What are the security implications of using PHP to list files in the htdocs directory?

Using PHP to list files in the htdocs directory can expose sensitive information to potential attackers, such as directory structure and file names. This can lead to security vulnerabilities like unauthorized access, information disclosure, and potential attacks on the server. To mitigate these risks, it is recommended to disable directory listing in the web server configuration and use PHP to only display specific files or directories that are intended to be publicly accessible. 

<?php
// Disable directory listing in the web server configuration

// Define an array of allowed files or directories
$allowed_files = array('file1.txt', 'file2.txt', 'directory1');

// Loop through the allowed files and display them
foreach($allowed_files as $file) {
    echo $file . "<br>";
}
?>

Keywords

PHP security implications listing files htdocs directory vulnerabilities

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