What are the potential pitfalls of using direct URLs for file deletion in PHP?

Using direct URLs for file deletion in PHP can be risky as it exposes your application to potential security vulnerabilities such as unauthorized access and deletion of files. To mitigate this risk, it is recommended to implement proper authentication and authorization checks before allowing file deletion through direct URLs. 

<?php
// Check if the user is authenticated and authorized to delete the file
if($user_authenticated && $user_authorized) {
    $file_path = $_GET['file_path']; // Get the file path from the URL parameter
    if(file_exists($file_path)) {
        unlink($file_path); // Delete the file
        echo "File deleted successfully!";
    } else {
        echo "File not found.";
    }
} else {
    echo "Unauthorized access.";
}
?>

Keywords

file deletion direct URLs security vulnerability input validation cross-site request forgery

Related Questions