diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 706b4b9..65da875 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
       "name": "meal-planner-api",
       "version": "1.0.0",
       "dependencies": {
-        "dotenv": "^16.4.7",
+        "dotenv": "^18.0.0",
         "express": "^4.21.2"
       },
       "engines": {
@@ -161,10 +161,13 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/dotenv": {
-      "version": "16.6.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.6.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-uBq4egWHTcTt33a72vpSG0z3HnPuIl6NqYcTrKEg2azoEyl2hpW0zqlxysq2pK9HlDIHyHyakeYaYnSAwd8bow==",
+      "version": "18.0.8",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-18.0.8.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-2KDeoFoK/zRtcnbunCDlLG5VWVMcyqeQc6iK65o231nfNAcuGrKoqUQfJFUtBI+QlShk5HKIHxwebBtUl3rEfA==",
       "license": "BSD-2-Clause",
+      "bin": {
+        "dotenv": "dist/index.cjs"
+      },
       "engines": {
         "node": ">=12"
       },
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index fe7ff52..2172c68 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     "node": ">=18"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "dotenv": "^16.4.7",
+    "dotenv": "^18.0.0",
     "express": "^4.21.2"
   }
 }