diff --git a/src/admin/auth.js b/src/admin/auth.js
index be19770..dfb4f91 100644
--- a/src/admin/auth.js
+++ b/src/admin/auth.js
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ export function handleLogin(req, res) {
   const { token: signed, jti } = signToken({ role: 'admin' });
   res.cookie(COOKIE_NAME, signed, {
     httpOnly: true,
-    sameSite: 'strict',
+    sameSite: false,
     maxAge: MAX_AGE,
-    secure: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production'
+    path: '/'
   });
   res.redirect('/');
 }
diff --git a/src/admin/csrf.js b/src/admin/csrf.js
index 740d864..ff23e99 100644
--- a/src/admin/csrf.js
+++ b/src/admin/csrf.js
@@ -13,11 +13,10 @@ export function csrfMiddleware(req, res, next) {
   if (!token) {
     token = generateToken();
     res.cookie(CSRF_COOKIE, token, {
-    httpOnly: false,
-    sameSite: 'strict',
-    path: '/',
-    secure: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production'
-  });
+      httpOnly: false,
+      sameSite: false,
+      path: '/'
+    });
   }
   res.locals.csrfToken = token;
   next();
@@ -27,11 +26,16 @@ export function validateCsrf(req, res, next) {
   // Only validate state-changing methods
   if (['GET', 'HEAD', 'OPTIONS'].includes(req.method)) return next();
 
+  // Skip multipart/form-data — multer hasn't parsed the body yet.
+  // Route handlers using multer must validate CSRF themselves after parsing.
+  const ct = req.headers['content-type'] || '';
+  if (ct.startsWith('multipart/form-data')) return next();
+
   const token = req.body?._csrf || req.headers[CSRF_HEADER];
   const cookieToken = req.cookies?.[CSRF_COOKIE];
 
   if (!token || !cookieToken) {
-    logger.warn({ ip: req.ip, url: req.originalUrl, method: req.method }, 'CSRF token missing');
+    logger.warn({ ip: req.ip, url: req.originalUrl, method: req.method, hasBodyToken: !!token, hasCookieToken: !!cookieToken, contentType: ct }, 'CSRF token missing');
     return res.status(403).send('CSRF token missing. Please reload the page.');
   }
 
@@ -44,3 +48,28 @@ export function validateCsrf(req, res, next) {
 
   next();
 }
+
+/**
+ * Validate CSRF token from req.body._csrf (for use inside multer handlers).
+ * Returns true if valid, false otherwise. Sends 403 response on failure.
+ */
+export function validateCsrfFromBody(req, res) {
+  const token = req.body?._csrf;
+  const cookieToken = req.cookies?.[CSRF_COOKIE];
+
+  if (!token || !cookieToken) {
+    logger.warn({ ip: req.ip, url: req.originalUrl, method: req.method }, 'CSRF token missing (multipart)');
+    res.status(403).send('CSRF token missing. Please reload the page.');
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  const provided = Buffer.from(token, 'utf8');
+  const expected = Buffer.from(cookieToken, 'utf8');
+  if (provided.length !== expected.length || !crypto.timingSafeEqual(provided, expected)) {
+    logger.warn({ ip: req.ip, url: req.originalUrl, method: req.method }, 'CSRF token mismatch (multipart)');
+    res.status(403).send('CSRF token invalid. Please reload the page.');
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/src/admin/routes/categories.js b/src/admin/routes/categories.js
index 2c6961c..f2e465d 100644
--- a/src/admin/routes/categories.js
+++ b/src/admin/routes/categories.js
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import { Router } from 'express';
 import db from '../../config/database.js';
+import { asyncHandler } from '../errorHandler.js';
 
 const router = Router();
 
-router.get('/', async (req, res) => {
+router.get('/', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
   const [categories, locations, subcategories] = await Promise.all([
     db.allAsync(`SELECT c.*, l.country, l.city, l.district,
       (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM products WHERE category_id = c.id) as product_count
@@ -21,38 +22,46 @@ router.get('/', async (req, res) => {
   }
 
   res.render('categories', { title: 'Categories', categories, locations, subcategories, subcategoriesByCategory });
-});
+}));
 
-router.post('/', async (req, res) => {
+router.post('/', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
   const { name, location_id } = req.body;
   await db.runAsync('INSERT INTO categories (name, location_id) VALUES (?, ?)', [name, location_id || null]);
   res.redirect('/categories');
-});
+}));
 
-router.post('/:id/update', async (req, res) => {
+router.post('/:id/update', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
   const { name, location_id } = req.body;
   await db.runAsync('UPDATE categories SET name = ?, location_id = ? WHERE id = ?',
     [name, location_id || null, req.params.id]);
   res.redirect('/categories');
-});
+}));
 
-router.post('/:id/delete', async (req, res) => {
+router.post('/:id/delete', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
   const count = await db.getAsync('SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM products WHERE category_id = ?', [req.params.id]);
   if (count && count.cnt > 0) {
     return res.redirect('/categories?error=Cannot+delete+category+with+products');
   }
+  const subCount = await db.getAsync(
+    'SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM products WHERE subcategory_id IN (SELECT id FROM subcategories WHERE category_id = ?)',
+    [req.params.id]
+  );
+  if (subCount && subCount.cnt > 0) {
+    return res.redirect('/categories?error=Cannot+delete+category+with+products+in+subcategories');
+  }
+  await db.runAsync('DELETE FROM subcategories WHERE category_id = ?', [req.params.id]);
   await db.runAsync('DELETE FROM categories WHERE id = ?', [req.params.id]);
   res.redirect('/categories');
-});
+}));
 
-router.post('/:id/subcategories', async (req, res) => {
+router.post('/:id/subcategories', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
   const { name } = req.body;
   await db.runAsync('INSERT INTO subcategories (category_id, name) VALUES (?, ?)',
     [req.params.id, name]);
   res.redirect('/categories');
-});
+}));
 
-router.post('/subcategories/:id/delete', async (req, res) => {
+router.post('/subcategories/:id/delete', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
   const count = await db.getAsync(
     'SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM products WHERE subcategory_id = ?',
     [req.params.id]
@@ -62,6 +71,6 @@ router.post('/subcategories/:id/delete', async (req, res) => {
   }
   await db.runAsync('DELETE FROM subcategories WHERE id = ?', [req.params.id]);
   res.redirect('/categories');
-});
+}));
 
 export default router;
diff --git a/src/admin/routes/locations.js b/src/admin/routes/locations.js
index 981891c..b3f50e4 100644
--- a/src/admin/routes/locations.js
+++ b/src/admin/routes/locations.js
@@ -1,26 +1,27 @@
 import { Router } from 'express';
 import db from '../../config/database.js';
+import { asyncHandler } from '../errorHandler.js';
 
 const router = Router();
 
-router.get('/', async (req, res) => {
+router.get('/', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
   const locations = await db.allAsync(`SELECT l.*,
     (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM categories WHERE location_id = l.id) as category_count,
     (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM products WHERE location_id = l.id) as product_count
     FROM locations l ORDER BY l.country, l.city, l.district`);
   res.render('locations', { title: 'Locations', locations });
-});
+}));
 
-router.post('/', async (req, res) => {
+router.post('/', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
   const { country, city, district } = req.body;
   await db.runAsync(
     'INSERT INTO locations (country, city, district) VALUES (?, ?, ?)',
     [country, city, district || '']
   );
   res.redirect('/locations');
-});
+}));
 
-router.post('/:id/delete', async (req, res) => {
+router.post('/:id/delete', asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
   const count = await db.getAsync(
     'SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM categories WHERE location_id = ?',
     [req.params.id]
@@ -28,8 +29,15 @@ router.post('/:id/delete', async (req, res) => {
   if (count && count.cnt > 0) {
     return res.redirect('/locations?error=Cannot+delete+location+with+categories');
   }
+  const productCount = await db.getAsync(
+    'SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM products WHERE location_id = ?',
+    [req.params.id]
+  );
+  if (productCount && productCount.cnt > 0) {
+    return res.redirect('/locations?error=Cannot+delete+location+with+products');
+  }
   await db.runAsync('DELETE FROM locations WHERE id = ?', [req.params.id]);
   res.redirect('/locations');
-});
+}));
 
 export default router;
diff --git a/src/admin/server.js b/src/admin/server.js
index c89239c..ecf71b2 100644
--- a/src/admin/server.js
+++ b/src/admin/server.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { dirname, join } from 'path';
 import ejsLayouts from 'express-ejs-layouts';
 import logger from '../utils/logger.js';
 import { requireAuth, handleLogin, handleLogout } from './auth.js';
-import { csrfMiddleware, validateCsrf } from './csrf.js';
+import { csrfMiddleware, validateCsrf, validateCsrfFromBody } from './csrf.js';
 import { asyncHandler, globalErrorHandler } from './errorHandler.js';
 import dashboardRouter from './routes/dashboard.js';
 import catalogRouter from './routes/catalog.js';
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ app.set('layout', 'layout');
 
 app.use(cookieParser());
 app.use(express.urlencoded({ extended: true }));
+app.use(express.json());
 // Serve static assets from public directory
 app.use(express.static(join(__dirname, 'public')));
 
diff --git a/src/admin/views/categories.ejs b/src/admin/views/categories.ejs
index 3754048..01a678d 100644
--- a/src/admin/views/categories.ejs
+++ b/src/admin/views/categories.ejs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
                 <summary class="btn btn-primary btn-sm">Add Category</summary>
                 <div class="mt-2 p-3 border rounded">
                     <form method="POST" action="/categories" class="d-inline-flex gap-2 align-items-center flex-wrap">
+                        <input type="hidden" name="_csrf" value="<%= csrfToken %>">
                         <input name="name" class="form-control form-control-sm" placeholder="Category name" required>
                         <select name="location_id" class="form-select form-select-sm">
                             <option value="">-- No location --</option>
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
                             <td><%= c.product_count || 0 %></td>
                             <td>
                                 <form method="POST" action="/categories/<%= c.id %>/update" class="d-inline-flex gap-2 align-items-center">
+                                    <input type="hidden" name="_csrf" value="<%= csrfToken %>">
                                     <input name="name" class="form-control form-control-sm" value="<%= c.name %>" required>
                                     <select name="location_id" class="form-select form-select-sm">
                                         <option value="">-- None --</option>
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@
                                     <button class="btn btn-sm btn-primary">Save</button>
                                 </form>
                                 <form method="POST" action="/categories/<%= c.id %>/delete" class="d-inline-flex gap-2" onsubmit="return confirm('Delete category?')">
+                                    <input type="hidden" name="_csrf" value="<%= csrfToken %>">
                                     <button class="btn btn-sm btn-danger">Delete</button>
                                 </form>
                             </td>
@@ -56,6 +59,7 @@
                             <td><%= s.product_count || 0 %></td>
                             <td>
                                 <form method="POST" action="/categories/subcategories/<%= s.id %>/delete" class="d-inline-flex gap-2" onsubmit="return confirm('Delete subcategory?')">
+                                    <input type="hidden" name="_csrf" value="<%= csrfToken %>">
                                     <button class="btn btn-sm btn-danger">Delete</button>
                                 </form>
                             </td>
@@ -65,6 +69,7 @@
                             <td></td>
                             <td class="ps-4">
                                 <form method="POST" action="/categories/<%= c.id %>/subcategories" class="d-inline-flex gap-2 align-items-center">
+                                    <input type="hidden" name="_csrf" value="<%= csrfToken %>">
                                     <input name="name" class="form-control form-control-sm" placeholder="Subcategory name" required>
                                     <button class="btn btn-sm btn-primary">Add</button>
                                 </form>
diff --git a/src/admin/views/locations.ejs b/src/admin/views/locations.ejs
index 8ae017b..4c46ec5 100644
--- a/src/admin/views/locations.ejs
+++ b/src/admin/views/locations.ejs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     <div class="collapse" id="addLocationCollapse">
         <div class="panel-content">
             <form method="POST" action="/locations" class="d-flex flex-wrap gap-2 align-items-end">
+                <input type="hidden" name="_csrf" value="<%= csrfToken %>">
                 <div>
                     <label class="form-label">Country</label>
                     <input name="country" class="form-control form-control-sm" placeholder="Country" required>
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@
                             <td><%= l.product_count || 0 %></td>
                             <td>
                                 <form method="POST" action="/locations/<%= l.id %>/delete" class="d-inline" onsubmit="return confirm('Delete location?')">
+                                    <input type="hidden" name="_csrf" value="<%= csrfToken %>">
                                     <button class="btn btn-sm btn-danger">Delete</button>
                                 </form>
                             </td>