What potential security risks are associated with using shell_exec() in PHP to execute commands on a server?

Using shell_exec() in PHP to execute commands on a server can pose significant security risks, as it allows for arbitrary command execution. This can lead to vulnerabilities such as command injection attacks, where an attacker could manipulate input to execute malicious commands on the server. To mitigate this risk, it is recommended to use more secure alternatives like the PHP functions exec() or passthru(), which provide additional safeguards against command injection. 

// Using the exec() function instead of shell_exec() for safer command execution
$output = exec('ls -la');
echo $output;

Keywords

shell_exec security risks PHP server command execution

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