What are some potential security risks associated with storing configuration settings in PHP files within the document root?

Storing configuration settings in PHP files within the document root can expose sensitive information, such as database credentials or API keys, to potential attackers who may gain unauthorized access to the files. To mitigate this security risk, it is recommended to store configuration settings outside of the document root directory. 

```php
// Example of storing configuration settings outside of the document root
$config = require '/path/to/config.php';
```
In this example, the configuration settings are stored in a separate file located outside of the document root directory, and then included in the PHP script using the `require` statement. This helps to prevent sensitive information from being accessed directly by unauthorized users.

Keywords

security risks configuration settings PHP files document root sensitive information

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