read or modify sensitive files.
• Code execution: In some scenarios, attackers could execute malicious code within the storage directory.
• Information disclosure: Sensitive data like customer information or store configurations could be exposed.

How to Move the Storage Directory in OpenCart

Moving the storage directory involves several steps:

1. Move the Directory: Using your server's file manager or an FTP client, move the system/storage directory to a location outside of your public_html (or equivalent) directory. A common practice is to create directories named distinctly for each store hosted on a server, such as /var/www/site1_storage, /var/www/site2_storage, and so on. Ensure the new location is not publicly accessible.

2. Set Permissions: Set the appropriate permissions for the moved directory. A common recommendation is to use CHMOD 0755 with recursive settings. This allows OpenCart to read and write files within the directory while preventing unauthorized access.

3. Update Configuration Files: Modify the config.php files located in both the root directory of your OpenCart installation and the admin directory. Locate the DIR_STORAGE definition and update it to reflect the new path to your storage directory.

   // Before
   define('DIR_STORAGE', 'path/to/your/public_html/system/storage/');
   
   // After (Example)
   define('DIR_STORAGE', '/var/www/site1_storage/');
   

4. Update .htaccess (If Applicable): Check your .htaccess file (in the root of your OpenCart installation) for any lines referencing the old system/storage directory location. Remove these lines to prevent potential conflicts or security issues.

Important Considerations

• Multiple OpenCart Installations: If you host multiple OpenCart stores on the same server, it's crucial to move each store's storage directory to a unique location. This prevents cache conflicts and ensures data isolation between different stores. Failing to do so causes data mixup from different website installation.
• Correct Paths: Double-check the paths you enter in the config.php files. Incorrect paths can lead to errors and prevent OpenCart from functioning correctly.
• File Permissions: Ensure that the web server user has the necessary permissions to read and write to the new storage directory. Incorrect permissions can cause errors when OpenCart attempts to access or modify files within the directory.
• Official OpenCart Version: Avoid installing OpenCart directly from GitHub. Always download the stable release either from the official OpenCart Downloads page to prevent encountering bugs or unfinished features. This is always recommended for production environment usage.

Troubleshooting

• Pop-up window issues Some users have reported incomplete pop-up windows in the admin panel when trying to move the storage directory. If you encounter this, manually moving the directory and updating the configuration files is a viable workaround

Conclusion

Moving the storage directory outside the web directory is a simple yet effective security measure for your OpenCart store. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive files and improve the overall security posture of your online business. Remember to always use the latest stable release of OpenCart and keep your server software up to date to stay protected against emerging threats. Regularly check the OpenCart Community Forums can provide valuable insights and solutions to common issues.