What are the potential issues with using includes in PHP files?

One potential issue with using includes in PHP files is that including files with sensitive information, such as database connection credentials, can expose them to unauthorized access. To solve this issue, it is recommended to store sensitive information in a separate configuration file outside the web root directory and include it using a path that is not accessible to the public. 

// config.php
<?php
$db_host = 'localhost';
$db_user = 'username';
$db_pass = 'password';
$db_name = 'database';
?>

// index.php
<?php
include('/path/to/config.php');
// Use $db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_name variables here
?>

Keywords

includes PHP files security vulnerabilities code duplication file paths

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